Maine State Data:
Last updated: 2021
Maine law provides that charter schools have right of first refusal to purchase or lease any school facilities or property and that the price cannot exceed the fair market value of the property. The law provides that a public charter school may negotiate and contract with a school administrative unit, the governing body of a state college or university or public community college or any other public or for-profit or nonprofit private entity for the use of a school building.
According to the law, a library, community service, museum, performing arts, theater, cinema, church, community college, college and university facilities may provide space to public charter schools within their facilities under their preexisting zoning and land use designations.
It also provides that a public charter school may purchase or lease at or below fair market value part or all of any surplus or unused state-owned facility or property located in the State. The state agency in control of the facility may not require purchase or lease payments that exceed the fair market value of the property.
According to the law, the same zoning rules that apply to other noncharter public schools apply to public charter schools.
The law provides that a facility, or portion thereof, used to house a public charter school is exempt from property taxes.
– Maine Department of Education’s School Revolving Renovation Fund (SRRF) [maine.gov/doe/schools/facilities/srrf]
– Maine Department of Education Leased Space Program [maine.gov/doe/schools/facilities/lsp]
Public Charters on Tribal Lands or Serving a Significant Proportion of Native Students:
Source: National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (2018)