Total Adjustments and Miscellaneous Costs $5,580,996

Sec. 16. Adjustments and miscellaneous costs allocation. Except as provided in section 14 and after the Legislature determines the amount of general funds to be appropriated for the general purpose aid for local schools program pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapters 606 and 606-A, the Department of Education shall determine the adjustments and miscellaneous costs allocation of state funds necessary for fiscal year 2003-04 under the general purpose aid for local schools program for the following categories of adjustments: cost of quality incentive adjustments, audit adjustments, cost of reimbursement for private school services, special education tuition and board for state wards and other pupils placed directly by the State, state agency clients, English as a 2nd language, long-term drug treatment centers, contract for cost- of-education and income data, learning results implementation and the fiscal year 2003-04 cushion.

Sec. 17. Updating and revising plan components of the essential programs and services model. The Department of Education and the State Board of Education implementation for the essential programs and services model must include, but may not be limited to, the following:

1. Weighted pupil methodology. Any revisions necessary to the weighted pupil methodology established for special student populations in accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 606-B;

2. Regional cost-of-education adjustment. A regional adjustment for legitimate regional differences in the cost of components, including what basis there may be for recognizing legitimate regional differences in the costs of purchasing educational goods and services that are elements of the essential programs and services model; and

3. School administrative unit cost determination. Any revisions to the current method of using a statewide average methodology in determining school administrative unit costs in accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapters 606 and 606-A.

Sec. 18. Consolidation incentives. The State Board of Education and the Department of Education shall prepare a state incentive plan for school consolidation, including organizational structures and functions that can provide adequate instructional opportunities for all students while also ensuring a high level