Lawmakers seek modeling of special-education funding and regional adjustment that could change district allocations
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Summary
Representative Michael Brennan told Portland'area school leaders a bill directing MEPRI to model special-education funding and the EPS regional adjustment could show which communities gain or lose and inform potential changes to reimbursements and regional indices.
Representative Michael Brennan described legislation directing the Maine Education Policy Research Institute (MEPRI) to develop models with the Department of Education to evaluate special-education funding and the regional adjustment in the EPS (Essential Programs and Services) formula.
Brennan said the state'plus'local special-education expenditure last year was about $500 million and that Maine has a high national rate of IEP identification. The proposed modeling would test alternative approaches to special-education reimbursement and to the regional adjustment that currently adjusts cost expectations across districts.
He told the committee MEPRI is being asked to produce metrics that could include a cost-of-living index updated every two to three years to better reflect regional cost differences. Brennan cautioned he could not predict which communities would ultimately gain or lose funding but said Portland should closely monitor the modeling because the district has above-average special-education costs and higher local labor costs.
Brennan also discussed recent data changes: the department used MaineCare data this year to identify about 11,000 additional students statewide as disadvantaged for funding purposes, and a practice of funding disadvantaged students at a 1.2 multiplier during COVID has continued; he said there is an intention to codify that practice into statute.
Committee members asked whether English-language learners were included and how McKinney-Vento (homeless) students are counted; Brennan said English learners remain a separate count and described past bills that boosted homeless-student funding and one-time grants; he noted Maine has roughly 5,000 McKinney-Vento students and that Portland received about $750,000 last year to support roughly 600 identified homeless students.
Ending: Committee members agreed to track the MEPRI modeling results and to engage district staff as the education committee considers any statutory changes.
