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An Act To Repeal Certain Requirements for Graduation from Secondary School
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §4511, sub-§3, ¶J, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 489, §1, is amended to read:
 
J. The school demonstrates evidence of sufficient capacity through multiple pathways as set out in section 4703 for students to reach proficiency in each of the content areas of the system of learning results established under section 6209 and in each of the guiding principles set forth in department rules governing implementation of the system of learning results established pursuant to section 6209.
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §4722-A, sub-§1, ¶B-1, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 489, §2, is amended to read:
 
B-1. Phase in the following diploma requirements from the 2020-2021 school year to the 2024-2025 school year:
 
(1) For a student graduating in the graduating class of 2020-2021, certify that the student has demonstrated proficiency in meeting the state standards in the content areas of English language arts, mathematics, science and technology and social studies;
 
(2) For a student graduating in the graduating class of 2021-2022, certify that the student has demonstrated proficiency in meeting the state standards in the content areas of English language arts, mathematics, science and technology, social studies and at least one additional content area of the student’s choice;
 
(3) For a student graduating in the graduating class of 2022-2023, certify that the student has demonstrated proficiency in meeting the state standards in the content areas of English language arts, mathematics, science and technology, social studies and at least 2 additional content areas of the student’s choice;
 
(4) For a student graduating in the graduating class of 2023-2024, certify that the student has demonstrated proficiency in meeting the state standards in the content areas of English language arts, mathematics, science and technology, social studies and at least 3 additional content areas of the student’s choice; and
 
(5) For a student graduating in the graduating class of 2024-2025 and for each subsequent graduating class, certify that the student has demonstrated proficiency in meeting the state standards in all content areas.
 
For the purposes of this paragraph, "content areas" refers to the content areas of the system of learning results established under section 6209.; and
Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §4722-A, sub-§1, ¶C, as amended by PL 2015, c. 489, §2, is repealed.
Sec. 4. 20-A MRSA §4722-A, sub-§3, ¶B-2, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 489, §2, is amended to read:
 
B-2. For the graduating class of 2020-2021 and each subsequent graduating class, a student who has satisfactorily completed a state-approved career and technical education program of study and either met 3rd-party-verified national or state industry standards set forth in department rules established pursuant to section 8306-B or earned 6 credits in a dual enrollment career and technical education program formed pursuant to chapter 229 from a regionally accredited institution of higher education and who has successfully demonstrated proficiency in meeting state standards in the content areas and the guiding principles set forth in department rules governing implementation of the system of learning results established pursuant to section 6209, is eligible to receive a high school diploma from the secondary school the student last attended. A student may be awarded a high school diploma from the secondary school the student last attended in accordance with the phase-in of the following diploma requirements for the graduating class of 2020-2021 to the graduating class of 2023-2024:
 
(1) For a student graduating in the graduating class of 2020-2021, the student has demonstrated proficiency in meeting the state standards in the content areas of English language arts, mathematics and social studies;
 
(2) For a student graduating in the graduating class of 2021-2022, the student has demonstrated proficiency in meeting the state standards in the content areas of English language arts, mathematics, social studies and at least one additional content area of the student’s choosing;
 
(3) For a student graduating in the graduating class of 2022-2023, the student has demonstrated proficiency in meeting the state standards in the content areas of English language arts, mathematics, social studies and at least 2 additional content areas of the student’s choosing; and
 
(4) For a student graduating in the graduating class of 2023-2024 and in each subsequent graduating class, the student has demonstrated proficiency in meeting the state standards in the content areas of English language arts, mathematics, social studies and at least 3 additional content areas of the student’s choosing.
 
For the purposes of this paragraph, "content areas" refers to the content areas of the system of learning results established under section 6209.
Sec. 5. 20-A MRSA §4722-A, sub-§6, as amended by PL 2015, c. 489, §2, is further amended to read:
 
6. Implementation of proficiency-based diplomas and transcripts.   Beginning in the 2016-2017 school year, the department shall annually collect and report data on the progress of public schools and public charter schools towards the implementation of proficiency-based diplomas and transcripts in relation to the ongoing transition plan required pursuant to section 4502, subsection 1, including the number of students graduating with proficiency-based diplomas, the number of students concluding their high school careers proficient in each of the content areas of the system of learning results established under section 6209 and in each of the guiding principles set forth in department rules governing implementation of the system of learning results established pursuant to section 6209 and the number of students certified as ready for college and careers. By January 15, 2017, and annually thereafter, the department shall provide an annual report of the data collected for the prior school year to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters, and the department shall post the annual report on its publicly accessible website.
Sec. 6. 20-A MRSA §6209, sub-§3-A, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 489, §5, is amended to read:
 
A. Maintain student transcripts containing certification of proficiency for each content area and guiding principle in the system of learning results pursuant to this section in which the student has demonstrated proficiency;
Sec. 7. 20-A MRSA §6211, as amended by PL 2015, c. 489, §7, is further amended to read:
§ 6211.Rulemaking
The commissioner shall develop rules to accomplish the purposes of this chapter. Rules adopted by the commissioner under this chapter must include guidelines and protocols to strengthen the capacity of school administrative units to ensure sufficient opportunity through multiple pathways for all students to achieve proficiency in meeting the state standards and guiding principles under the system of learning results established pursuant to section 6209. Rules adopted pursuant to this chapter are major substantive rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 8. 20-A MRSA §6214, sub-§1, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 500, §1, is amended to read:
 
B. Use measures of student proficiency in all content areas of the learning results and the guiding principles using data gathered under section 4722-A, subsection 5;
 
SUMMARY
Under current law, in order to award to a student a diploma indicating graduation from secondary school, a school must certify that the student has demonstrated proficiency in each of the guiding principles set forth in rules adopted by the Department of Education. In accordance with rules adopted by the department, the guiding principles are measured using rubrics that assess and grade a student's proficiencies in being a clear and effective communicator, a self-directed and lifelong learner, a creative and practical problem solver, a responsible and involved citizen and an integrative and informed thinker. This bill repeals this requirement.