D.__The student count used for the calculation of each school administrative unit's adjustment under this subsection is the average of the 2 census counts on April 1st and October 1st of students placed in approved transitional instruction programs for the most recent calendar year.

E.__The amount due to each school administrative unit in accordance with this subsection must be paid by the department in the year of allocation as a single payment.__ The funds disbursed are limited to the amount appropriated by the Legislature for this purpose and the department is authorized to prorate payments to units if the amount appropriated is insufficient to make full payments to all units.__If additional appropriations are not provided for this disbursement, the department may not redistribute existing appropriations for general purpose aid to local schools.

Sec. 3. Revision of student census forms; notice to superintendents. The Commissioner of Education shall take whatever action is necessary to revise the forms provided to school administrative units and private schools in accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 6004 so that the annual student counts reported each school year can include the count of all students placed in an approved transitional instruction program as required by this Act. The Commissioner of Education shall also provide notice to all superintendents and private school principals that, beginning with the April 15, 2003 student count, each school administrative unit and private school is required to specify the number of students placed in an approved transitional instruction program as part of the annual student count.

Sec. 4. Effective date. Those sections of this Act that repeal the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 15603, subsection 28-A and repeal and replace Title 20-A, section 15612, subsection 12-A take effect July 1, 2003.

SUMMARY

This bill directs the Department of Education to use an enrollment-driven method to adjust the amount of general purpose aid subsidy that a school administrative unit would receive for