Data about Maine Public Education
From An Independent Review of Maine’s Essential Programs and Services Funding Act: Part 2
Lawrence O. Picus, Allan Odden, Michael Goetz, Anabel Aportela, Michael Griffith
Presented to the Maine Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural
Affairs December 1, 2013 (Revised 12-24-2013)
(Access the full report at http://www.maine.gov/legis/opla/EPSfundingPart%202FinalReport.pdf)
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS FROM PART 1 OF THE STUDY
Overall, we found that the Maine’s per pupil expenditures for K-12 education are among the highest
in the United States – although they are comparatively low among the six New England States.
Moreover, the distribution of revenues to local districts (SAUs) meets accepted levels of equity based
on current school finance literature. While expenditures have grown in recent years, student
performance has been relatively flat. Test scores compared to the rest of the country are relatively
strong but about average in comparison with the other states in New England. The system operates
well, but we identified a number of issues the state may want to consider as it moves forward in its
efforts to improve learning for all children in its public schools.
Comparison with Other States
Maine’s K-12 education system has witnessed a steady increase in spending over the past several
years. However, this additional funding appears to have only resulted in modest improvements in the
academic performance of the state’s students. The findings from our interstate comparison can be
summarized as follows:
Educational Expenditures
 From 1999-2000 to 2009-2010 state and local revenue for public K-12 education in Maine grew
from $1.62 billion to $2.35 billion - an increase of just over $728.6 million or 45%. During the
same time period, state and local revenue for K-12 education in all 50 states increased by 49.4%
($171.6 billion). (U.S. Census, 2012).
 Between 1999-2000 and 2009-2010 Maine’s per pupil expenditures grew from $7,595 to $12,259
an increase of 61.4%. Average per pupil expenditures on a national level increased from $6,836
to $10,600, a 55.1% increase during this same time period. (U.S. Census, 2012).
Student Enrollment
 Maine has experienced a decrease in student population of 20,533 (10%) over the past decade
(2001-2002 to 2011-2012).
 Average SAU size has declined to 808 students – making the state’s school districts the 4th
smallest in the nation with an average enrollment that is 25.4% the size of the average school
district in the United States.
Staffing
 Maine has seen an increase in the number of new teachers and a slight reduction in the number of
administrators in the past decade.
 When combined with the decline in student enrollments Maine has one of the lowest studentteacher ratios in the country.
 The reduced student-teacher ratios are a major cause of the state’s increases in per pupil
expenditures.
Excerpted by MCLA, January 2014
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Student Achievement
 In 2011, Maine’s student test results on the National Assessment of Educational Progress
(NAEP) in math and reading were mixed when compared to other states.
 Maine has a four-year high school graduation rate of 79.9% which is 4.4% above the national
average, but trails many comparable states.
 Maine’s New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) test results have been flat over
the past two years and trail the scores of students in New Hampshire and Vermont in math and
writing in all grades and reading in all but the 3rd grade.
Excerpted by MCLA, January 2014
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