CHAPTER 657

S.P. 751 - L.D. 1954

An Act To Invest in the Future of Maine Citizens

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA c. 318 is enacted to read:

CHAPTER 318

AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS

§8901.__After-school Program Fund; standards; approval

The After-school Program Fund, referred to in this chapter as "the program fund," is established to encourage the facilitation of high-quality after-school programs in school administrative units throughout the State.__The commissioner shall administer the program fund within the department.__Standards and approval for the allocation and use of program fund money are as follows.

1.__Standards.__The commissioner shall establish standards consistent with the basic school approval requirements for after- school programs offered at elementary or secondary schools in the State.__In establishing standards for after-school programs, the commissioner may also consider the requirements of the 21st Century Communities Learning Centers program authorized under Title IV, Part B of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, 20 United States Code, Chapter 70.