APPROVED CHAPTER
APRIL 11, 2024 164
BY GOVERNOR RESOLVES
STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR
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H.P. 1477 - L.D. 2286
Resolve, Directing the Maine Education Policy Research Institute to Review
Certain Components of General Purpose Aid for Local Schools and the
Essential Programs and Services Funding Formula
Sec. 1. Maine Education Policy Research Institute to review certain
general purpose aid for local schools essential programs and services
components; report. Resolved: That the Maine Policy Education Research Institute,
in conjunction with the Department of Education, shall:
1. Conduct a targeted review of general purpose aid for local schools. The review must
include, but is not limited to, the following components:
A. The State's ability to adequately fund recruitment, retention, salaries and benefits of
teachers and support staff, which represent the largest portion of the cost of public
education;
B. Property valuation and its efficacy in determining municipal contribution levels to
public education;
C. Regional differences in education costs and contributing factors to these differences;
and
D. Funding mechanisms used in other states to distribute funding for public education;
2. Conduct a review of components of the essential programs and services funding
formula under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 606-B that have been
identified as driving inequity within the formula, including, but not limited to:
A. Expenditure-driven components, with particular attention to special education costs;
B. The determination of a municipality's ability to pay;
C. The regional adjustment under Title 20-A, section 15682; and
D. Adjustments to the state share of the total allocation, including, but not limited to,
adjustments pursuant to Title 20-A, section 15688-A and Title 20-A, sections 15689
and 15689-A.
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In conducting the review, the Maine Education Policy Research Institute and the
Department of Education shall include stakeholder representatives from regions throughout
the State, including, but not limited to, superintendents, school board members, school
business officers, principals, teachers, directors of special services and career and technical
education directors. The Maine Education Policy Research Institute shall recommend
potential adjustments to the essential programs and services funding formula to be modeled
by the department, and the department shall model the recommended potential adjustments
to the essential programs and services funding formula; and
3. Assess the review of essential programs and services components required pursuant
to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 15686-A and make recommendations
regarding improvements to the review process, including, but not limited to, the established
timeline and opportunities for stakeholder engagement.
No later than March 15, 2025, the Maine Education Policy Research Institute shall
submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over
education matters with the institute's findings and recommendations, including the results
of any modeling of potential adjustments to the essential programs and services funding
formula conducted. The joint standing committee may submit legislation related to the
report to the 132nd Legislature in 2025.
The Department of Education shall conduct the reviews within existing resources.
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