Advocates, Policymakers Take Steps to Implement Maine's Learning Standards

In an historic move to implement Maine's student learning standards, the "Maine Learning Results," the Legislature passed into law the Essential Programs and Services (EPS) framework for school funding (LD 1623) during the Spring 2003 session. The new law is based on a costing-out study, Essential Programs and Services: Equity and Adequacy in Funding to Improve Learning for All Children, conducted by the Maine Education Policy Research Institute for the State Board of Education. The study called for a 10% increase in education funding.

According to the framework, beginning in 2005-06 and for five years thereafter, additional State funds will be added each year until the target of 50% State share of school funding is reached in 2009-10 - up from only 42% state share now. The passage of EPS officially acknowledges that all school districts in Maine must have adequate and equitable funding to achieve the learning standards outlined in state law.

Referendum

Claiming a history of broken state promises, high property tax burdens, low incomes and increasing state spending, the group Citizens To Reduce Property Taxes Statewide collected approximately 100,000 signatures in support of placing the 2003 Tax Reform Act initiative (Question 1A) on the November ballot. Question 1A directed the state to provide 55% of the total education funding under any new funding formula starting 2004-05 instead of the five-year phase-in period of the EPS framework passed by the legislature. It also required the state to fund 100% of the cost of special education, and provide over $245 million in new state spending in the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2004 and over $480 million in the biennium that begins July 1, 2005.

To compete with Question 1A, the Legislature approved a measure (Question 1B) submitted by Governor Baldacci that would keep the five-year phase-in but would raise the state share of education funding from 50% to 55%* by 2009-10. In addition, special education costs would continue to be shared, and the state would provide almost $15 million in new finding in the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2004 and $81 million in the biennium that begins July 1, 2005.

In the end, advocates for Question 1A, led by the Maine Municipal Association, were largely successful, as 1A received support from 38 percent of those who voted. The counterproposal from the Legislature and governor, Question 1B, received 35 percent of the tally. A third proposal - Question 1C, favoring neither option - received 27 percent.

Since none of the ballot questions won majority support, the top choice - Question 1A - will be considered by Maine residents in the next statewide election in June 2004 where it will need a clear majority (over 50%) to be enacted into law. In the meantime, the current law is on hold until the election.

New funding plans are also currently under development for special education, small schools, vocational education, and transportation and are not yet included in the EPS framework.

* The School Finance Act of 1985 required the state to increase it's share of education funding to 55%; however, the state never reached this percentage and, in fact, decreased its share to the current level of 42%.

Prepared by Melissa Mangino, December 11, 2003