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An Act To Restore Equity in Education Funding
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §15679, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 504, Pt. A, §6, is amended to read:
 
2. Students-to-staff ratios.   In calculating the salary and benefit costs pursuant to this section, the commissioner shall utilize the following student-to-staff ratios specified in paragraphs A and B and adjusted as provided in paragraph C.
 
A. For the elementary school level and the middle school level:
 
(1) The student-to-education technician ratio is 100:1;
 
(2) The student-to-guidance staff ratio is 350:1;
 
(3) The student-to-librarian ratio is 800:1;
 
(4) The student-to-media assistant ratio is 500:1;
 
(5) The student-to-health staff ratio is 800:1;
 
(6) The student-to-school administrative staff ratio is 305:1; and
 
(7) The student-to-clerical staff ratio is 200:1.
 
B. For the high school level:
 
(1) The student-to-education technician ratio is 250:1;
 
(2) The student-to-guidance staff ratio is 250:1;
 
(3) The student-to-librarian ratio is 800:1;
 
(4) The student-to-media assistant ratio is 500:1;
 
(5) The student-to-health staff ratio is 800:1;
 
(6) The student-to-school administrative staff ratio is 315:1; and
 
(7) The student-to-clerical staff ratio is 200:1.
 
C.  Beginning in fiscal year 2012-13, and for each subsequent fiscal year, if the total attending student population for a school administrative unit is less than 1,200 students, the commissioner shall reduce the ratios set forth in paragraphs A and B by 10%.
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §15682, as amended by PL 2009, c. 213, Pt. C, §6, is further amended to read:
§ 15682.Regional adjustment
The commissioner shall make a regional adjustment in the total operating allocation for each school administrative unit determined pursuant to section 15683. The regional adjustment must be based on the regional differences in teacher salary costs, for labor market areas in which the school administrative unit is located, as computed by a statewide education policy research institute, and must be applied only to appropriate teacher salary and benefits costs as calculated under section 15678 and salary and benefit costs of other school-level staff who are not teachers as calculated under section 15679. Beginning in fiscal year 2012-13, and for each subsequent fiscal year, the commissioner shall make a regional adjustment in the total operating allocation for each school administrative unit determined pursuant to section 15683. The regional adjustment must be based on the regional differences in teacher salary costs, for labor market areas in which the school administrative unit is located, as computed by a statewide education policy research institute, and must be applied only to appropriate teacher salary costs as calculated under section 15678 and salary costs of other school-level staff who are not teachers as calculated under section 15679.
Sec. 3.  20-A MRSA §15689, sub-§11  is enacted to read:
 
11.  Minimum economically disadvantaged student adjustment.     Beginning in fiscal year 2012-13, and for each subsequent fiscal year, each school administrative unit may receive an adjustment for economically disadvantaged students determined as follows.
 
A.  A school administrative unit is eligible for the adjustment for economically disadvantaged students under the following conditions:
 
(1) The school administrative unit receives an adjustment for the minimum state allocation pursuant to subsection 1;
 
(2) The school administrative unit's percentage of economically disadvantaged students as determined pursuant to section 15675, subsection 2 is greater than the state average percentage of economically disadvantaged students; and
 
(3) The school administrative unit operates a school.
 
B.  The amount of the adjustment for economically disadvantaged students is the difference, but not less than zero, between the state share of the total allocation under this chapter and the amount computed as the school administrative unit's total allocation for economically disadvantaged students, multiplied by the relevant percentage in subsection 1, paragraph B.
Sec. 4. Implementation within existing resources. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Department of Education shall implement the provisions of this Act within the existing budgeted resources of the general purpose aid for local schools program.
 
Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 125th Legislature, First Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.