The Maine Department of Education has agreed to pay $1.5 million to settle allegations that it submitted false information to the federal government in order to receive more funds under the Migrant Education Program, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice.
The justice department alleged that the Maine Department of Education, Portland Public Schools, Maine School Administrative District 14 and the Maine Family Resource Center Inc., a nonprofit corporation responsible for identifying and servicing migrant children residing in Maine, falsely represented the number of eligible migratory children in Maine for fiscal years 2002, 2003 and 2004. Based on the false information, the justice department says the defendants received federal funds to which they were not entitled.
The Migrant Education Program provides funds to assist state education agencies in providing appropriate educational services that address the special needs of migrant children.
