During the 2010-2011 year, FAME's College Access and Financial Education staff:

• Participated in 384 events
• Helped complete 728 FAFSAs
• Trained 677 counselors and advisors
• Conducted 68 Financial Aid Night presentations
• 53 during November and December

In total, 34,026 Maine citizens attended an event where FAME was present and 10,765 people participated in a training or workshop conducted by FAME.

In addition to the events listed above, there were 6 Casting Calls in support of the Harold Alfond College Challenge at which 692 NextGen College Investing Plan® applications were completed.

Legislative Update 

The First Regular Session of the 125th Maine Legislature adjourned June 29, 2011. 1,587 bills were considered by lawmakers. Regular bills and resolves become effective September 28, 2011, ninety days after adjournment. The Second Regular Session of the Legislature will convene January 4, 2012.

The Legislature carried over more than 120 of the 1,587 bills that were introduced. These bills include proposals to address cyberbullying, changes to the state's sex offender registry, and to allow nonunion workers to decide whether to pay a share of union dues.

Gov. LePage vetoed several bills and resolves, as well, and the Legislature failed to override any of them. One veto included L.D. 566, An Act to Encourage Transparency in the Department of Education. The bill called for more detailed reporting of education funding by the Department, but the Governor demurred, stating that it crossed "over the line of legislating and oversight and into the management functions of the executive."

The Governor signed into law L.D. 1553, which authorizes charter schools in Maine for the first time. He also signed L.D. 1274, a bill sponsored by Senate President Kevin Raye that rewrites Maine's complicated school funding formula. Supporters claim the measure is necessary to help rural schools but opponents fear it will shift money away from service center communities such as Bangor and Portland.

Legislation of Interest 

LD 119, An Act To Allow a Tax Credit for Students Enrolled in Postsecondary Non-degree Programs: Proposes to amend the educational opportunity tax credit to allow a credit for tuition paid for postsecondary education courses taken as part of a non-degree program, such as the Aspirations Program offered by the University of Maine. Status: Dead. 

LD 164, An Act To Extend the Dental Care Access Credit for Dentists Who Practice in Underserved Areas of the State: As amended by Taxation Committee, extends the sunset date for the program until December 31, 2020; allows a dentist who is currently certified for a credit at a certain level to maintain that level of credit; lowers the credit from $15,000 to $12,000 for dentists determined to be eligible after December 31, 2010; and allows 6 rather than 5 dentists to be certified for eligibility for the credit each year. Status: Signed into law by Gov. LePage. Public Law 2011, Chapter 434.

L.D. 184, An Act to Promote the Financial Literacy of High School Students: As amended, would require the Department of Education to develop a program of technical assistance that promotes an integrated model for instruction in personal finance to help secondary school students attain financial literacy. Requires the Commissioner of Education to submit an annual report to school boards and superintendents that includes strategies and resources available to implement an integrated model for instruction in personal finance for use in secondary schools. Also requires the annual report to be provided to the Education Committee and posted on the Department's website. Status: Signed into law by Gov. LePage. Public Law 2011, Chapter 154.

L.D. 209, Resolve, to Establish a Stakeholder Group to Review the Maine State Grant Program: Authorizes FAME to coordinate a review of the program that includes the participation of a stakeholder group of higher education policy makers, agencies, institutions, students and financial aid administrators in the state and report to the Education Committee with recommendations by December 1, 2011. Status: Signed into law by Gov. LePage. Resolve 2011, Chapter 14.

LD 835, An Act To Strengthen Maine's Economy through Improvements to the Educational Opportunity Tax Credit: As amended, this Opportunity Maine-sponsored bill would remove restrictions on the term of eligible loans and make the Educational Opportunity Tax Credit refundable, allowing a full reimbursement for education loan payments for college graduates who live and work in Maine. The Taxation Committee voted to include a new sunset of July 1, 2022 to require reconsideration of the program to determine whether it should be continued. Status: Carried over to Second Session.

LD 944, An Act to Increase College Attainment: Would require secondary school students to complete a federally accepted free application for federal student aid and at least one application to a postsecondary educational institution to assess eligibility for financial aid. Status: Dead.

LD 1008, An Act to Limit the Use of Social Security Numbers by State Agencies: Would prohibit state agencies from including an individual's social security number in written correspondence. Status: Signed into law by Gov. Lepage. Resolve 2011, Chapter 56.

LD 1173, An Act to Make Changes to the Maine College Savings Program: Makes changes to the Maine College Savings Program, also known as NextGen® or the NextGen College Investing Plan®, by vesting the act of "holding" the program fund in the authority and not the Treasurer of State; by clarifying that in holding the program fund, the authority may invest, reinvest or commingle the assets in the program fund as authorized or may cause such assets to be invested, reinvested or commingled. Also alters the composition of the Advisory Committee on College Savings to include more members with experience in and knowledge of institutional investment of funds. Status: Signed into law by Gov. LePage. Public Law 2011, Chapter 15.

LD 1174, An Act To Help Maine's Employers To Recruit Skilled Workers by Expanding the Availability of the Educational Opportunity Tax Credit: Another Opportunity Maine bill, this would allow a tax credit for student loans incurred by a person who receives an associate degree or a bachelor's degree from out-of-state accredited community colleges, colleges or universities, not just those located in Maine. Status: Dead.

LD 1422, An Act To Prepare Maine People for the Future Economy: Sponsored by Sen. Brian Langley, Senate Chair of the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, the bill:

1. Establishes an education policy, core priorities for the state's education system, education system goals, benchmarks and intervention strategies;

2. Requires the development of a strategic plan to achieve the goals within the policy framework;

3. Requires that the state budget document present proposed expenditures on early childhood development, public education, adult education, higher education and workforce development in a manner that facilitates evaluation by the Legislature of whether funds are being appropriated and allocated in a manner that best accords with the established policy framework, advances the established goals and implements the strategic plan;

4. Requires that the Commissioner of Education adopt rules prescribing a uniform process for kindergarten screening in a manner that facilitates reliable and consistent measurement of statewide kindergarten readiness;

5. Requires school administrative units to award high school diplomas based on standards established by rule; and

6. Requires that, beginning with the class of 2015, students graduating from high schools demonstrate proficiency in the content areas of English language arts, mathematics, science and technology, social studies and health, physical education and wellness. Beginning with the class of 2018, students graduating from high schools must demonstrate proficiency in the content areas of career and education development; English language arts; world languages; health, physical education and wellness; mathematics; science and technology; social studies; and visual and performing arts.

Status: Carried over by Education Committee to Second Session.

LD 1558, Resolve, To Study Allocations of the Fund for a Healthy Maine: This resolve establishes a commission tasked with reviewing whether allocations of the Fund for a Healthy Maine are properly aligned with the state's current public and preventive health priorities, strategies and goals and recommending adjustments to allocations as necessary. Status: Signed into law by Gov. LePage.