An Act to Provide Grants to Support Reading Proficiency Programming in Schools
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1526
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: BRENNAN, RAFFERTY, DODGE, GATTINE, GRAMLICH, MALON, PERRY, SALISBURY, SHAGOURY, ZAGER

Legislative Document
No. 1526
H.P. 981
House of Representatives, April 5, 2023
An Act to Provide Grants to Support Reading Proficiency 
Programming in Schools
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative BRENNAN of Portland.
Cosponsored by Senator RAFFERTY of York and
Representatives: DODGE of Belfast, GATTINE of Westbrook, GRAMLICH of Old Orchard 
Beach, MALON of Biddeford, PERRY of Calais, SALISBURY of Westbrook, SHAGOURY 
of Hallowell, ZAGER of Portland.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA c. 114-B is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 114-B
READING PROFICIENCY GRANT FUND
§2661. Reading Proficiency Grant Fund
1.  Reading Proficiency Grant Fund.  The Reading Proficiency Grant Fund, referred 
to in this section as "the fund," is established in the department as a nonlapsing fund to 
provide grants to strengthen reading proficiency programming.
2.  Grants.  The department shall establish criteria to award grants to school 
administrative units from the fund.   In awarding grants, the department shall give special 
consideration to school administrative units serving populations of students with identified 
reading proficiency achievement gaps, including, but not limited to, reading achievement 
gaps for economically disadvantaged students and racial and ethnic populations.
3. Rulemaking. The department shall adopt rules to implement this section, including 
but not limited to rules governing procedures, criteria and priorities for awarding grants. 
Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 2. Report on Reading Proficiency Grant Fund.  By December 6, 2023,  the 
Department of Education shall submit to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and 
Cultural Affairs a report on the Reading Proficiency Grant Fund under the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 20-A, section 2661, the criteria to award grants to school administrative units 
from the fund and the rules adopted to implement the awarding of grants from the fund.  
The committee may report out a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 131st Legislature.
Sec. 3.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF
Reading Proficiency Grant Fund N435
Initiative: Provides one-time funds for grants to eligible school administrative units to 
strengthen reading proficiency programming.
GENERAL FUND
2023-24
2024-25
All Other
$2,000,000
$2,000,000
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$2,000,000
$2,000,000
SUMMARY
This bill creates the Reading Proficiency Grant Fund and directs the Department of 
Education to provide grants to school administrative units to strengthen reading proficiency 
programming with special consideration given to school administrative units serving 
populations of students with identified reading proficiency achievement gaps, including, 
but not limited to, reading achievement gaps for economically disadvantaged students and 
racial and ethnic populations.  The bill appropriates $2,000,000 in fiscal years 2023-24 and 
2024-25 to provide such grants.  The bill also requires the department to submit a report on 
the Reading Proficiency Grant Fund to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and 
Cultural Affairs by December 6, 2023 and authorizes the committee to report out a bill to 
the Second Regular Session of the 131st Legislature.