Bill > LD396

This bill establishes the Later Secondary School Start Time Fund within the Department of Education to create a grant program that encourages school administrative units to change secondary school start times to 8:30 a.m. or later. The department will award grants to help school districts develop plans to coordinate and adjust school start times, either within their own unit or in partnership with neighboring districts. The grants aim to address potential challenges in shifting school schedules by providing financial support for planning and coordination efforts. The bill includes funding for a one-time contracted position to administer the grant program, with $106,078 allocated in the 2025-26 fiscal year for the administrative role and an additional $75,000 for grants to school administrative units. The Department of Education is required to adopt rules to ensure the grant program is administered equitably and fairly, with the ultimate goal of helping secondary schools start later, which can potentially improve student health and academic performance by aligning school start times with adolescent sleep patterns.

Education

https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=396&snum=132