Maine § 5302. - Outdoor School for All Maine Students Program

§ 5302.. Outdoor School for All Maine Students Program

1.  Program established.  The University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service shall establish and administer the Outdoor School for All Maine Students Program to support immersive outdoor education and to assist school administrative units in partnering with outdoor education programs.

2.  Grant requirements.  Beginning in school year 2025-2026, except as otherwise provided in section 5304, the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service shall provide grants to implement the program in order to assist school administrative units in partnering with outdoor education program providers. Grants under the program must be:

A. Distributed to an outdoor education program provider that meets the requirements of section 5303;   [PL 2025, c. 84, §1 (NEW).]

B. Used to serve publicly funded students enrolled in grade 4 to grade 8 in schools operated by tribal school committees or students enrolled in grade 4 to grade 8 in publicly funded schools in the State, as determined by the sending school administrative unit and the outdoor education program provider based on community needs and the curriculum. A student receiving home-school instruction is eligible to participate in the program as provided by Title 20‑A, section 5021. For purposes of this paragraph, "publicly funded school" means a school required to participate in the system of learning results established in Title 20‑A, section 6209;   [PL 2025, c. 84, §1 (NEW).]

C. Provided to the same school grade each year to ensure that students in subsequent years have an opportunity to participate in the program; and   [PL 2025, c. 84, §1 (NEW).]

D. If program funds are limited, prioritized for schools and communities that are historically underserved by outdoor education, including, but not limited to, Indian tribes and nations, migrant students, schools with high numbers of students who qualify for free and reduced-price lunches, rural and remote schools, students in alternative education programs, students of color, English language learner students and students receiving special education services.   [PL 2025, c. 84, §1 (NEW).]