Resolve, Directing the Department of Education and Department of Health and Human Services to Study Placing Child Care Facilities in Secondary Schools
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1520
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: GOLEK, PIERCE, BRENNAN, CLUCHEY, DODGE, MILLETT, MURPHY, RANA, SARGENT, TALBOT ROSS

Legislative Document
No. 1520
H.P. 975
House of Representatives, April 5, 2023
Resolve, Directing the Department of Education and Department of 
Health and Human Services to Study Placing Child Care Facilities 
in Secondary Schools
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative GOLEK of Harpswell.
Cosponsored by Senator PIERCE of Cumberland and
Representatives: BRENNAN of Portland, CLUCHEY of Bowdoinham, DODGE of Belfast, 
MILLETT of Cape Elizabeth, MURPHY of Scarborough, RANA of Bangor, SARGENT of 
York, Speaker TALBOT ROSS of Portland.
Sec. 1. Department of Education and Department of Health and Human 
Services to study placing child care facilities in secondary schools. Resolved: 
That the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services shall 
jointly study placing child care facilities in secondary schools.
Sec. 2. Purposes of child care facilities in secondary schools. Resolved: That 
the purposes of a child care facility in the study under this resolve include:
A. Providing an on-site training center for secondary school students in child 
development and child care courses involving the developmental stages of infants, 
toddlers and preschool children;
B. Providing nurturing quality child care and age-appropriate learning experiences in 
a safe and secure environment for infants, toddlers and preschool children;
C. Providing quality child care for secondary school staff and employees during 
employment hours;
D. Creating a source of early childhood educators and caregivers to help reduce the 
shortage of child care workers in the State; and
E. Being organized for and focusing on the needs of children and parents receiving the 
services and the students, staff and employees of the secondary school. 
Sec. 3. Characteristics of child care facilities in secondary schools. 
Resolved: That the study under this resolve must study potential characteristics for child 
care facilities in secondary schools, including:
A. Serving children of secondary school staff and employees who are infants, toddlers 
and preschool children;
B. Being staffed by a qualified child care educator who is hired by the school 
administrative unit of the secondary school and receives full state benefits as an 
employee of the secondary school;
C. Serving as a classroom to provide hands-on experience as part of an early childhood 
education and development course or curriculum for students in grades 11 and 12, with 
a certificate awarded at graduation to a student who has completed 2 years of study in 
the course, including an adult education student under paragraph H;
D. Providing child care to children of students and others in the community if space is 
available once all children under paragraph A have been served;
E. Providing child care to children in the community whose family's household income 
is at or below the federal poverty level;
F. Charging a fee for child care, which may be adjusted based upon the income of the 
parent or guardian of the child, based upon recommendations of the Department of 
Education, the Department of Health and Human Services and other child care service 
providers, and accepting a child care voucher or other child care assistance;
G. Providing child care for free or at a discount to a secondary school staff member or 
employee as an employment incentive or benefit; 
H. Operating from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on school days, coordinated with the school year, 
or year-round and on holidays or weekend days or operating in conjunction with adult 
education students who may receive a certificate under paragraph C; and
I. Determining adequate space, staffing and resources to provide a quality child care 
service.
Sec. 4. Report. Resolved:  That, no later than December 6, 2023, the Department of 
Education and the Department of Health and Human Services shall submit a report on the 
study under this resolve, along with any recommended legislation, to the Joint Standing 
Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs. The committee may report out legislation 
based upon the report to the Second Regular Session of the 131st Legislature.
SUMMARY
This resolve directs the Department of Education and the Department of Health and 
Human Services to jointly study placing child care facilities in secondary schools to serve 
infants, toddlers and preschool children of secondary school staff and employees, and 
children of students and families in the community if space is available, including families 
with household incomes at or below the federal poverty level.  The study is required to 
consider the purposes of such a child care facility including serving as a classroom for 
secondary and adult education students taking child care education and development 
courses, with a certificate provided for completing 2 years of course work, and 
characteristics of the child care facilities including charging a fee with a sliding scale for 
children whose family household income is at or below the federal poverty level, accepting 
child care vouchers or other child care assistance or providing the child care for free or at 
a discount to secondary school staff members and employees as an employment incentive 
or benefit.