An Act To Provide Funding for Career and Technical Education Based on Projected Enrollment

Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §15688-A, sub-§1,  as amended by PL 2015, c. 267, Pt. C, §10, is repealed.

Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §15688-B  is enacted to read:

§ 15688-B.  Career and technical education costs

The commissioner shall expend and disburse funds to the appropriate school administrative unit or career and technical education region for career and technical education in accordance with this section. The commissioner shall take into account any new or expanded career and technical education programs proposed to be offered by a school administrative unit and calculate, expend and disburse funding under this section based on the projected costs for the projected enrollment in career and technical education and not on the enrollment or costs in the current or a previous fiscal year. The allocation for career and technical education must be based upon a program-driven model that considers components for direct instruction, central administration, supplies, operation and maintenance of plant, other student and staff support and equipment for the projected enrollment for the fiscal year of the allocation. The commissioner shall consult with the school board of the school administrative unit or the cooperative board of the career and technical education region in determining the projected enrollment in career and technical education. Monthly payments must be made directly to school administrative units with career and technical education centers and directly to career and technical education regions. If a school administrative unit with a career and technical education center or a career and technical education region has any unexpended funds at the end of the fiscal year, these funds must be carried forward for the purposes of career and technical education.

summary

This bill modifies the funding model for career and technical education costs. This bill requires that the state allocation for these costs be based on the projected enrollment for the fiscal year of the allocation rather than actual enrollment in a prior year.