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Essential Programs And Services Component Review: Multilingual Learner Student Component, Lisa Morris, Amy F. Johnson

School Funding - Essential Programs and Services (EPS)

Introduction

Maine’s public school funding formula, the Essential Programs and Services (EPS) model, allocates resources for districts to support students who need supplemental English language instruction. The additional funds are calculated using a weighting procedure that adjusts the student count upward by a certain amount for each student identified as a Multilingual Learner (ML), formerly referred to as English Learners (ELs). By counting each ML as more than one student the district’s total allocation is increased. The additional weight is an estimate of the added cost of educating ML students relative to their non-ML peers and varies based on the …