An Act To Amend High School Diploma Standards
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1416
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: SAMPSON, ESPLING, GERRISH, MALABY, SANDERSON, SIROCKI, WOODSOME
Amends: 20-A MRSA §4722

Legislative Document
No. 1416
H.P. 974
House of Representatives, April 11, 2017
An Act To Amend High School Diploma Standards
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative SAMPSON of Alfred.
Cosponsored by Representatives: ESPLING of New Gloucester, GERRISH of Lebanon, 
MALABY of Hancock, SANDERSON of Chelsea, SIROCKI of Scarborough, Senator: 
WOODSOME of York.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §4722, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2013, c. 244, §1, is 
further amended to read: 
2.  Required subjects.  Courses in the following subjects shall must be provided in 
separate or integrated study programs to all students and required for a high school 
diploma: 
A.    English--, 4 years; 
B.  Social studies and history, including American history, government, and civics 
and personal finance--2, 4 years; 
C.    Mathematics-- 2, 4 years; 
D.    Science, including at least one year of laboratory study--2, 4 years; and 
E.    Fine arts, which may include art, music, forensics or drama--, one year.; 
F.  Physical education, including documented participation in physical activities 
outside of structured classroom activities, one year; 
G.  Career studies, which may include, but is not limited to, career investigation, job 
interview preparation, on-the-job learning experience and interning, 1/2 year; and 
H.  Life skills, which may include, but is not limited to, personal finance and 
financial literacy, basic car maintenance, basic carpentry and basic food preparation 
and nutrition, 1/2 year. 
Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA §4722, sub-§§7 and 8, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 669, §6, 
are repealed. 
Sec. 3.  Rulemaking.  The Department of Education shall adopt rules establishing 
the following 4 pathways by which students may demonstrate achievement of high school 
diploma standards under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 4722, subsection 
2-A: 
1.  Pathway A: 
A.  Minimum ACT scores of:  English, 18; mathematics, 22; reading, 22; and science, 
23; or 
B.  Minimum SAT scores of:  Evidenced-based reading and writing, 480; and 
mathematics, 530; 
2.  Pathway B: 
A.  Minimum 2.8 grade point average; 
B.  One academic indicator; and 
C.  Two career indicators; 
3.  Pathway C: 
A.  2.5 to 2.79 grade point average; 
B.  Algebra II proficiency as determined at the local level; 
C.  One academic indicator other than algebra II; and 
D.  Two career indicators; or 
4.  Pathway D: 
A.  Minimum 2.5 grade point average; 
B.  Passage of a college placement examination; and 
C.  Two career indicators. 
For the purposes of this section, "academic indicator" means passage of an advanced 
placement examination, an advanced placement course, a dual enrollment course, an 
international baccalaureate examination or a college development, remedial English or 
mathematics course, algebra II proficiency as determined at the local level or a minimum 
ACT score or minimum SAT score.  For the purposes of this section, "career indicator" 
means 90% attendance, at least 25 hours of community service, workplace learning 
experience, industry credentials or certification, 2 or more organized co-curricular 
activities or military service, including junior reserve officers' training corps.  Rules 
adopted pursuant to this section are major substantive rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 
375, subchapter 2-A. 
SUMMARY 
This bill amends the requirements for a high school diploma and adds new subjects to 
those requirements.  It repeals the sunset and application provisions of the high school 
diploma standards in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 4722.  It requires 
the Department of Education to adopt rules establishing pathways by which students may 
demonstrate achievement of high school diploma standards by documentation of college 
readiness assessment standardized test scores, combinations of GPA and academic and 
career indicators and advanced placement examinations and course grades.