The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) eligibility cut-off used for the 2011 - 2012 State of Maine Grant Program has been increased from 3000 to 4300.  Please take note of the items listed below.

• The new EFC cut-off applies to full and part time students.
• Students must be enrolled in the Spring semester in order to be paid retroactively for the Fall semester.  In other words, if a student has withdrawn or graduated in the Fall semester, he/she is not eligible for a retroactive State of Maine Grant disbursement for the Fall semester.  Students in this situation will appear on your roster with a status of awarded, not certified; please do NOT certify them.
• Due to the possibility of over-awards with this expanded eligibility, please remember that the Program Rule requires that no grant be awarded if the award will reduce institutional or other grant aid to the student, unless the institutional or other grant aid is subsequently granted to a student with demonstrated financial need.  Therefore, if the State of Maine Grant causes an over-award and there is no self-help aid that can be reduced, then and only then, may the institution reduce its other grant funding as may be necessary to clear up the over award.
• New students that meet the 4300 EFC cut-off will be on your rosters as awarded, not certified.

Please feel free to contact Martha Johnston with any questions or concerns.

FAME is pleased to announce that Mary Dyer, Financial Education Specialist was recently named President and Board Chair of the Maine Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy.  The mission of the Coalition is to improve the financial knowledge of Maine citizens, with a special focus on pre-K through college students, including adult learners.  Working collaboratively, the Coalition seeks to increase awareness and provide training and support to Maine educators while also promoting educational resources and fostering communication among agencies and individuals who provide financial education to Maine families.  The Coalition Board has also been expanded to include new members from a variety of financial education sectors including, Debbie Bechard, Mentoring and Financial Literacy Manager at Jobs for Maine Grads; Steve Kautz, Teacher, Waynflete School Math Department; Maggie Magee, Director of Financial Aid, Beal College; and Rita Ready, Marketing and Outreach Officer at Maine Education Services.  In addition, Kristie Littlefield, Social Studies Specialist at the Maine Department of Education will also serve as liaison to the Jump$tart Board.  If you are interested in becoming a member of the Maine Jump$tart Coalition, please contact Mary Dyer.

Don't forget to save the date for Jump$tart's 3rd Annual Fostering Financial Literacy in Maine Schools Conference on April 26, 2012 at the Augusta Civic Center!  Details and registration coming soon.

The Second Session of the 125th Maine Legislature convened January 4.  Lawmakers will consider more than 120 bills carried over from the First Session, as well as 132 new bills approved by the Legislative Council.  The Maine Constitution requires that the session be limited to budgetary matters; legislation by the Governor; legislation of an emergency nature admitted by the Legislature; and legislation referred to committees during the First Session for study and report-back.

The Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee has been holding public hearings on Gov. LePage's supplemental budget, which proposes cuts totaling $220 million to MaineCare and other human services programs.

Committees have been more active in January than the full Legislature. Legislative leaders set January 20, as the deadline for all committees to report out carry over bills from the last session.

Sen. David Trahan, R-Waldoboro, officially stepped down from his seat December 31, leaving the 35-member Senate short one member as the session begins.  Trahan, who recently became executive director of the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine, announced several months ago that he would resign before the new session began.  A special election to fill the seat will be held February 14.

Gov. Paul LePage issued three vetoes recently, rejecting bills to extend tax breaks to commercial foresters and nonprofit performing arts organizations, and one aimed at improving the energy efficiency of public buildings.  All vetoes were sustained by the Legislature.  The governor has now vetoed a total of 15 bills since he took office a year ago.

The Governor is scheduled to deliver his State of the State Address at 7:00 p.m. on January 24.

Bills of interest:

• LD 1662 (sponsored by Sen. Raye), An Act to Provide for an Advisory Referendum on the Approval of Tax-Exempt Student Loan Revenue Bonds:  The Maine Educational Loan Authority (MELA) issues private activity bonds to fund supplemental student loans for Maine students and families and services its debts with the revenue streams associated with student loan repayment. The bill directs the Secretary of State to hold an advisory referendum at a statewide election to determine whether the voters of the state favor the Governor's approval of MELA's issuance of no more than $50 million of tax-exempt student loan revenue bonds over the next 3 years, to be repaid by the loan recipients.  Status:  Referred to Appropriations Committee.  No public hearing set yet.
• LD 1733 (sponsored by Sen. Rector), An Act to Provide for the 2012 and 2013 Allocations of the State Ceiling on Private Activity Bonds:  Establishes the allocations of the state ceiling on issuance of tax-exempt private activity bonds for calendar years 2012 and 2013.  Status:  Public hearing before Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development Committee set for January 26 at 1:00 p.m.
• LD 1422 (sponsored by Sen. Langley), An Act to Prepare Maine People for the Future Economy:  The bill was carried over from the First Session and proposes the following:
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:  Another work session in Education Committee is scheduled for January 24 at 1:00 p.m.