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An Act To Ensure the Successful Implementation of Proficiency-based Diplomas by Extending the Timeline for Phasing in Their Implementation
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 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 2020-20212021-2022 school year to the 2024-20252025-2026 school year:
 
(1) For a student graduating in the graduating class of 2020-20212021-2022, certify that the student has demonstrated proficiency in meeting the state standards in the content areas of English language arts, mathematics, science and technology and social studies;
 
(2) For a student graduating in the graduating class of 2021-20222022-2023, 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 one additional content area of the student’s choice;
 
(3) For a student graduating in the graduating class of 2022-20232023-2024, 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 2 additional content areas of the student’s choice;
 
(4) For a student graduating in the graduating class of 2023-20242024-2025, 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 2024-20252025-2026 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.
Sec. 2. 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 2020-20212021-2022 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 2020-20212021-2022 to the graduating class of 2023-20242024-2025:
 
(1) For a student graduating in the graduating class of 2020-20212021-2022, 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 2021-20222022-2023, the student has demonstrated proficiency in meeting the state standards in the content areas of English language arts, mathematics, social studies and at least one additional content area of the student’s choosing;
 
(3) For a student graduating in the graduating class of 2022-20232023-2024, 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 2023-20242024-2025 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.
 
SUMMARY
This bill delays by one year the timeline for the implementation of proficiency-based diplomas.