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Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
‘Resolve, To Require the Department of Education To Convene a Stakeholder Group To Recommend Changes to the Department of Education's Proposed School Choice Model’
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and before the summary and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1. Department of Education to convene a stakeholder group to develop a public school choice model. Resolved: That the Commissioner of Education, or a designee of the commissioner, shall convene a stakeholder group and shall invite the participation of a representative from the Maine School Board Association, a representative from the Maine School Superintendents Association, a representative from the Maine Principals' Association, a representative from the Maine Municipal Association, a representative from the Maine Administrators of Services for Children with Disabilities, a school superintendent from a rural part of the State, a school superintendent from an urban part of the State and 2 parents of students enrolled in publicly funded schools. The stakeholder group shall refine the public school choice model proposed in Legislative Document 1854 during the Second Regular Session of the 125th Legislature by considering the difficulties inherent in transportation, funding, educating disadvantaged children and educating and transporting children receiving special education services; and be it further
Sec. 2. Reporting date established. Resolved: That the Commissioner of Education shall report the stakeholder group's findings, including a proposed public school choice model, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters by January 14, 2013. The committee is authorized to introduce a bill related to the report to the First Regular Session of the 126th Legislature; and be it further
Sec. 3. Superintendents' agreements revisited. Resolved: That the Commissioner of Education shall communicate with superintendents and school boards of school administrative units and clarify the law with regard to superintendents' agreements regarding placement of students.’
 
SUMMARY
This amendment is the majority report. This amendment changes the bill to a resolve and requires the Commissioner of Education to convene a stakeholder group to refine the public school choice model proposed in the bill. The commissioner must report the stakeholder group's findings to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters by January 14, 2013. The committee is authorized to introduce a bill related to the report to the First Regular Session of the 126th Legislature. The commissioner is also required to communicate with the superintendents and school boards of school administrative units to clarify the law with regard to superintendents' agreements regarding student placement.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)