Resolve, to Establish a Pilot Program to Expand Intensive English
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0471
Sponsors: RAFFERTY, MITCHELL

Legislative Document
No. 471
S.P. 210
In Senate, February 11, 2025
Resolve, to Establish a Pilot Program to Expand Intensive English 
Language Learner Programs
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on February 5, 2025.  Referred to the Committee 
on Education and Cultural Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator RAFFERTY of York.
Cosponsored by Representative MITCHELL of Cumberland and
Senator: BALDACCI of Penobscot, Representatives: CLOUTIER of Lewiston, DHALAC of 
South Portland, MURPHY of Scarborough, RANA of Bangor, SARGENT of York, YUSUF of 
Portland.
Sec. 1.  Pilot program established. Resolved: That the Department of Education, 
in collaboration with the Department of Labor and the University of Maine System, shall 
establish a 2-year pilot program to expand intensive English language learner programs at 
the University of Maine and the University of Southern Maine. The pilot program must be 
open to individuals at least 16 years of age whose primary language is a language other 
than English.
Sec. 2.  Pilot program requirements. Resolved: That the pilot program under 
section 1 may not enroll more than 150 students for full-time instruction per semester in its 
first year and may not enroll more than 300 students for full-time instruction per semester 
in its 2nd year, for a total of no more than 900 students for the duration of the pilot program. 
The pilot program must provide a computer or tablet for each student enrolled in the pilot 
program. For the purposes of this section, "full-time instruction" means 18 to 20 hours of 
instruction each week.
Sec. 3.  Stipends for students enrolled in pilot program. Resolved: That the 
pilot program under section 1 must provide stipends to students enrolled in the pilot 
program to pay for:
1.  The cost of child care for students who do not otherwise qualify for the Temporary 
Assistance for Needy Families program as described in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 
22, chapter 1053-B;
2.  The cost of transportation to and from an intensive English language learner 
program described in section 1; and
3.  Living expenses for students who do not receive municipal general assistance as 
described in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, chapter 1161.
Receipt of a stipend under this section does not affect an individual's eligibility for or 
the amount an individual receives through municipal general assistance as described in the 
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, chapter 1161 or the Temporary Assistance for Needy 
Families program as described in Title 22, chapter 1053-B.
Sec. 4.  Pilot program to fund Temporary Assistance for Needy Families 
program coordinators. Resolved: That the pilot program under section 1 must include 
funding for 2 positions to assist students enrolled in the pilot program with accessing funds 
through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program in accordance with the 
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, chapter 1053-B. The position responsibilities must 
include assisting students with combining funds received from the Temporary Assistance 
for Needy Families program to pay for child care.
Sec. 5.  Municipal general assistance work requirement met by enrollment. 
Resolved: That a student enrolled in the pilot program under section 1 meets the municipal 
general assistance work requirement under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 
4316-A.
Sec. 6.  Full scholarships or tuition waivers for students to attend University 
of Southern Maine program. Resolved: That the University of Maine System must 
award full scholarships or tuition waivers for students to attend the University of Southern 
Maine's Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages online accelerated master's 
degree program. The University of Maine System and the Department of Education must 
require that a recipient of a full scholarship or tuition waiver must teach in an intensive 
English language learner program in the State for a length of time as specified by the 
department after completion of the online accelerated master's degree program.
Sec. 7.  Reports. Resolved:  That the University of Maine System shall submit an 
interim report no later than January 15, 2027 and a final report no later than January 15, 
2028 to the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education 
matters and appropriations and financial affairs on the intensive English language learner 
pilot program established pursuant to section 1 and the scholarships and tuition waivers 
required under section 6.  Each report must include, but is not limited to, the number, by 
county, of students served by the pilot program and their employment outcomes; any 
barriers to the success of the pilot program; and plans and recommendations, including any 
suggested legislation, for the future of the intensive English language learner pilot program 
and training for teachers in the State who teach English to individuals who speak languages 
other than English as their primary language.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Department of Education, the Department of Labor and the 
University of Maine System to establish a 2-year pilot program to expand the intensive 
English language learner programs at the University of Maine and the University of 
Southern Maine. The pilot program must provide stipends to enrolled students for the cost 
of child care and transportation and certain living expenses.  The pilot program must 
include funding for 2 positions to assist students enrolled in the pilot program with 
accessing funds through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.  The pilot 
program specifies that a student enrolled in the pilot program meets the municipal general 
assistance work requirement under the municipal general assistance laws.  The bill requires 
the University of Maine System to award full scholarships or tuition waivers for students 
to attend the University of Southern Maine's Teaching English to Speakers of Other 
Languages online accelerated master's degree program.  The University of Maine System 
and the Department of Education must require that a recipient of a full scholarship or tuition 
waiver must teach in an intensive English language learner program in the State for a length 
of time determined by the department after completion of the degree program.  The bill 
also requires the University of Maine System to report to the Legislature on the progress 
of the pilot program.