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An Act Regarding Curriculum Requirements and Standards for Awarding a High School Diploma
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §4502, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2007, c. 141, §7, is further amended to read:
 
2. Curriculum requirements. Schools shall alsomust meet all curriculum standardsrequirements established in chapter 207-A. Schools that offer public preschool programs shall demonstrate curriculum practice for those programs that implements the Maine early childhood learning guidelines and is appropriate for the age and development level of the children.
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §4502, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2007, c. 141, §§8 to 10, is further amended to read:
 
5. Other requirements. The state board and the commissioner shall jointly adopt basic school approval rules governing school administrative units and elementary and secondary schools. These rules must set minimum standardsrequirements in the following areas, incorporating such standardsrequirements as are established by statute:
 
A. Instructional time, including a minimum school day and week;
 
B. Staffing, including student-teacher ratios, except that the approval rules in effect for the school years beginning in the fall of 1998 and 1999 mustthat permit maximum student-teacher ratios of 25:1 school-wide for kindergarten to grade 8 and maximum student-teacher ratios of 30:1 school-wide for grades 9 to 12;
 
C. Physical facilities, incorporating the school construction rules of the state board;
 
D. StandardsRequirements for equipment and libraries;
 
E. Minimum school size, but including recognition of geographically isolated schools;
 
F. Grade and program organization;
 
G. Assessment and evaluation of student performance;
 
H. Student personnel services, including guidance and counseling and, notwithstanding any rules adopted by the department, comprehensive guidance plans to be approved by the commissioner for implementation in the 2000-01 school year;
 
I. Records, record keeping and reporting requirements;
 
J. Health, sanitation and safety requirements, including compliance with section 6302;
 
K. School improvement;
 
L-1. A plan for training and development of all personnel that is aligned with the system of learning results as established in section 6209;
 
M. The use of time-out areas, administered in accordance with standardsrequirements adopted by the department and with this paragraph. The use of a time-out area is subject to the following:
 
(1) The time-out area must be well ventilated and sufficiently lighted. The time-out area may not be locked; and
 
(2) The time-out area must be designed to ensure the safety of the student so that the student is supervised by a professional staff member in the room or can be observed from outside of the time-out area and can be heard by a person supervising the time-out area;
 
N. Preparation of a written local policy and implementation of training for all unlicensed personnel who administer medication in accordance with the requirements under section 254, subsection 5;
 
O. Preparation of a written local policy and implementation of training for all guidance counselors and school personnel who administer reintegration planning pursuant to section 254, subsection 12, who participate in a reintegration team and who have access to confidential criminal justice information regarding juveniles pursuant to section 1055, subsection 12; and
 
P. Provision of family outreach and support programs designed to improve parent-school relations and parenting skills consistent with section 4252, subsection 8.
Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §4502, sub-§5-A, as amended by PL 1999, c. 790, Pt. N, §1, is repealed.
Sec. 4. 20-A MRSA §4503, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1983, c. 859, Pt. A, §§20 and 25, is amended to read:
 
2. Junior high school or middle school. A junior high school or middle school is a school whichthat maintains a diversified program of studies of 2 or more consecutive grades from grades 6 to 9, which meets basic school approval and applicable curriculum requirements. A junior high school or middle school may be maintained in connection with or as part of an approved secondary school.
Sec. 5. 20-A MRSA §4504, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2005, c. 446, §1, is further amended to read:
 
2. Comprehensive review. The commissioner shall conduct a comprehensive review of a school administrative unit in accordance with the school assistance process established in section 6210, based on a review of the school administrative unit's comprehensive education plan and the local assessment systemstudent achievement data, or as part of an inspection in accordance with section 258-A.
Sec. 6. 20-A MRSA §4517, amended by PL 1999, c. 790, Pt. N, §2, is repealed.
Sec. 7. 20-A MRSA §4703, as enacted by PL 1983, c. 859, Pt. C, §§5 and 7, is amended to read:
§ 4703.Instruction for individual students
Elementary and secondary schools may provide special instruction for gifted and talentedshall provide students.with opportunities for learning in multiple pathways that may include the following:
 
1.  Career and technical education.   Career and technical education;
 
2.  Alternative education programs.   Alternative education programs;
 
3.  Apprenticeships.   Apprenticeships;
 
4.  Career academies.   Career academies;
 
5.  Advanced placements.   Advanced placements;
 
6.  Online courses.   Online courses;
 
7.  Adult education.   Adult education;
 
8.  Dual enrollment.   Dual enrollment; or
 
9.  Gifted and talented programs.   Gifted and talented programs.
Sec. 8. 20-A MRSA §4706, first ¶, as repealed and replaced by PL 2001, c. 667, Pt. A, §42, is amended to read:
Instruction in American history, government, citizenship and Maine studies must be taught as specified inaligned with the system of learning resultsparameters for essential instruction and graduation requirements established inunder section 6209.
Sec. 9. 20-A MRSA §4706, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2001, c. 403, §1, is further amended to read:
 
1. American history. American history and civil, government and citizenship, including the Constitution of the United States, the Declaration of Independence, the importance of voting and the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship, must be taught in and required for graduation from all elementary and secondary schools, both public and private.
Sec. 10.  20-A MRSA §4710  is enacted to read:
§ 4710. Kindergarten to grade 12 interventions
By the school year that begins in the fall of 2012 all school administrative units shall develop and implement a system of interventions for kindergarten to grade 12 that provide each student who is not progressing toward meeting the content standards of the parameters for essential instruction and graduation requirements with different learning experiences or assistance to achieve the standard. The interventions must be specific, timely and based upon ongoing formative assessments that continuously monitor student progress.
Sec. 11. 20-A MRSA §4711, as amended by PL 2001, c. 454, §21, is further amended to read:
§ 4711.Elementary course of study
The basic course of study for the elementary schools must provide for the instruction of all students in career preparationand education development, English language arts, foreignworld languages, health education and physical education, mathematics, science and technology, social studies and visual and performing arts, as described in the system of learning resultsparameters for essential instruction and graduation requirements subject to the schedule specified in section 6209. In furtherance of the content standards in section 6209, subsection 2, the course of study must also include physiology and hygiene, with special reference to the effects of substance abuse, including alcohol, tobacco and narcotics upon the human system.
Sec. 12.  20-A MRSA §4712  is enacted to read:
§ 4712. Junior high school or middle school course of study
The basic course of study for the junior high schools or middle schools must provide for the instruction of all students in career and education development, English language arts, health education and physical education, mathematics, science and technology, social studies, visual and performing arts and world languages, as described in the parameters for essential instruction and graduation requirements subject to the schedule specified in section 6209.
Sec. 13. 20-A MRSA §4721, as amended by PL 2001, c. 454, §22, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
§ 4721. General requirement
 
1.  Comprehensive program of instruction.   A secondary school shall provide a comprehensive program of instruction of at least 2 years in length, which must meet the requirements of this chapter and the parameters for essential instruction and graduation requirements established under section 6209. The program must include instruction for all students in career and education development, English language arts, health education and physical education, mathematics, science and technology, social studies, visual and performing arts and world languages.
 
2.  Secondary school organization and delivery of instruction.   A secondary school shall provide a structure that allows for student achievement of the parameters for essential instruction and graduation requirements established under section 6209 in multiple pathways as set out under section 4703.
Sec. 14. 20-A MRSA §4722, first ¶, as amended by PL 2001, c. 454, §23, is further amended to read:
A secondary school shall provide at least one course of studya comprehensive program of instruction leading to a high school diploma that must meet the following standardsas set out in section 4721. The commissioner shall develop rules for the transition between the requirements of this section and the system of learning results asthe parameters for essential instruction and graduation requirements established inunder section 6209.
Sec. 15. 20-A MRSA §4722, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1983, c. 859, Pt. C, §§5 and 7, is amended to read:
 
1. Minimum instructional requirements. A diploma course of study shallcomprehensive program of instruction must include a minimum 4-year program of instruction whichthat meets the curriculum requirements established by this chapter and any other instructional requirements established by the commissioner and the school board.
Sec. 16.  20-A MRSA §4722, sub-§2-A  is enacted to read:
 
2-A.  Implementation of multiple pathways and opportunities.   Students may demonstrate achievement of the standards through multiple pathways as set out under section 4703 and multiple opportunities. Achievement may be demonstrated by evidence documented by course and learning experiences using multiple measures, such as, but not limited to, examinations, quizzes, portfolios, performances, exhibitions and projects.
Sec. 17. 20-A MRSA §4722, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2007, c. 451, §2, is further amended to read:
 
3. Satisfactory completion. A diploma may be awarded to secondary school students who have satisfactorily completed all diploma requirements in accordance with the academic standards of the school administrative unit and this chapter. All secondary school students must work toward achievement ofachieve the content standards of the system of learning resultsparameters for essential instruction and graduation requirements established pursuant to section 6209. Children with disabilities, as defined in section 7001, subsection 1-A1-B, who successfully meet the content standards of the system of learning resultsparameters for essential instruction and graduation requirements in addition to any other diploma requirements applicable to all secondary school students, as specified by the goals and objectives of their individualized education plans, may be awarded a high school diploma. Career and technical students may, with the approval of the commissioner, satisfy the 2nd-year math and science, the 2nd-year social studies and the fine arts requirements of subsection 2 through separate or integrated study within the career and technical school curriculum.
 
Students who experience education disruption, as defined in section 5001-A, subsection 4, paragraph F, who successfully demonstrate achievement of the content standards of the system of learning resultsparameters for essential instruction and graduation requirements in addition to any other diploma requirements applicable to secondary school students as set forth in their school work recognition plans as defined in section 5161, subsection 6 must, with the approval of the commissioner, be awarded a Department of Education diploma as defined in section 5161, subsection 2.
Sec. 18. 20-A MRSA §4728, as enacted by PL 1983, c. 859, Pt. C, §§5 and 7, is repealed.
Sec. 19. 20-A MRSA §6201, as amended by PL 2001, c. 454, §§27 and 28, is further amended to read:
§ 6201.Legislative intent
The Legislature concurs with the recommendation of the 1984 report of the Commission on the Status of Education in Mainefinds that all students graduating from high school must be prepared for success in postsecondary education, careers and citizenship and that a state-widestatewide educational assessment program must be implemented.
There is a need for assessment information at both the state and local levellevels to measure progress and ensure accountability regarding the system of learning results, whichimplementation of the parameters for essential instruction and graduation requirements under section 6209 and in the department rules implementing that section and other curricular requirements. This must be accomplished through a comprehensive system of local and state assessments, involving multiple measures to determine what each student knows and is able to demonstrate regarding the standards of the system of learning resultsparameters for essential instruction and graduation requirements.
This comprehensive local and stateThe assessment system must have the following objectives:
 
1. Statewide assessment. To provide information on the academic achievement and progress of Maine students;
 
2. State goals. To establish a process for a continuing evaluation of the system of learning results established in section 6209 and to aid in the development of educational policies, standards and programs;
 
3. Local programs. To provide school officials with information to assess the quality, effectiveness and appropriateness of educational materials,and methods and curriculum needs, including remediation, interventions and enrichment in their schools;
 
4. Individual students. To provide school staffs with information about the individual students that may be used, with other information, to meet individual and educationaleducation needs of the student. The statewide assessment program may not be the only criteria for judging student performance;
 
5. Trends. To identify year-to-year trends in student achievement; and
 
6. Parents. To provide parents with information about the achievements of their children on the assessment program.
Sec. 20. 20-A MRSA §6202, first ¶, as amended by PL 2005, c. 662, Pt. A, §13, is further amended to read:
The commissioner shall establish a statewide assessment program to measure and evaluate on a continuing basis the academic achievements of students atin grades 4, 8 and 11 in the content areas of the system of learning results established3 to 12 on the accountability standards set forth in section 6209 specified by the commissionerand in department rules implementing that section and other curricular requirements. The commissioner may elect to provide for the use of alternative measures of student achievement in grade 11grades 9 to 12. This assessment applies to students in the public elementary and secondary schools and in all private schools approved for tuition whose school enrollments include at least 60% publicly funded students, as determined by the previous school year's October and April average enrollment. The assessment program must be adapted to meet the needs of children with disabilities as defined in section 7001, subsection 1-A or other students as defined under rules by the commissioner.
Sec. 21. Requirements for awarding high school diplomas. The Commissioner of Education shall convene a working group of interested parties to work together, in good faith, as educational partners to develop requirements for awarding high school diplomas that permit school administrative units to award high school diplomas based on standards, credits or a combination of standards and credits. The commissioner shall invite the participation of the Maine School Boards Association, the Maine School Superintendents Association, the Maine Principals' Association, the Maine Education Association, the Maine Administrators of Services for Children with Disabilities and other interested entities. The commissioner shall submit a report on the requirements for awarding high school diplomas to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs no later than January 29, 2010. After receipt and review of the report, the joint standing committee may report out legislation regarding the requirements for awarding high school diplomas to the Second Regular Session of the 124th Legislature.
Sec. 22. Maine Revised Statutes headnote amended; revision clause. In the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 207-A, subchapter 2, in the subchapter headnote, the words "elementary schools" are amended to read "elementary and junior high schools or middle schools" and the Revisor of Statutes shall implement this revision when updating, publishing or republishing the statutes.
 
Effective September 12, 2009