Four Maine school districts have forfeited a total of nearly $1 million in grants over a technicality.
The grants awarded to programs in Portland, Biddeford, Auburn and Fryeburg were withdrawn earlier this month after an organization that was denied a grant appealed the decision.
The appeal brought to light a mistake in the wording of the request for proposals.
A spokesman for the Department of Education said the mistake occurred because of staff turnover in the agency. The staff member who drafted the request for proposals left the department shortly before it was issued.
The school programs can re-apply in early July.
State Sens. Nancy Sullivan of Biddeford and Lois Snowe-Mello of have sent a letter to Commissioner of Education Stephen Bowen urging him to reconsider the decision.
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