Resolve, Directing the Maine Education Policy Research Institute to Review Certain Components of General Purpose Aid for Local Schools and the Essential Programs and Services Funding Formula
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 2286

Legislative Document
No. 2286
H.P. 1477
House of Representatives, April 9, 2024
Resolve, Directing the Maine Education Policy Research Institute to 
Review Certain Components of General Purpose Aid for Local 
Schools and the Essential Programs and Services Funding Formula
Reported by Representative BRENNAN of Portland for the Joint Standing Committee on 
Education and Cultural Affairs pursuant to Resolve 2023, chapter 118, section 2.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Sec. 1.  Maine Education Policy Research Institute to review certain 
general purpose aid for local schools essential programs and services 
components; report. Resolved:  That the Maine Policy Education Research Institute, 
in conjunction with the Department of Education, shall:
1. Conduct a targeted review of general purpose aid for local schools. The review must 
include, but is not limited to, the following components:
A. The State's ability to adequately fund recruitment, retention, salaries and benefits of 
teachers and support staff, which represent the largest portion of the cost of public 
education;
B. Property valuation and its efficacy in determining municipal contribution levels to 
public education;
C. Regional differences in education costs and contributing factors to these differences; 
and
D. Funding mechanisms used in other states to distribute funding for public education;
2. Conduct a review of components of the essential programs and services funding 
formula under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 606-B that have been 
identified as driving inequity within the formula, including, but not limited to:
A. Expenditure-driven components, with particular attention to special education costs;
B. The determination of a municipality's ability to pay;
C. The regional adjustment under Title 20-A, section 15682; and
D. Adjustments to the state share of the total allocation, including, but not limited to, 
adjustments pursuant to Title 20-A, section 15688-A and Title 20-A, sections 15689 
and 15689-A.
In conducting the review, the Maine Education Policy Research Institute and the 
Department of Education shall include stakeholder representatives from regions throughout 
the State, including, but not limited to, superintendents, school board members, school 
business officers, principals, teachers, directors of special services and career and technical 
education directors. The Maine Education Policy Research Institute shall recommend 
potential adjustments to the essential programs and services funding formula to be modeled 
by the department, and the department shall model the recommended potential adjustments 
to the essential programs and services funding formula; and
3. Assess the review of essential programs and services components required pursuant 
to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 15686-A and make recommendations 
regarding improvements to the review process, including, but not limited to, the established 
timeline and opportunities for stakeholder engagement.
No later than March 15, 2025, the Maine Education Policy Research Institute shall 
submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
education matters with the institute's findings and recommendations, including the results 
of any modeling of potential adjustments to the essential programs and services funding 
formula conducted. The joint standing committee may submit legislation related to the 
report to the 132nd Legislature in 2025.
The Department of Education shall conduct the reviews within existing resources.
SUMMARY
This resolve is reported out by the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural 
Affairs pursuant to Resolve 2023, chapter 118, section 2.
The resolve directs the Maine Education Policy Research Institute, in conjunction with 
the Department of Education, to conduct a review of certain components of general purpose 
aid for local schools and the essential programs and services funding formula that have 
been identified as driving inequity within the formula, including, but not limited to, 
expenditure-driven components, including special education costs; determination of a 
municipality's ability to pay; the regional adjustment; and other adjustments to the state 
share of the total allocation, including, but not limited to, enhancing student performance 
and opportunity costs and targeted education funds. The Maine Education Policy Research 
Institute is required to include stakeholder representatives in the review and recommend 
potential adjustments to the funding formula to be modeled by the Department of 
Education.
The resolve also directs the Maine Education Policy Research Institute, in conjunction 
with the department, to assess the statutorily required review of the essential programs and 
services components and make recommendations regarding improvements to the review 
process, including, but not limited to, the established timeline and opportunities for 
stakeholder engagement.
The resolve directs the Department of Education to conduct the reviews within existing 
resources.
The Maine Education Policy Research Institute is required to submit a report with its 
findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over education matters no later than March 15, 2025.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
Approved: 04/02/24
LD  2286
LR 3115(01)
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Resolve, Directing the Maine Education Policy Research Institute to Review Certain Components of 
General Purpose Aid for Local Schools and the Essential Programs and Services Funding Formula
Fiscal Note for Original Bill
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Additional costs to the Department of Education to work in conjunction with MEPRI on the review can be absorbed 
within existing budgeted resources.
This legislation requires the Maine Education Policy Research Institute (MEPRI) to conduct a review of certain 
components of general purpose aid and the essential programs and services (EPS) funding formula in conjunction with 
the Department of Education.  Maine Revised Statutes Annotated, Title 20-A, section 10 established the Education 
Research Institute to collect and analyze education information and perform targeted education research for the 
Legislature.  The Legislature contracts with the University of Maine System to maintain the institute and ongoing 
General Fund appropriations of $250,000 per year are included in the Learning Systems Team program account within 
the Department of Education to support the work of the institute.  The Department of Education also contracts with 
MEPRI for updating of the essential programs and services components and ongoing funding of $250,000 per year is 
included in the annual appropriation for the General Purpose Aid for Local Schools (GPA) program. This fiscal note 
assumes that the work required in this bill to be performed by MEPRI will be paid for with the funding included in the 
Learning Systems Team or GPA budget for fiscal year 2024-25 and enacted in Public Law 2023, chapter 17 and that 
the cost of the review will not exceed the $500,000 already appropriated for fiscal year 2024-25.  Given these 
assumptions, no General Fund appropriations for the cost to MEPRI to conduct the required review are included in 
this bill.
Fiscal Note
Review to be completed within budgeted resources
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
LR3115(01) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1