126th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1530		LR 171(03)
	An Act To Establish a Process for the Implementation of Universal Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
	Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
			FY 2013-14	FY 2014-15	Projections  FY 2015-16	Projections  FY 2016-17
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$0	$69,877	$69,667	$320,576
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$0	$69,877	$69,667	$320,576
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill includes a General Fund appropriation of $69,877 to the PK-20, Adult Education and Federal Programs Team program within the Department of Education for 80% of the cost of one Early Childhood Coordinator position and related all other beginning in fiscal year 2014-15.  The requirement that a uniform common statewide assessment program be established for kindergarten which must be used by all local school administrative units (SAU's) beginning with the 2016-2017 school year will result in a one-time General Fund cost to the Department of Education of approximately $248,000 in fiscal year 2016-17 for professional development for teachers, principals and central office representatives, including the cost for teacher stipends, travel reimbursement and other related expenses.  According to the Department of Education, it is part of a multistate consortium that will be working on developing a kindergarten assessment over the next 3 and a half years as part of a federal grant.  This fiscal note assumes that the assessment tool will be provided to SAU's at no cost and will be administered to students during normal school hours.
	Current law already allows for SAU's to implement a public preschool program and to receive State funding to support the operation of the program.  The provisions in this legislation will not increase the costs to the Department of Education or local SAU's to implement and operate a public preschool program.
	Additional costs to the Department of Education associated with gathering the required feedback and submitting the required report can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.