LD 1955 establishes two new programs to support child care providers and early childhood educators in Maine. The Maine Child Care Affordability Program provides funding to help these workers pay for licensed child care for their own children, requiring both the worker and their child to use facilities meeting quality standards. A separate Salary Sustainability Program for Child Care Professionals aims to improve retention by supporting educators' salaries through the Department of Health and Human Services. The bill directs the department to create implementing rules, including funding limits and quality standards, while repealing an outdated section of law. This directly affects licensed child care workers and their families seeking affordable, quality care.
LD 700 requires the University of Maine System to provide tuition and fee waivers to eligible full-time in-state students beginning in 2026-2027. To qualify, students must be Pell Grant-eligible, have lived in Maine for 12 months, maintain a 2.0 GPA, and not be transferring or returning to complete a degree. The waiver covers the gap between tuition/fees and the combined amount of Pell Grants plus other non-merit-based aid received. Funding for these waivers is limited to available state resources and does not apply to merit-based scholarships from the university.
This bill requires Maine public schools to incorporate Wabanaki studies into their curriculum as a mandatory component of Maine studies and American history education. It establishes a Wabanaki studies specialist within the education department to assist schools with resources, curriculum development, and teacher training on topics including Wabanaki governments, cultural systems, territories, and economic systems. The bill also mandates that teacher certification requirements include Wabanaki studies coursework and provides funding for professional development and curriculum resources. These changes directly affect all Maine public school students, educators, and school administrative units.
LD 1202 establishes the African American Studies Advisory Council to guide Maine public schools in implementing African American studies curriculum. The 13-member council, including educators, cultural experts, legislators, and civil rights representatives, will advise schools on resources, recommend curricula, and suggest professional development for teachers. It requires the council to report annually to the education committee starting in 2027 on curriculum implementation and statewide sampling results. The bill also allows the council to seek public or private funding to support its work. This directly affects Maine public school districts and educators responsible for developing and teaching African American studies content.
This bill updates Maine's higher education laws to allow the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor to confer a Bachelor of Arts in Human Ecology degree. The key provision adds a new section to the college's existing Private and Special Law, explicitly authorizing it to grant this specific degree. The change directly affects the College of the Atlantic by expanding its degree-granting authority to include this new program. This update aligns the college's legal status with similar institutions that offer comparable degrees.
This bill requires Maine public schools to provide at least four hours of de-escalation and behavior intervention training to all teachers, administrators, and education technicians starting in the 2026-2027 school year, with training repeated every three years thereafter. New staff must receive this training within 60 days of hiring beginning in the 2027-2028 school year. The training covers specific topics like positive behavior strategies, communication of student behavior, alternatives to restrictive procedures, and safe use of restraint and seclusion. The Maine Department of Education will maintain a list of approved training programs and experts, and must develop and distribute best practices for the training by September 1, 2026.
LD 858 creates a state grant program to help schools access behavioral and mental health services for students. It provides schools with $3,000 to $9,000 annually based on student population (e.g., $9,000 for schools over 500 students) to contract with licensed external providers. The grants cannot cover services already paid for by MaineCare, and funds must supplement - not replace - existing school mental health staff. This program, funded at $1.353 million yearly starting in 2025-26, directly supports school districts in expanding student mental health resources.
LD 787 clarifies residency rules for Maine School of Science and Mathematics (MSSM) students and provides dedicated funding. It changes eligibility from requiring 6 months of Maine residency before application to requiring residency at the start of the academic year for which funding is requested. The bill allocates $650,000 annually ($400,000 for administrative operations, $250,000 for financial aid) to support in-state students with demonstrated financial need for room and board expenses. This directly affects Maine students applying to MSSM, making residency requirements more flexible while ensuring ongoing funding for the school's operations and student support.
LD 747 establishes a Maine State Housing Authority program providing direct rental subsidies to homeless students in public elementary and secondary schools. The bill allocates $2 million annually from the General Fund to fund this program, which will provide housing assistance directly to homeless students or their guardians. It removes a previous requirement to specifically address minors without adult guardians, while directing the Housing Authority to coordinate with the Department of Education and Health and Human Services. The program aims to reduce homelessness among school-aged children by connecting them with stable housing through direct financial support.
This bill establishes Maine's Student Homelessness Prevention Program within the Department of Education to help elementary and secondary students avoid homelessness. It provides up to $750 per academic year in direct financial assistance to families of students at risk of homelessness for housing needs like rent, utilities, or critical repairs. The program is funded through an annual $1.5 million appropriation from the General Fund, with assistance not counted as income for tax or public assistance eligibility. The program builds on federal McKinney-Vento requirements by proactively identifying at-risk students and offering immediate financial support to maintain stable housing.
