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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 823S.P. 337 In Senate, March 4, 2025
An Act to Establish a Grant Program to Provide for Statewide and
Equitable Access to Experiential Science, Technology, Engineering
and Mathematics Competition Programs
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered
printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator HAGGAN of Penobscot.
Cosponsored by Senators: GROHOSKI of Hancock, LIBBY of Cumberland, Representatives:
BAGSHAW of Windham, DODGE of Belfast, HAGGAN of Hampden, LYMAN of Livermore
Falls, MURPHY of Scarborough. Page 1 - 132LR1934(01)
1
2 is enacted to read:
3
4
5 The institute may award a grant through a competitive process to
6 an organization based in this State that demonstrates that the organization is going to use
7 the funds for a statewide experiential competition program for high school students in
8 science, technology, engineering and mathematics and that:
9 A. Maintains a formal affiliation with a national science, technology, engineering and
10 mathematics program to provide opportunities for students to present Maine-based
11 research to a national audience and facilitates participation in the national program by
12 students who meet qualification standards at no cost to the students or the schools they
13 attend;
14 B. Demonstrates a plan to broaden participation in student-led experiential science and
15 engineering research projects by creating professional development opportunities for
16 educators and learning opportunities for students who have not historically participated
17 in student-led experiential science and engineering research projects, in accordance
18 with the criteria described in subsection 3;
19 C. Demonstrates a plan to maintain a formal partnership with the University of Maine
20 System to provide high school students increased access to college-level courses and
21 consideration for scholarship opportunities;
22 D. Demonstrates a plan to evaluate the effects of sustaining and increasing engagement
23 with science, technology, engineering and mathematics at participating high schools;
24 and
25 E. Demonstrates a plan to make student-led experiential science and engineering
26 research projects accessible to an increasingly diverse student population, including
27 individuals typically underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and
28 mathematics professions, in accordance with the criteria described in subsection 3.
29 An organization that receives a grant under this section shall:
30 A. Provide matching funds in the amount of the grant to be used for the same purpose
31 for which the grant was awarded; and
32 B. Deliver to the institute a report on the use of the grant money, including measurable
33 outcomes.
34 An organization that receives a grant under this section
35 shall use the following criteria to make the program available to a diverse population of
36 students and schools, as required under subsection 1, paragraphs B and E. The organization
37 shall make the program available to students from:
38 A. Each of the State's 16 counties;
39 B. Public schools and private schools and to students who are homeschooled; Page 2 - 132LR1934(01)
1 C. Schools that are eligible for schoolwide Title I benefits, as defined and identified by
2 the United States Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics;
3 and
4 D. Schools in cities, suburban areas, towns and rural locales, as defined and identified
5 by the United States Department of Education, National Center for Education
6 Statistics.
7 The following appropriations and
8 allocations are made.
9
10
11 Initiative: Provides ongoing funds to the Maine Technology Institute to award grants to an
12 organization for certain activities related to statewide science, technology, engineering and
13 mathematics competition programs.
GENERAL FUND
2025-26 2026-27All Other $75,000 $75,000
____________________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$75,000 $75,000
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15 This bill authorizes the Maine Technology Institute to provide grants for statewide
16 experiential science, technology, engineering and mathematics competition programs.
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