AUGUSTA -- School districts working to merge to comply with the state's school-district consolidation law face a Friday deadline if they want voters to weigh in on merger plans in November, Education Commissioner Susan Gendron said Wednesday.

Those districts must have consolidation plans approved by the state Department of Education by Friday if they want to put the measure on the November ballot. By law, voters must approve their local district consolidation plans before they can take effect.

"This week is a critical week for anyone who still wants to go in November," Gendron told members of the Legislature's Education and Cultural Affairs Committee.

The state expects a dozen merging districts to bring their reorganization plans to voters in November. All merging districts in Maine must hold referendums by Jan. 30 to comply with the law.

The consolidation law, which was passed in June 2007, is a push to reduce the number of school districts in Maine from 290 to approximately 80 in an effort to reduce administrative costs.

Gendron also told legislators she and Department of Education officials are working to set up guidelines for school officials and board members to follow as they transition into their new district setups.

"We'll have a model for them," Gendron said.