Education (School Funding)

This bill creates the Educational Opportunity Grant Program to provide additional state funding to school districts in communities where the average personal income is below the state average. The funds must be used exclusively for school programs aimed at improving educational standards for all students in those districts. Unspent funds at year-end will automatically carry over to the next fiscal year, ensuring continuous support. The program targets underserved school districts to address educational attainment gaps.

LD 86 updates Maine's education laws by amending multiple statutes. It updates the definition of "homeless student" to align with federal standards, clarifies procedures for community school districts to reorganize without special legislation, and adjusts private school funding rules to comply with the U.S. Supreme Court's *Carson v. Makin* decision. The bill also clarifies audit requirements for education service centers, allowing them to be included in school administrative unit audits, and repeals outdated Chapter 608 (the School Finance Act of 2003), which has been superseded by newer law. These changes primarily affect school districts, students, and private schools receiving public funding.