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Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
‘Resolve, To Improve the Essential Programs and Services Funding Formula’
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1 Review of limited English proficiency cost component. Resolved: That, notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 15686-A, subsection 2, the Commissioner of Education shall conduct a fiscal and program review of the costs reported by school administrative units that receive a portion of their total operating allocation for limited English proficiency students. The purpose of this review is to develop clear and transparent procedures for collecting and reporting valid and reliable data on the costs of providing services to limited English proficiency students through programs approved by the Department of Education pursuant to Title 20-A, section 15675, subsection 1. Funding for this review must be included in the contract for updating essential programs and services components pursuant to Title 20-A, section 15689-A, subsection 3; and be it further
Sec. 2 Report. Resolved: That, no later than January 31, 2009, the Commissioner of Education shall submit a report that includes findings and recommendations pursuant to section 1, including any necessary suggested legislation to implement clear and transparent procedures for collecting and reporting valid and reliable data on the costs of providing services to limited English proficiency students, for presentation to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education and cultural affairs.’
 
SUMMARY
This amendment is one of the minority reports of the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs. The amendment strikes and replaces the concept draft to require the Commissioner of Education to conduct a fiscal and program review of the costs reported by school administrative units that receive a portion of their total operating allocation for limited English proficiency students. The commissioner shall report the findings and recommendations from the review to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education and cultural affairs by January 31, 2009.
 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)