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Amend the amendment by striking out the first 7 lines after the title (page 1, lines 11 to 17 in amendment)
Amend the amendment by inserting after section 1 the following:
‘Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA §2651, sub-§6  is enacted to read:
 
6.  Transition to standards-based education system.    During the period of transition to proficiency-based graduation by January 1, 2017 in accordance with section 4722-A, the department shall make annual transition grants to each school administrative unit equal to 1/10 of 1% of the school administrative unit's total cost of education calculated under section 15688, subsection 1 to be used in the manner determined by the school administrative unit to fund the costs of the transition not otherwise subsidized by the State.’
Amend the amendment in section 7 in §4722-A by adding after subsection 3 the following:
 
‘4.  Contingent extension of full implementation.    The date for implementation of the award of diplomas based on student demonstration of proficiency as described in this section is extended one year for each year for which transition grants are not made available to a school administrative unit as provided under section 2651, subsection 6.’
Amend the amendment by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section number to read consecutively.
 
SUMMARY
This amendment requires the Department of Education to make annual grants from the Fund for the Efficient Delivery of Educational Services to school administrative units to fund the costs of transition by January 1, 2017 to proficiency-based graduation standards for the award of high school diplomas. The grants are equal to 1/10 of 1% of a school administrative unit's total cost of education. The amendment also extends the date for implementation of the new system by one year for each year in which transition grants are not made.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)