Me. Rev. Stat. » Title 20-A
Maine Revised Statutes

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 20-A, § 5203 (2026)

Elementary students right to attend school in another administrative unit

✓ current as of May 2026
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The following provisions govern the right of elementary students to attend school in another school administrative unit other than the one in which they are resident.   [PL 1981, c. 693, §§ 5, 8 (NEW).]
1.  Units with an elementary school.  An elementary student may attend an approved private school or a public elementary school in any school administrative unit with the consent of the receiving school's school board. The student's parent or guardian shall pay the cost of tuition and transportation. The receiving school shall notify the superintendent of the school administrative unit where the student's parents reside of the name and grade of the accepted student.  
[PL 1981, c. 693, §§ 5, 8 (NEW).]
2.  Living remote from public schools in a school administrative unit.  Elementary students whose parents live remote from a public school in their school administrative unit may, with the consent of the school board in their unit, attend public school in an adjoining school administrative unit in Maine or a neighboring state if the adjoining unit accepts tuition students. The school administrative unit where the students' parents reside shall pay tuition and transportation.  
[PL 1981, c. 693, §§ 5, 8 (NEW).]
3.  Contract school.  Students whose parents reside in a school administrative unit which contracts for school privileges under section 2701 may attend the contract school. The school administrative unit in which their parents reside shall pay the costs of the contract and transportation.  
[PL 1981, c. 693, §§ 5, 8 (NEW).]
4.  Exception; no elementary school.  A school administrative unit that neither maintains an elementary school nor contracts for elementary school privileges pursuant to chapter 115 shall pay the tuition, in accordance with chapter 219, at the public school or the approved private school of the parent's choice at which the student is accepted.  
[PL 2007, c. 668, §29 (RPR).]
5.  Units with 10 or fewer students.  Elementary students whose parents reside in a school administrative unit with a total April 1st resident student count of 10 or less may attend public school as tuition students in a nearby school administrative unit. The school board of the nearby school administrative unit shall accept the students if requested by the school board of the unit in which the students' parents reside. The school board where the students' parents reside shall pay tuition and transportation.  
[PL 1981, c. 693, §§ 5, 8 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1981, c. 693, §§5,8 (NEW). PL 2007, c. 668, §29 (AMD).
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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 3 cases, 2001–2019 · leading case: Logiodice v. Trs. of Maine Cent. Inst., 135 F. Supp. 2d 199 (D. Me. 2001).
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Logiodice v. Trs. of Maine Cent. Inst., 135 F. Supp. 2d 199 (D. Me. 2001). “Maine statute specifically recognizes this possibility and provides for various alternative means of providing educational services including allowing school districts to contract for school privileges with “contract schools” or pay tuition for their eligible students to attend…”
Thornton Academy v. Reg'l Sch. Unit 21, 2019 ME 115 (Me. 2019). · cites it 2× “[¶10] RSU 21 argues that subsection 3(A) must be narrowly construed so that "option" means only school choice, that is, if students were allowed to select any public or approved private school before school reorganization in line with 20-A M.R.S. §§ 5203(4) and 5204(4), those…”
Thornton Academy v. Reg'l Sch. Unit 21, 2019 ME 115 (Me. 2019). · cites it 2× “[¶10] RSU 21 argues that subsection 3(A) must be narrowly construed so that “option” means only school choice, that is, if students were allowed to select any public or approved private school before school reorganization in line with 20-A M.R.S. §§ 5203(4) and 5204(4), those…”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 20-A, § 5203(4) — 2 cases
Thornton Academy v. Reg'l Sch. Unit 21, 2019 ME 115 (Me. 2019). “[¶10] RSU 21 argues that subsection 3(A) must be narrowly construed so that "option" means only school choice, that is, if students were allowed to select any public or approved private school before school reorganization in line with 20-A M.R.S. §§ 5203(4) and 5204(4), those…”
Thornton Academy v. Reg'l Sch. Unit 21, 2019 ME 115 (Me. 2019). “[¶10] RSU 21 argues that subsection 3(A) must be narrowly construed so that “option” means only school choice, that is, if students were allowed to select any public or approved private school before school reorganization in line with 20-A M.R.S. §§ 5203(4) and 5204(4), those…”
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