AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Education and Cultural Affairs Committee voted unanimously Thursday to advance a measure from Rep. Drew Gattine, D-Westbrook, that provides resources for the educational needs of preschoolers with disabilities.
As amended, LD 1309 would require Child Development Services (CDS) within the Maine Department of Education to provide additional reimbursement for children attending special purpose schools. Special purpose schools provide coordinated and integrated behavioral, clinical, educational, emotional, medical and social treatment for disabled children under six. The bill further directs CDS to develop a permanent rate setting structure and report back to the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee.
"This bill seeks to cure an inequity in the funding for preschool services for children with special needs who attend special purpose schools," said Gattine. "The state is required under federal law to provide educational services for children with disabilities beginning at age three. With respect to children on MaineCare, who comprise a large percentage of children receiving services in special purpose schools, we are not currently meeting this obligation."
Currently, special purpose schools are not reimbursed for the educational component of their pre-K services for students on MaineCare, as they are for K-12, because Maine does not require school districts to provide preschool education. This proposal would provide educational funding for schools.
"Early intervention and education services for children with disabilities make a significant difference in a child's ability to develop social, behavioral, adaptive functioning, communication, as well as foundational academic skills," said Laura Cordes, executive director of the Maine Association of Community Service Providers. "As waitlists for families with children with special education needs continue to grow, a chronic lack of adequate and equitable funding has resulted in longstanding and successful Special Purpose Preschool programs decreasing their census or closing altogether."
The bill will move to the full Legislature for consideration in the coming weeks.
Gattine is serving his fifth non-consecutive term in the Maine House and represents parts of Westbrook, Scarborough and Saco. He is a member of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee and the Joint Select Committee on Housing.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Gattine], c. 305-965-2744