CHAPTER 368

H.P. 1058 - L.D. 1513

An Act To Require Coordination of Early Childhood Programs

for Children 4 Years of Age in Maine

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §4255 is enacted to read:

§4255. Coordinated early childhood programs for children 4 years

of age

1. Approval process for early childhood education. Any school administrative unit that wishes to develop an early childhood program for children 4 years of age must submit a proposal for approval to the department.__Evaluation of the proposal must include consideration of at least the following factors:

A.__Demonstrated coordination with other early childhood programs in the community to maximize resources;

B.__Consideration of the extended child care needs of working parents; and

C.__Provision of public notice regarding the proposal to the community being served, including the extent to which public notice has been disseminated broadly to other early childhood programs in the community.

2. Rulemaking.__The department may adopt rules to implement this section, and any rules adopted must include standards for early childhood programs for children 4 years of age that are developed by school administrative units.__Rules adopted pursuant