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An Act To Prepare All Students for Work and Life by Requiring that Students Receive Instruction in Vocational Preparation and Practical Life Skills
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §1, sub-§46  is enacted to read:
 
46.  Vocational preparation and practical life skills.     "Vocational preparation and practical life skills" means experiential instruction of students, regardless of career choice or pathway, that develops their understanding of interests, aptitudes and options related to work and study; develops core workplace skills in areas such as planning, communication, problem solving, teamwork and computer applications; and includes practical workplace and home economics experiences that maximize learning through hands-on application.
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §4711, as amended by PL 2009, c. 313, §11, 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 careervocational preparation and education developmentpractical life skills, English language arts, world languages, health education and physical education, mathematics, science and technology, social studies and visual and performing arts, as described in the parameters for essential instruction and graduation requirements subject to the schedule specified in section 6209.
Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §4712, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 313, §12, is amended 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 careervocational preparation and education developmentpractical life skills, 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. 4. 20-A MRSA §4721, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 313, §13, is amended to read:
 
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 careervocational preparation and education developmentpractical life skills, English language arts, health education and physical education, mathematics, science and technology, social studies, visual and performing arts and world languages.
Sec. 5. 20-A MRSA §6209, as amended by PL 2015, c. 489, §§3 to 6, is further amended to read:
§ 6209.System of learning results established
The department in consultation with the state board shall establish and implement a comprehensive, statewide system of learning results, which may include a core of standards in English language arts and mathematics for kindergarten to grade 12 established in common with the other states, as set forth in this section and in department rules implementing this section and other curricular requirements. The department must establish accountability standards at all grade levels in the areas of mathematics; reading; and science and technology. The department shall establish parameters for essential instruction in English language arts; mathematics; science and technology; social studies; careervocational preparation and education developmentpractical life skills; visual and performing arts; health, physical education and wellness; and world languages. Only a public school, a public charter school as defined in section 2401, subsection 9 or a private school approved for tuition purposes that enrolls at least 60% publicly funded students, as determined by the previous school year's October and April average enrollment, is required to participate in the system of learning results set forth in this section and in department rules implementing this section and other curricular requirements. The commissioner shall develop accommodation provisions for instances where course content conflicts with sincerely held religious beliefs and practices of a student's parent or guardian. The system must be adapted to accommodate children with disabilities as defined in section 7001, subsection 1-B.
 
1-A. Accountability standards.   Each student must be assessed by means of a statewide assessment in the following areas:
 
A. Reading;
 
B. Mathematics; and
 
C. Science, in those content areas concerning cells and continuity and change.
 
2. Parameters for essential instruction and graduation requirements.   Each school subject to the provisions of this section shall ensure sufficient opportunity and capacity through multiple pathways for all students to study and achieve proficiency in the areas of:
 
A. CareerVocational preparation and education developmentpractical life skills;
 
B. English language arts;
 
C. World languages;
 
D. Health, physical education and wellness;
 
E. Mathematics;
 
F. Science and technology;
 
G. Social studies; and
 
H. Visual and performing arts.
 
3. Career and education development; world languages; visual and performing arts.   By the end of the 2007-2008 school year, each local school administrative unit shall implement standards in the areas of career and education development, world languages and visual and performing arts. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the commissioner is authorized to establish rules for inclusion of some portion of the standards in visual and performing arts for the graduating class of 2011-2012.
 
3-A. Transcripts.   A school subject to this section shall:
 
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;
 
B. Certify on the basis of objective measures in the transcript a student's postsecondary readiness; and
 
C. Establish a transcript that meets the requirements of paragraphs A and B as an officially sanctioned credential of student learning for admission to a postsecondary education institution and employment in a business, trade or industry.
 
4. Review cycle.   The commissioner shall conduct a review of the content standards and performance indicators by content area on a 5-year cycle beginning in the 2015-2016 school year. The review of the content standards and performance indicators for the content area of social studies, including student achievement of proficiency in personal finance, must be included in the commissioner's review during the 2015-2016 school year. Any changes that are recommended must be approved through the same process used for establishment of the system of learning results. Beginning in the 2016-2017 school year, the commissioner shall review and make recommendations for objective measures that may be used to substantiate school certifications of postsecondary readiness.
 
SUMMARY
This bill changes the requirement in the system of learning results, which is the foundation for Maine's proficiency-based diploma, from "career and education development" to "vocational preparation and practical life skills," which will allow the Department of Education to emphasize experiential instruction of students, regardless of career choice or pathway, that develops their understanding of interests, aptitudes and options related to work and study; develops core workplace skills in areas such as planning, communication, problem solving, teamwork and computer applications; and includes practical workplace and home economics experiences that maximize learning through hands-on application when it revises the standards and rules to reflect the emphasis on those elements going forward.