Bill
LD 420
Funds $150,000 annually (FY25-26 to FY29-30) from the General Fund to the Department of Education to add up to 10 students to the Carleton Project nontraditional secondary school.
Overview
- Purpose: To provide funding from the General Fund to expand access to a nontraditional secondary school through the Carleton Project by adding up to 10 additional students.
- Sponsor and Committee: Sponsored in the House by Rep. Swallow (Houlton); referred to the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee.
- Introduced: February 4, 2025.
- Status: Dead (placed in Legislative Files); ultimately not enacted.
What the bill would do
- Establish a targeted appropriation to support the Carleton Project’s expansion by up to 10 additional students.
- Source of funding: General Fund, via the Department of Education’s School Finance and Operations program.
- Funding mechanism: Recurring annual appropriation of $150,000, starting in FY 2025-26, with the intention that this level of funding continues through FY 2029-30.
Key provisions
- Appropriation amount: $150,000 annually for FY 2025-26 through FY 2029-30.
- Purpose of funds: To cover the incremental cost to the Carleton Project of adding up to 10 additional students.
- Administrative pathway: Funds would flow to the School Finance and Operations program within the Maine Department of Education.
- Intent language: The bill expresses the intent that the $150,000 per year continue through FY 2029-30.
Fiscal impact (as described in the fiscal notes)
- Net cost to General Fund: $150,000 per year for each of FY 2025-26, FY 2026-27, FY 2027-28, and FY 2028-29 (and continuing to FY 2029-30 as per the notes).
- Appropriations/allocations: $150,000 per year from the General Fund, aligned with the ongoing purpose described above.
Who would be affected
- Carleton Project participants: Up to 10 additional students could gain access to the nontraditional secondary school program.
- Public school funding system: General Fund resources would be allocated to the Department of Education to support this expansion.
- Department of Education: Responsible for administering the School Finance and Operations program and distributing the funds.
Timeline and status notes
- Legislative actions show progression from introduction and committee work to reporting and concurrence discussions, but the measure ultimately was placed in Legislative Files as DEAD on May 21, 2025.
- Key milestones:
- Feb 4, 2025: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs.
- Mar 25, 2025: Work session; carried over to later session.
- May 15, 2025: Reported OUT (ONTP/OTP-AM).
- May 21, 2025: Majority Ought Not to Pass reported; placed in Legislative Files (DEAD).
Bottom line
LD 420 proposes a $150,000-per-year General Fund appropriation (FY 2025-26 through FY 2029-30) to the Department of Education to support expanding the Carleton Project, enabling up to 10 additional students to access a nontraditional secondary school. The bill was considered but ultimately did not advance.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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