Structure & Governance

Maine schools are organized in different ways throughout the state. In order to assist in the processes associated with proper school structure and governance, the Department provides information here on how to form a new school administrative unit, how to reapportion the school board, school closure procedures, district organization and cost-sharing information, and town withdrawal procedures.

• List of SAUs by Municipality
• SAU Contact Search

Maine's school administrative units (SAUs) use the following school governance structures:

• Regional School Units

  • A regional school unit (RSU) is a combination of two or more municipalities that pool their educational resources to educate all students. One school committee (comprised of representatives from each of the municipalities) administers the education of grades K-12 through a superintendent of schools. Budget approval is by majority vote of those present and voting at a district budget meeting, followed by approval at referendum. The member municipalities share the RSU costs based on a formula that may factor in state valuation and/or the number of pupils as specified in their voter-approved reorganization plan.

• School Administrative Districts

  • A regional school unit doing business as a school administrative district (RSU/SAD) and school administrative districts (SAD) is a combination of two or more municipalities that pool their educational resources to educate all students. One school committee (comprised of representatives from each of the municipalities) administers the education through a superintendent of schools. Budget approval is by majority vote of those present and voting at a district budget meeting, followed by approval at referendum. The member municipalities share the RSU/SAD and SAD costs based on a formula that factors in state valuation and/or number of pupils. NOTE: There are a few SADs comprised of one town because of unique situations and private and special laws.

• Community School Districts

  • A community school district (CSD) is a combination of two or more municipalities and/or districts formed to build, maintain, and operate a school building or buildings to educate any or all grades. For example, a CSD may be formed to build and operate a grade 7-12 school for all towns in the CSD. Those same towns will maintain individual control over the education of their K-6 students or belong to a school union. A community school district may also oversee the education of all grades K-12.

    CSD school committees are apportioned according to the one-person-one-vote principle. The member municipalities share the CSD costs, based on a formula that factors in the number of pupils in each town and/or state valuation or any combination of each. Community School District budgets are approved by a majority vote of voters present and voting at a district budget meeting, followed by approval at a referendum.

• Municipal School Units (Cities or Towns with Individual Supervision)

  • A city or town with individual school supervision is a single municipality. A school committee administers the education of all grades in the city or town through a superintendent of schools. The city or town charter usually determines the method of budget approval, leading up to approval by voters at a referendum.