125th MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 1858 LR 2773(02)
An Act To Ensure Effective Teaching and School Leadership
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "   "
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
             
Fiscal Note
State Mandate - Exempted
State Mandates
Required Activity Unit Affected Local Cost
Requires school administrative units to develop and implement comprehensive performance evaluation and professional growth systems for teachers and principals. School Significant statewide
Pursuant to the Mandate Preamble, the two-thirds vote of all members elected to each House exempts the state from the constitutional requirement to fund 90% of the additional costs.
Fiscal Detail and Notes
The cost to local school administrative units can not be determined at this time and will depend on the standards and criteria developed by the Department of Education.  
This bill requires the Department of Education to establish a targeted funds component within the Essential Programs and Services funding model beginning with the 2013-2014 school year to be used to assist school administrative units in developing and implementing performance evaluation and professional growth systems.  The amount of funding that will be available and whether that amount will be sufficient to fund 90% of the additional costs to school administrative units to implement the requirements of this legislation can not be determined at this time.
Additional costs to the Department of Education associated with staffing the Maine Educator Effectiveness Council and with rulemaking can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.  Additional costs to the State Board of Education to establish the required working group and submit the required report can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.