Sec. 18. Early childhood and vocational education. To ensure greater equity of education opportunities and efficiency in the use of early childhood and vocational education resources, beginning no later than fiscal year 2007-08, early childhood program costs and vocational education program costs must be included in the essential programs and services operating cost calculations.

SUMMARY

The bill provides that by fiscal year 2009-10 the state share of kindergarten to grade 12 education funding, as described by essential programs and services, must be 55%. It also establishes a local cost share expectation for property tax years beginning on or after April 1, 2005. The Commissioner of Education shall annually notify each school administrative unit of its expectation. This expectation must decline over the period from fiscal year 2005-06 to fiscal year 2009-10. The expectation may not exceed 9.0 mills in fiscal year 2005-06. It may not exceed 8.0 mills in fiscal year 2009-10. The legislative body of a school administrative unit may not adopt a property tax rate that exceeds its mill expectation unless, in a vote separate from its adoption of the school budget, it votes to increase the property tax rate.

The bill also places transportation operating costs into the essential programs and services funding formula. It also states that special education costs will be included in essential programs and services starting in fiscal year 2005-06. Beginning in fiscal year 2004-05, the Department of Education will provide training in state-approved guidelines for identification of special education students. The bill also places early childhood education program costs and vocational education program costs into essential programs and services no later than fiscal year 2007-08.