Transcript Proficiency Based Diplomas - Maine Education Association

Proficiency
Based
Diplomas
Maine Education
Association
Maine Is Ahead Of The Pack
 Maine
is a leader in developing a
Proficiency-Based Diploma.
 There
are still many unanswered questions
about the design, implementation and
future success of the idea.
Why?
 In
May 2012, the Maine Legislature passed
An Act To Prepare Maine People for the
Future Economy, which was signed into
law on May 21, 2012. The legislation made
Maine one of the first states in the country
to require public high schools to award
diplomas based on demonstrated
proficiency—not passing grades and
course credits. (NESSC)
The New England Secondary
Schools Consortium (NESSC)
 http://www.aypf.org/wp-
content/uploads/2013/10/NESSCLeadership-Briefings-on-Proficiency.pdf
NESSC Definition Of
Proficiency-Based Diploma

Simply put, a proficiency-based diploma is a
graduation decision based on students
demonstrating what they have learned. In
practice, it means that every student must
show—by writing a paper, delivering a
presentation, or completing a challenging
project, for example—that they have
acquired a minimum level of proficiency and
competence when it comes to mastering the
essential knowledge and skills they need to
succeed in college, work, and life.
The Law


§4722-A. Proficiency-based diploma standards
Beginning January 1, 2017, a diploma indicating
graduation from a secondary school must be
based on student demonstration of proficiency as
described in this section. The commissioner may
permit a school administrative unit to award
diplomas under this section prior to January 1, 2017
if the commissioner finds that the unit's plan for
awarding diplomas meets the criteria for
proficiency-based graduation under this section.
[2011, c. 669, §7 (NEW).]



1. Requirements for award of diploma. In
order to receive a diploma indicating
graduation from secondary school, a student
must:
A. Demonstrate that the student engaged in
educational experiences relating to English
language arts, mathematics and science and
technology in each year of the student's
secondary schooling; [2011, c. 669, §7 (NEW).]
B. Demonstrate proficiency in meeting state
standards in all content areas of the system of
learning results established under section
6209; [2011, c. 669, §7 (NEW).]
 C.
Demonstrate proficiency in each of the
guiding principles set forth in department
rules governing implementation of te
system of learning results established
pursuant to section 6209; and [2011, c.
669, §7 (NEW).]
 D. Meet any other requirements specified
by the governing body of the school
administrative unit attended by the
student. [2011, c. 669, §7 (NEW).]
 [ 2011, c. 669, §7 (NEW) .]
 2.
Method of gaining and demonstrating
proficiency. Students must be allowed to
gain proficiency through multiple
pathways, as described in section 4703,
and must be allowed to demonstrate
proficiency by presenting multiple types
of evidence, including but not limited to
teacher-designed or student-designed
assessments, portfolios, performance,
exhibitions, projects and community
service.
 [ 2013, c. 176, §2 (AMD) .]



3. Exceptions. Notwithstanding subsection 1,
a student may be awarded a diploma
indicating graduation from a secondary
school in the following circumstances.
A. A child with a disability, as defined in
section 7001, subsection 1-B, who achieves
proficiency as required in subsection 1, as
specified by the goals and objectives of the
child's individualized education plan, may be
awarded a high school diploma. [2011, c.
669, §7 (NEW).]
B. A student who has satisfactorily completed
the freshman year in an accredited degreegranting institution of higher education may
be eligible to receive a high school diploma
from the school the student last attended.
[2011, c. 669, §7 (NEW).]



B-1. A student who has satisfactorily completed
the junior and senior years in a dual enrollment
career and technical education program formed
pursuant to chapter 229 and who successfully
demonstrates proficiency as required in subsection
1 may be eligible to receive a high school
diploma from the secondary school the student
last attended. [2013, c. 318, §2 (NEW).]
C. [2013, c. 439, §4 (RP).]
D. A school administrative unit may award a high
school diploma to a student who has met the
standards set forth in a waiver request that was
approved by the commissioner pursuant to
section 4502, subsection 8. [2011, c. 669, §7
(NEW).]



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E. A person may be awarded a high school
diploma, including a posthumous award, if
the person or a family member of the person
applies to a secondary school and:
(1) The person:
(a) Attended a secondary school in the
geographic area now served by the
secondary school from which a diploma is
requested; or
(b) Resides at the time of application for a
diploma in the geographic area served by
the secondary school from which a diploma is
requested;
 (2)
The person did not graduate or
receive a diploma from a secondary
school because the person left secondary
school to serve in the Armed Forces and
served during the following periods:
 (a) World War II, from December 7, 1941
to August 16, 1945;
 (b) The Korean Conflict;
 (c) The Vietnam War era, from February
28, 1961 to May 7, 1975; or
 (d) The period of wartime or peacetime
after a period of wartime described in
division (a), (b) or (c); and
 (3)
The person received an honorable
discharge or a certificate of honorable
service from the Armed Forces.
 For the purposes of this paragraph,
"Armed Forces" means the United States
Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps,
Coast Guard and the Merchant Marines.
[2013, c. 281, §2 (AMD).]
 [ 2013, c. 439, §4 (AMD) .]


4. Grants; contingent extension of full
implementation. During the period of transition to
proficiency-based graduation in accordance with
this section, the department, if funds are available,
shall make annual transition grants to each school
administrative unit equal to 1/10 of 1% of the school
administrative unit's total cost of education
calculated under section 15688, subsection 1 to be
used in the manner determined by the school
administrative unit to fund the costs of the transition
not otherwise subsidized by the State. The date for
implementation of the awarding of diplomas based
on student demonstration of proficiency as
described in this section is extended one year for
each year for which transition grants are not made
available to a school administrative unit or for which
levels of general purpose aid for local schools fall
below school year 2012-2013 levels.
[ 2011, c. 669, §7 (NEW) .]
So That Is The Law.
 Now
what?
Maine DOE website
 http://www.maine.gov/doe/proficiency/
 The
Maine Department of Education has
an in-depth section on their website with
resources.
 Be
sure to check here first.
What Happened to the Maine
Learning Results?
The DOE states:
The Maine Learning Results were most recently
updated in 2011 to include Common Core as
the standards for English language arts and
math, better preparing our students for success
in college, career and civic life by creating
deeper, more rigorous and clearer expectations
for learning.
Eight Content Areas of
Maine Learning Results
 Career
& Education Development
 English Language Arts
 Health Education & Physical Education
 Mathematics
 Science & Technology
 Social Studies
 Visual & Performing Arts
 World Languages
How Do I Know What I Am
Supposed To Do?
The DOE says:
Ongoing, educator-driven professional learning
is essential when developing a proficiencybased learning system, just as it is when
continuing to reflect on and refine its design.
When a district or school begins the planning
process, professional development should focus
on the goals and design of the system—what it
will mean for students and educators, and how
it will need to work.
So Do You Have Adequate
Professional Development?
 MEA
suspects that most schools are not
providing the professional development
necessary to implementing Proficiency
Based Diplomas.
 We
have talked to our members who say
most of the time they are left to their own
devices.
What Can I Do?
 MEA’s
UniServ Directors, our regional field
staff, can help you and your colleagues.
 Contact
your nearest UniServ office to
find a time for a presentation.
Southern Maine

MEA UniServ Centers and Staff
DISTRICTS 1, 2, 3, 4
29 Christopher Toppi Drive, South Portland ME 04106
Tel. 774-6133 or 1-800-750-8801 Fax 774-9786
Get directions to the South Portland Office.
UniServ Directors:
District #1 - Judith Beverage, Ext. 2506
District #2 - Gregory Hannaford,Ext. 2504
District #3 - Rob Olson, Ext. 2503
District #4 - Becky Fernald, Ext. 2505
Assistants:
Cathy Hogan, Ext. 2502
Gail Poirier, Ext. 2501
South Central Maine

DISTRICTS 5, 6
201 Main Street, Auburn
Mail: PO Box 368, Auburn ME 04212
Tel. 784-4006 or 1-800-649-9017 Fax 784-3628
Get directions to the Auburn Office.
UniServ Directors:
District #5 - Rose Mahoney, Ext. 2101
District #6 - Nicole Argraves, Ext. 2102
Assistant: Susan Beaulieu, Ext. 2103
Augusta Area
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DISTRICTS 7, 8, 9, 10
35 Community Drive, Augusta ME 04330
Tel. 622-5866 or 1-800-452-8709 Fax 623-2129
Get directions to the Augusta Office.
UniServ Directors:
District #7 - Joan Morin, Ext. 2237
District #8 - Lee Libby, Ext. 2213
District #9 - Krystyna Dzialo, Ext. 2230
Assistants:
Debbie Sylvester, Ext. 2228
Sara Stratton, Ext. 2208
North Central Maine
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DISTRICTS 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
1349 Broadway, Bangor ME 04401
Tel. 942-2907 or 1-888-942-2907 Fax 942-0531
Get directions to the Bangor Office.
UniServ Directors:
District #10 – Aymie Walshe, Ext. 2308
District #11-- Misty O'Leary, Ext. 2309
District #12 --Elizabeth Peterson, Ext. 2310
District #13 - John Bracciodieta, Ext. 2306
District #14 - Stephanie von Glinsky, Ext. 2307
Assistants:
Mona Lothian, Ext. 2302
Annette Sawyer, Ext. 2304
Jo-Lynn Leithiser, Ext. 2303
Northern Maine
 DISTRICT
15
UniServ Director:
District #16: Lou Willey, Ext. 2401
Assistant: Dianne Leighton, Ext. 2400
128 Sweden St., Suite 2
Mail: PO Drawer 310, Caribou ME 04736
Tel. 498-3191 or 1-800-281-3191 Fax 498-3032
Get directions to the Caribou Office.