Bill > S2365

This bill: - Establishes a Twenty-First Century Education Trust Fund to be administered by the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, which would be funded through appropriations, bonds, gifts, grants, and donations. The fund would support a Twenty-First Century Education Program to address disparities in student achievement, improve educational opportunities, and promote efficiencies across school districts. - Requires the Commissioner to establish statewide and district-level targets for addressing persistent disparities in achievement among student subgroups, and directs districts to develop 3-year plans to meet these targets using evidence-based programs, supports, and interventions. - Requires the Secretary of Education to collect and publicly report data on student preparedness for the workforce and post-secondary education by district and high school. - Revises the Chapter 70 school funding formula, including changing definitions of key terms, updating foundation budget amounts and increment rates, and modifying the calculations for required local contributions. - Establishes a new special education reimbursement program to cover 75% of eligible instructional and transportation costs above a threshold. - Creates a Data Advisory Commission to advise the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on data collection and analysis strategies. - Directs studies on the equity and accuracy of the Chapter 70 funding formula, the fiscal challenges facing rural school districts, and the school building assistance program. The bill aims to improve educational outcomes and equity across the state by increasing funding, data-driven decision making, and targeted interventions for underperforming student groups.

Budget and Finance

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/S2365