20-A §15671. Essential programs and services - Maine Statutes

Title 20-A: EDUCATION

Part 7: SCHOOL FINANCE

Chapter 606-B: ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES HEADING: PL 2001, C. 660, §1 (NEW)

§15671. Essential programs and services

Essential programs and services are those educational resources that are identified in this chapter for all students to meet the standards in the 8 content standard subject areas of the system of learning results established in chapter 222. In order to achieve this system of learning results, school funding based on essential programs and services must be available in all schools on an equitable basis. Essential programs and services utilize resources including federal funds that are currently provided or could be adapted to implement a system of learning results, as well as additional resources that are also needed to ensure that these programs and services are available to all students. These essential programs and services must provide the basis for the system of school funding no later than 2007-08. School funding must be adequate to fully provide for all of the staffing and other material resource needs of the essential programs and services identified by the Legislature. [2001, c. 660, §1 (NEW).]

1. State and local partnership. The State and each local school administrative unit are jointly responsible for contributing to the cost of the components of essential programs and services described in this chapter. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, for each fiscal year, the total cost of the components of essential programs and services may not exceed the prior fiscal year's costs multiplied by one plus the average real personal income growth rate as defined in Title 5, section 1665, subsection 1, except that in no case may that rate exceed 2.75%. For fiscal years commencing after the state tax burden ranks in the middle 1/3 of all states, as calculated and certified by the State Tax Assessor, the total cost of the components of essential programs and services may not exceed the prior fiscal year's costs multiplied by one plus the average real personal income growth rate as defined in Title 5, section 1665, subsection 1. The Legislature, by an affirmative vote of each House, may exceed the limitations on increases in the total cost of the components of essential programs and services provided in this subsection, as long as that vote is taken upon legislation stating that it is the Legislature's intent to override the limitation for that fiscal year. The state contribution to the cost of the components of essential programs and services, exclusive of federal funds that are provided and accounted for in the cost of the components of essential programs and services, must be made in accordance with this subsection:

A. The level of the state share of funding attributable to the cost of the components of essential programs and services must be at least 50% of eligible state and local General Fund education costs statewide, no later than fiscal year 2006-07; and [2005, c. 2, Pt. D, §§72, 74 (AFF); 2005, c. 2, Pt. D, §32 (AMD); 2005, c. 12, Pt. WW, §18 (AFF).]

B. By fiscal year 2008-09 the state share of the total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to grade 12, as described by essential programs and services, must be 55%. Beginning in fiscal year 2005-06 and in each fiscal year until fiscal year 2008-09, the state share of essential programs and services described costs must increase toward the 55% level required in fiscal year 2008-09. [2005, c. 2, Pt. D, §§72, 74 (AFF); 2005, c. 2, Pt. D, §32 (AMD); 2005, c. 12, Pt. WW, §18 (AFF).]

Beginning in fiscal year 2005-06 and in each fiscal year thereafter, the commissioner shall use the funding level determined in accordance with this section as the basis for a recommended funding level for the state share of the cost of the components of essential programs and services.

[ 2005, c. 2, Pt. D, §§72, 74 (AFF); 2005, c. 2, Pt. D, §32 (AMD); 2005, c. 12, Pt. WW, §18 (AFF) .]

2. Per-pupil rate amounts. A per-pupil rate represents an amount of funds that is to be made available for each subsidizable pupil. Per-pupil rates are determined pursuant to section 15676.

A. [2005, c. 2, Pt. D, §§72, 74 (AFF); 2005, c. 2, Pt. D, §33 (RP); 2005, c. 12, Pt. WW, §18 (AFF).]

B. [2005, c. 2, Pt. D, §§72, 74 (AFF); 2005, c. 2, Pt. D, §33 (RP); 2005, c. 12, Pt. WW, §18 (AFF).]

C. [2005, c. 2, Pt. D, §§72, 74 (AFF); 2005, c. 2, Pt. D, §33 (RP); 2005, c. 12, Pt. WW, §18 (AFF).]

D. [2005, c. 2, Pt. D, §§72, 74 (AFF); 2005, c. 2, Pt. D, §33 (RP); 2005, c. 12, Pt. WW, §18 (AFF).]

[ 2005, c. 2, Pt. D, §§72, 74 (AFF); 2005, c. 2, Pt. D, §33 (AMD); 2005, c. 12, Pt. WW, §18 (AFF) .]

3. Specialized student populations. In recognition that educational needs can be more costly for some student populations than for others, special student populations are specifically addressed in sections 15675 and 15681-A, subsection 2.

A. [2005, c. 2, Pt. D, §§72, 74 (AFF); 2005, c. 2, Pt. D, §33 (RP); 2005, c. 12, Pt. WW, §18 (AFF).]

B. [2005, c. 2, Pt. D, §§72, 74 (AFF); 2005, c. 2, Pt. D, §33 (RP); 2005, c. 12, Pt. WW, §18 (AFF).]

C. [2005, c. 2, Pt. D, §§72, 74 (AFF); 2005, c. 2, Pt. D, §33 (RP); 2005, c. 12, Pt. WW, §18 (AFF).]

D. [2005, c. 2, Pt. D, §§72, 74 (AFF); 2005, c. 2, Pt. D, §33 (RP); 2005, c. 12, Pt. WW, §18 (AFF).]

[ 2005, c. 2, Pt. D, §§72, 74 (AFF); 2005, c. 2, Pt. D, §33 (AMD); 2005, c. 12, Pt. WW, §18 (AFF) .]

4. Educational cost components outside the per-pupil rate. A per-pupil rate is not a suitable method for allocation of all educational cost components. These components may include, but are not limited to, debt service, transportation, bus purchases, career and technical education, small school adjustments, teacher educational attainment and longevity of service and adjustments to general purpose aid. The funding methodology of these educational cost components must be established based on available research.

[ 2005, c. 2, Pt. D, §§72, 74 (AFF); 2005, c. 2, Pt. D, §33 (AMD); 2005, c. 12, Pt. WW, §18 (AFF); 2005, c. 397, Pt. D, §3 (REV) .]

5. Local control of expenditures. Except for those components that are targeted funds, funds provided for the essential programs and services described in this section must be distributed as general purpose aid for local schools, and each school administrative unit shall make its own determination regarding the configuration of resources best suited for its pupils and how to allocate available funds for these resources.

[ 2001, c. 660, §1 (NEW) .]

6. Targeted funds. Funds for technology, implementation of a standards-based system and the costs of additional investments in educating children in kindergarten to grade 2 as described in section 15681 must be provided as targeted allocations. School administrative units shall submit a plan for the use of these funds and receive funding based on approval of the plan by the commissioner.

[ 2005, c. 519, Pt. LL, §1 (AMD) .]

7. Transition; annual targets. To achieve the system of school funding based on essential programs and services required by this section, the following annual targets are established.

A. The base total calculated pursuant to section 15683, subsection 2 is subject to the following annual targets.

(1) For fiscal year 2005‐06, the target is 84%.

(2) For fiscal year 2006‐07, the target is 90%.

(3) For fiscal year 2007‐08, the target is 95%.

(4) For fiscal year 2008‐09, the target is 97%.

(5) For fiscal year 2009‐10, the target is 97%.

(6) For fiscal year 2010‐11 , the target is 97%.

(7) For fiscal year 2011‐12 and succeeding years, the target is 100%. [2009, c. 571, Pt. E, §17 (AMD).]

B. The annual targets for the state share percentage of the statewide adjusted total cost of the components of essential programs and services are as follows.

(1) For fiscal year 2005-06, the target is 52.6%.

(2) For fiscal year 2006-07, the target is 53.86%.

(3) For fiscal year 2007-08, the target is 53.51%.

(4) For fiscal year 2008-09, the target is 52.52%.

(5) For fiscal year 2009-10, the target is 48.93%.

(6) For fiscal year 2010-11, the target is 46%.

(7) For fiscal year 2011-12 and succeeding years, the target is 55%. [2009, c. 571, Pt. E, §18 (RPR).]

[ 2009, c. 571, Pt. E, §§17, 18 (AMD) .]

SECTION HISTORY

2001, c. 660, §1 (NEW). 2003, c. 504, §A5 (AMD). 2003, c. 712, §§9,10 (AMD). 2005, c. 2, §§D32-34 (AMD). 2005, c. 2, §§D72,74 (AFF). 2005, c. 12, §§UU12,13,WW 18 (AFF). 2005, c. 12, §UU1 (AMD). 2005, c. 397, §D3 (REV). 2005, c. 519, §LL1 (AMD). 2007, c. 240, Pt. C, §2 (AMD). 2007, c. 539, Pt. C, §§3, 4 (AMD). 2009, c. 1, Pt. C, §1 (AMD). 2009, c. 213, Pt. C, §§3, 4 (AMD). 2009, c. 571, Pt. E, §§17, 18 (AMD).