In performing its duties, the study group shall review the findings and recommendations of other research, including but not limited to previous studies and reports by the Department of Education, the State Board of Education and the Maine Education Policy Research Institute. The study group shall also consider the school governance recommendations contained in "Keeping Promises: Honoring Our Commitment to Educational Equity," the Final Report of the Committee to Study Organizational and Tax Issues in Public Schools, commonly referred to as the "Rosser Report," issued February 1995, including but not limited to the committee's recommendations regarding cooperative agreements, consolidation, school unions, school administrative unit cost- sharing and withdrawals from a school administrative unit; and be it further

Sec. 4. Report. Resolved: That the study group shall submit a preliminary report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters by January 31, 2003 and a final report by January 20, 2004. The final report must summarize all findings and provide specific recommendations made pursuant to section 3 of this resolve, including any proposed legislation to implement these recommendations; and be it further

Sec. 5. Staffing. Resolved: That staffing must be jointly provided by the State Board of Education and the Department of Education. The study group may request research and data analysis from the Executive Department, State Planning Office and the Maine Education Policy Research Institute.

SUMMARY

This resolve creates a study group to study school administrative unit organization in the State. The study group shall study the history of formation of districts and participation in regional collaboratives in the State and research in other states that may be applicable in the State. The study group shall recommend incentives that might be used in the State to promote organizational characteristics that can be demonstrated to support high levels of student outcomes and efficient use of resources and to maintain school administrative units that already exhibit these organizational characteristics. The study group shall submit a preliminary report to the joint standing committee of the Legislative having jurisdiction over education matters by January 31, 2003 and a final report by January 20, 2004.