[SchoolFinance] Expenditure of Multilingual Hardship Funds

[Field, Stacie]

Hi Adam,

This was not discussed at last Friday's workshop.

Stacie Field
Business Manager
RSU 16 - Poland, Mechanic Falls, Minot
207.998.2727 ext 102


On Wed, Nov 8, 2023 at 3:52 PM Adam Hanson <
ahanson at lewistonpublicschools.org> wrote:

> Hi everyone,
> I'm wondering if Drummond Woodsum weighed in at the conference last Friday
> about expenditure of the new Multilingual Hardship Funds that were just
> distributed via the new public law referenced in the priority notice below.
> These are flowing into general fund through the 279's, but it is unclear if
> we are authorized to "expend" them and potentially overspend Article 1
> and/or the overall general fund in the process.
> If not, has anyone consulted with Drummond or received any advice about
> this?
> Thanks.
>
> Priority Notice from the Maine Department of Education
> View this message in your browser
> <https://mailchi.mp/maine/cu5lemq6y0-1326487?e=e0272ba6a2>.
>
> <https://maine.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a582edd6473e477ef6307c769&id=51949424db&e=e0272ba6a2>
>
> *Multilingual (EL) Hardship Fund Updates  *
>
> Dear Champions of Education,
>
> Public Law 2023
> <https://maine.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a582edd6473e477ef6307c769&id=3d7336718f&e=e0272ba6a2> Chapter
> 412 Part JJJJ includes important updates to the Multilingual (EL) Hardship Fund.
> The effective date of this new language is October 25, 2023.
>
> 1. School Administrative Units (SAUs) will no longer have to apply for the
> hardship funds.  Instead, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) will
> automatically determine eligibility using the October and April student
> counts.
>
> 2. The eligibility criteria has been lowered from an increase of 5% or
> more English learners weighted allocation to 3%, as calculated pursuant to
> section 15675, subsection 1.
>
> *What do SAUs need to do in order to receive
> the Multilingual (EL) Hardship funds? *
>
> The changes to the statute will allow the DOE to automatically determine
> eligibility following each student data collection period on October 1st
> and April 1,st annually.
>
> Once eligibility is determined, the funding will be allocated to each SAU
> as an adjustment to the school funding allocation on the ED 279 report
> section 5B.
>
> *How do I know if our SAU will be receiving funds? *
>
> Please contact Pam Partridge at the School Finance team help desk at (207)
> 624-6625 or pamela.partridge at maine.gov.  Additional information related
> to the Multilingual (EL) Hardship can be found here
> <https://maine.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a582edd6473e477ef6307c769&id=d4de312df8&e=e0272ba6a2>
> .
>
> *When can we expect the funds from the April 1, 2023, count, if we are
> eligible? *
>
> As Public Law 2023 Chapter 412 is not in effect until October 25, 2023,
> the School Finance team will provide those funds as soon as possible after
> that date.
>
> *Sent August 30, 2023*
>
>
> --
> Adam Hanson
> Controller
> Lewiston Public Schools
> 36 Oak Street
> Lewiston, ME 04240
> Phone: (207) 795-4100, ext. 4051
> Fax: (207) 795-4177
>
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