An Act Regarding Curriculum Requirements and Standards for Awarding a High School Diploma
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 2174
Committee Amendment CA_A_H761 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "J4" to H.P. 1548, L.D. 2174, Bill, "An Act 
Regarding Curriculum Requirements and Standards for Awarding a High School 
Diploma" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, Regarding Curriculum Requirements and Standards for Awarding 
a High School Diploma' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and before the summary and 
inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 
Stakeholder group review of curriculum requirements and 
standards for awarding a high school diploma. Resolved: 
That the 
Commissioner of Education shall convene a stakeholder group, referred to in this resolve 
as "the stakeholder group," 
to examine the state laws and rules pertaining to the 
curriculum requirements and standards for awarding a high school diploma; and be it 
further 
Sec. 2. Stakeholder group membership. Resolved: That the stakeholder 
group consists of 17 members appointed by the Commissioner of Education: 
1. 
Two members who are classroom teachers in public secondary schools, 
recommended by the President of the Maine Education Association; 
2. 
Two members who are career and technical education directors of public 
secondary schools, recommended by the Executive Director of the Maine Association of 
Career and Technical Education; 
3. Two members who are members of school administrative unit school boards, 
recommended by the Executive Director of the Maine School Board Association; 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT .. jJ .. to H.P. 1548, L.D. 2174 
4. Two members who are principals of public secondary schools or staff of the 
Maine Principals' Association, recommended by the Executive Director of the Maine 
Principals' Association; 
5. 
One member who is a superintendent of a school administrative unit, 
recommended by the Executive Director of the Maine School Superintendents 
Association; 
6. One member who is a special education director of a school administrative unit, 
recommended by the Executive Director of the Maine Administrators of Services for 
Children with Disabilities; 
7. 
One member who is a guidance counselor of a public secondary school, 
recommended by the President ofthe Maine School Counselor Association; 
8. Two members who are business and industry leaders in the State, recommended 
by the Maine State Chamber of Commerce; 
9. One member who is a faculty or staff member at one of the campuses of the Maine 
Community College System, recommended by the President of the Maine Community 
College System; 
10. One member who is a faculty or staff member at one of the campuses of the 
University of Maine System, recommended by the Chancellor of the University of Maine 
System; 
11. One member who represents the State Board of Education, recommended by the 
Chair of the State Board of Education; and 
12. One member who represents the Department of Education, recommended by the 
Commissioner of Education; and be it further 
Sec. 3. Chair. Resolved: That the stakeholder group shall appoint a chair from 
among its members; and be it further 
Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of stakeholder group. Resolved: That all 
appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this 
resolve. The appointing authorities shall notifY the Commissioner of Education of the 
names of and contact information for the stakeholder group members once all 
appointments have been completed. Within 15 days after appointment of all members, 
the Commissioner of Education shall call and convene the first meeting of the stakeho Ider 
group and shall notifY the stakeholder group members of the appointments to the 
stakeholder group and the agenda for the organizational meeting of the stakeholder group. 
During the first meeting, the stakeholder group may establish a policy regarding the 
ability of a member to be represented by a designee in the event the member is not able to 
attend a stakeholder group meeting; and be it further 
Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the stakeholder group shall examine the current 
statutes and rules that pertain to the curriculum requirements and standards for awarding 
a high school diploma and shall develop recommendations that demonstrate how students 
can meet graduation requirements using mUltiple pathways that include career and 
technical education programs. The stakeholder group shall review the provisions of the 
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 207-A, other relevant provisions of the 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT .. 4 "to H.P. 1548, L.D. 2174 
education statutes and state rules pertaining to the curriculum requirements and standards 
for awarding a high school diploma, including Department of Education Rule Chapter 
125: Basic Approval Standards: Public Schools and School Administrative Units and 
Department of Education Rule Chapter 127: 
Instructional Program, Assessment and 
Diploma Requirements. 
The stakeholder group shall develop and present a model that integrates secondary 
school curricula, programs and services so that all secondary students can graduate from 
high school well prepared for the challenges of the 21 st century. In examining the current 
statutes and rules that pertain to the curriculum requirements and standards for awarding 
a high school diploma, the stakeholder group shall develop recommendations that 
demonstrate how students can meet graduation requirements using multiple pathways that 
include career and technical education programs. The stakeholder group may examine 
other issues pertaining to curriculum requirements and standards for awarding a high 
school diploma that the stakeholder group membership determines to be useful or 
necessary in examining this policy matter; and be it further 
Sec. 6. Technical assistance. Resolved: 
That the Department of Education 
shall provide necessary staffing services, including funding, for the stakeholder group. 
Stakeholder group members are not entitled to receive reimbursement for travel and other 
necessary expenses related to their attendance at authorized meetings of the stakeholder 
group; and be it further 
Sec. 7. Meetings. Resolved: That the stakeholder group shall hold up to 5 
meetings, including the organizational meeting convened by the Commissioner of 
Education. The agenda for the organizational meeting of the stakeholder group must 
include the selection of a chair, the development of a work plan and the scheduling of not 
more than 4 additional meetings. The stakeholder group shall provide time for public 
comment during at least one of its meetings; and be it further 
Sec. 8. Report. Resolved: That the stakeholder group shall submit a report to the 
Commissioner of Education no later than November 28, 2008 that includes its findings, 
recommendations and any suggested changes to the Maine Revised Statutes or 
Department of Education rules that pertain to the curriculum requirements and standards 
for awarding a high school diploma. The commissioner shall report to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters by January 30, 
2009 on the report submitted by the stakeholder group and on the status of rule making for 
Department of Education Rule Chapter 125: Basic Approval Standards: Public Schools 
and School Administrative Units and Department of Education Rule Chapter 127: 
Instructional Program, Assessment and Diploma Requirements.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment strikes the bill and replaces it with a resolve that directs the 
Commissioner of Education to establish a stakeholder group to examine the Maine 
Revised Statutes and Department of Education rules that pertain to the curriculum 
requirements and standards for awarding a high school diploma. The stakeholder group 
shall develop recommendations that demonstrate how students can meet graduation 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,,4 .. to H.P. 1548, L.D. 2174 
requirements using multiple pathways that include career and technical education 
programs. 
The stakeholder group shall submit a report to the Commissioner of Education no 
later than November 28, 2008 that includes its findings, recommendations and any 
suggested changes to the Maine Revised Statutes or Department of Education rules that 
pertain to the curriculum requirements and standards for awarding a high school diploma. 
The commissioner shall report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over education matters by January 30, 2009 on the report submitted by the 
stakeholder group and on the status of rulemaking for Department of Education Rule 
Chapter 125: Basic Approval Standards: Public Schools and School Administrative Units 
and Department of Education Rule Chapter 127: Instructional Program, Assessment and 
Diploma Requirements. 
FTSCA L ~OTE REQLlRED 
(Se~ 8:tt~c~~~)_ 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 03111108 Mac. 
LD 2174 
LR 3390(02) 
An Act Regarding Curriculum Requirements and Standards for Awarding a High School Diploma 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment" A " 
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Additional costs to the Department of Education associated with participating in and providing staffing support to the 
stakeholder group can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. Additional costs to the State Board of 
Education, the Maine Community College System and the University of Maine System to participate in the 
stakeholder group can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR3390(02) - Fiscal Note - Page I of I