§7304. Preschool Special Education Program Fund
1.
Fund established.
The Preschool Special Education Program Fund, referred to in this section as "the fund," is established as a nonlapsing fund within the department to provide funding for general education and special education and related services for children eligible under Part B, Section 619. The department shall distribute funds through a quarterly allocation.
[PL 2023, c. 643, Pt. W, §20 (NEW).]
2.
Eligibility requirements.
Beginning in fiscal year 2024-25, school administrative units that have assumed responsibility for child find activities and for ensuring free, appropriate public education for children eligible under Part B, Section 619 pursuant to section 7006, subsection 2 are eligible to receive allocations from the fund.
[PL 2023, c. 643, Pt. W, §20 (NEW).]
3.
Purposes.
Allocations from the fund may be made to school administrative units that have assumed the responsibility for child find activities and for ensuring a free, appropriate public education for special education and related services pursuant to section 7006, subsection 2 as outlined in each child's individualized education program, including for general education costs incurred in the provision of special education services to children eligible under Part B, Section 619. The commissioner may pay costs attributed to professional and administrative staff support to implement the requirements of this section.
[PL 2025, c. 650, Pt. JJ, §1 (AMD).]
4.
Unexpended funds.
If a school administrative unit has unexpended funds from an allocation of the fund at the end of the fiscal year, these funds must be carried forward in the school administrative unit preschool fund account and used to reduce the net preschool expenses in the next fiscal year.
[PL 2025, c. 650, Pt. JJ, §2 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2023, c. 643, Pt. W, §20 (NEW). PL 2025, c. 650, Pt. JJ, §§1, 2 (AMD).