An Act To Establish The Community Schools Success Fund To Ensure The Implementation And Success Of Community Schools Programs

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Kristen Cloutier and 9 co-sponsors

Creates a dedicated Community Schools Success Fund to grant and support community schools programs when funds are available, not providing new appropriations.

Became Law without Governor's Signature

#communityschools #educationaloptions #funding

Purpose

LD 1332 creates a dedicated fund — the Community Schools Success Fund — within the Maine Department of Education to enable the department to receive and spend non‑general‑fund resources to support community schools programs. The bill is designed to provide a vehicle for grants and other supports to community schools, local education providers, and nonprofit organizations working on community‑schools models.

Key provisions

Establishes the "Community Schools Success Fund" as an Other Special Revenue Fund in the Department of Education.

Authorizes the Department of Education to expend money in the fund to provide grants to:

Community schools,
Local education providers, and
Nonprofit organizations to support community schools programs and their implementation/success.

Does not appropriate any new general‑fund dollars in the bill; the fund is intended to receive other special revenue (e.g., gifts, grants, federal or private funds) as they become available.

Funding and fiscal impact

The fiscal note records an ongoing bookkeeping base allocation of $500 per year (Other Special Revenue Funds) beginning FY 2025‑26 to establish the account for accounting purposes.

No substantive funding is provided by the bill itself.

The Department of Education indicated that, if/when the fund receives money and grants are disbursed, it will require a part‑time contracted position to administer the grant program at an estimated cost of about $40,000 per year. That staffing cost is not funded in the bill and would need to be covered from revenues deposited into the new fund or other sources.

Who is affected

Primary beneficiaries: community schools, local education providers (e.g., school districts), and nonprofit organizations implementing community schools activities.

Administrative impact: Department of Education would oversee the fund and grant program and may need to hire/contract staff once funding is received.

Implementation and timeline

The fund is established effective upon enactment; actual grant activity and program implementation depend on the fund receiving revenue (the bill does not appropriate initial grant dollars).

Fiscal notes prepared for committee amendments (approved 05/31/2025 and 06/09/2025) reflect the $500 per‑year fund accounting base and the Department’s estimate of a $40,000/year contracted oversight cost once funded.

Legislative history / status

Introduced: March 27, 2025 (referred to Education and Cultural Affairs).

Committee work: Work session and divided report; Committee Amendment "A" (H‑517) adopted.

Final actions: Passed both chambers in concurrence (June 9–10, 2025).

Became law without the Governor’s signature: June 22, 2025.

Notes: The bill authorizes the accounting and expenditure authority necessary to operate a grant program for community schools when funds are available but does not itself provide grant funding. Administrative costs to operate the program would likely require funds deposited into the newly created account.

Bill