INFORMATIONAL LETTER # 130

POLICY CODE: DEB, DB, IKF

 

 

 

TO:                  Superintendents of Schools

 

FROM:            Susan A.  Gendron, Commissioner

 

DATE:             May 25, 2004 

 

RE:                   School Funding Reform, Essential Programs and Services, and Learning Results Timelines

 

            On May 12, 2004, the Governor signed into law LD1924 An Act to Reduce the Cost of Local Government through Increased State Education Funding and Provide Property Tax Relief (PL2004 – Chapter 712). The landmark legislation contained key education provisions for:

 

·        School funding reform that commits the state to a significantly greater share of K-12 education costs beginning in FY2006 and continuing through FY2010. Applying the new requirements for state share to current projections would bring General Purpose Aid (GPA) to just over $809 million for FY2005-06, nearly $70 million more than the appropriation just passed by this session of the Legislature for FY2004-05.

 

·        Continued development of the Essential Programs and Services model to include special education and transportation by the time of its implementation in FY2005-06.

 

·        A new method of distribution for the state share of education funding that will ensure that local municipalities, single or part of a school administrative unit, will not be required to raise more than 8 mills for their local share of education cost by FY2010.

 

·        Delays in certain requirements and timelines for Learning Results implementation as outlined in Informational Letter #117 dated May 12, 2004.

 

A more detailed summary of the provisions included in LD1924 is attached. For more information contact Jim Rier (jim.rier@maine.gov) or Suzan Cameron (suzan.cameron@maine.gov) or call 624-6790.

 

Attachment