AUGUSTA -- More Maine school districts are making progress in complying with a state law intended to shrink the number of districts, according to numbers released Thursday by the Department of Education.

Since March, school officials have submitted 19 complete plans under the consolidation law, though all of those are alternative plans from districts not planning to merge with other districts. Four other proposed school districts planning mergers are expected to submit complete plans soon, department spokesman David Connerty-Marin said.

The new plan completions follow 20 consolidation plans approved since the beginning of the year by Education Commissioner Susan Gendron and another approved through a separate law.

Still, the department cannot give a firm tally showing the number of school districts Maine will have after the merger process is complete. A handful of districts have yet to decide on final consolidation partners.

The 2007 state law requiring school districts to consolidate is an effort to reduce the number of Maine districts from 290 to about 80, in part to save on administrative costs.

Connerty-Marin estimated the final number of districts would fall slightly below 80.

"I'm feeling pretty optimistic about this," he said.

Of the 19 complete plans districts submitted to meet a June 13 deadline for merger status updates, Connerty-Marin said, some should receive Department of Education approval in the coming days.

The newest complete plans include statements from Gardiner-based School Administrative District 11 Augusta public schools, which filed alternative plans with the Department of Education, thus avoiding mergers with other school districts.

Matthew Stone -- 623-3811, Ext. 435

mstone@centralmaine.com