An Act To Fairly Fund School Administrative Units For Economically Disadvantaged Students

This bill increases the funding weight for economically disadvantaged students in Maine's school finance formula from 0.15 to 0.25, effective fiscal year 2026-27. It uses the most recent elementary free or reduced-price meals percentage to calculate the number of disadvantaged students in each school district, applying this metric to both elementary and secondary grades. The change directly affects all Maine school administrative units serving students from low-income households, adjusting their state funding based on this updated calculation. The policy aims to provide more equitable funding by increasing the financial support tied to student need.