CONCEPT DRAFT

SUMMARY

This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208.

This bill proposes to replace the School Finance Act of 1985 and the School Finance Act of 1995 with a school funding formula that will be designed using the concepts contained within the essential programs and services model developed by the State Board of Education's Essential Programs and Services Committee. To accomplish this purpose, this bill seeks to:

1. Replace the current school funding formula, found in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapters 606 and 606-A, with a new method for funding kindergarten to grade 12 public education based on the concepts contained in the essential programs and services model. The current method used to determine the resources necessary for financing education is based on the historical expenditures reported by school administrative units associated with providing public education. The basis for calculating education costs under the essential programs and services model would be the amount of resources necessary to permit each child to meet the standards established by the system of learning results;

2. Incorporate the concepts and components of the essential programs and services model recommended by the State Board of Education's Essential Programs and Services Committee in designing the new method for funding kindergarten to grade 12 public education. The new funding method should be based on the recommendations made by the Essential Programs and Services Committee, including:

A. The definition of essential programs and essential services;

B. The 3 prototypical school and grade configurations proposed for elementary, middle and secondary schools; and

C. A transition plan for implementing the new funding method based on the essential programs and services model; and

3. Require the State to pay local municipalities 55% of the total resources necessary to finance kindergarten to grade 12 public education under the new funding method based on the essential programs and services model.