An Act To Update Maine's High School Graduation Requirements
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 0949
Committee Amendment CA_A_S236 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to S.P. 295, L.D. 949, Bill, "An Act To Update 
Maine's High School Graduation Requirements" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, To Require the Department of Education To Submit a Plan for the 
Implementation of Standards-based Education' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. Plan to implement standards-based education. Resolved: That the 
Department of Education shall submit a report to the Joint Standing Committee on 
Education and Cultural Affairs by December 1, 2011 consisting of: 
1. 
Draft legislation to require that, in order to graduate from high school after 
January 1,2016, a student must: 
A. Demonstrate proficiency in meeting state standards in all 8 content areas of the 
system of learning results established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, 
section 6209; 
B. 
Demonstrate proficiency in each of the 5 guiding principles outlined in the 
Department of Education Rule Chapter 132, Learning Results: 
Parameters for 
Essential Instruction; and 
C. 
Meet other locally developed requirements to graduate from high school not 
inconsistent with state requirements. 
The legislation must also include any changes necessary to conform current state law to 
the needs of schools engaged in standards-based education, including allowing students to 
graduate from high school in more or fewer than 4 years; 
2. An outline of rules or additional guidance that the department may propose to 
more fully develop the requirements for awarding a high school diploma, including 
guidance regarding how schools are to track and report student mastery of standards and 
how schools are to ensure the validity of student assessments; and 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A "to S.P. 295, LD. 949 
3. A proposed system of technical assistance for schools in implementing standards-
based education, which may include development of training guides and other resources, 
the collection and sharing of rubrics and other materials and coordination and support for 
professional development, including professional learning communities that involve 
educators who are already engaged in standards-based education. The department must 
include proposed timelines for implementation of the proposed system of technical 
assistance; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Report. Resolved: That, in preparing its report under section 1, the 
Department of Education shall consult with teachers and administrators with experience 
in standards-based education, as well as the education associations in the State, for advice 
on determining the needs of educators and on developing a plan for joint efforts to 
achieve the goal of ensuring that students graduating from high schools in the State are 
proficient in all 8 content areas of the system of learning results established in the Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 6209 and in each of the 5 guiding principles outlined 
in the Department of Education Rule Chapter 132. The Joint Standing Committee on 
Education and Cultural Affairs is authorized to report out a bill to the Second Regular 
Session of the 125th Legislature related to the recommendations included in this report.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the concept draft with a resolve directing the Department of 
Education to develop and submit a plan for the implementation of standards-based 
education, including awarding high school diplomas to students who demonstrate 
proficiency in meeting state standards in all 8 content areas of the system of learning 
results established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 6209. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: 05/27/11 ?Hac 
LD949 
LR 1463(02) 
An Act To Update Maine's High School Graduation Requirements 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" s- 2~<O 
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Additional costs to the Department of Education to develop and submit the required plan can be absorbed within 
existing budgeted resources. 
LR1463(02) - Fiscal Note - Page I of I