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An Act To Promote Computer Science and Efficient Communication between Schools and the Department of Education
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §6209, sub-§2, ¶C, as amended by PL 2007, c. 259, §5, is further amended to read:
 
C. World languages, which may include proficiency in a computer programming language;
Sec. 2. Department of Education to adopt rules on computer programming language proficiency. The Department of Education shall adopt routine technical rules as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A that create standards to determine proficiency in a computer programming language pursuant to Title 20-A, section 6209, subsection 2.
Sec. 3. Department of Education to issue request for proposals to purchase a student information system. The Department of Education shall issue a request for proposals to purchase a student information system, to be offered at no cost to participating school administrative units, that links with the department's student information system. Criteria for the student information system in the request for proposals must include:
1. Tracking a student's proficiencies in content areas in the statewide system of learning results and performance indicators under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 6209 and recording these proficiencies in transcript form;
2. Processing both an elementary school's and secondary school's traditional system of grading and reporting and proficiency-based grading and reporting;
3. Allowing the ability of school administrative units to share reports and templates with each other and with career and technical centers;
4. Synchronizing with the State's assessment database; and
5. Containing the State's parameters for essential instruction and graduation requirements.
Sec. 4. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
 
EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF
 
Student Information System
 
Initiative: Provides funds to purchase a student information system that can be offered to school administrative units and that links with the Department of Education student information system.

GENERAL FUND	2017-18	2018-19	
All Other	$1,000,000	$1,000,000	
			
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$1,000,000	$1,000,000	

SUMMARY
This bill allows that proficiency in a computer programming language may substitute for proficiency in a world language to meet the parameters of secondary school essential instruction and graduation requirements. This bill also appropriates $1,000,000 per year of the 2018-2019 biennium to the Department of Education to issue a request for proposals to purchase a student information system that tracks student proficiency, grades and other student information, that links with the Department of Education student information system and that can be given to school administrative units at no cost.