An Act To Prepare All Students for Work and Life by Requiring that Students Receive Instruction in Vocational Preparation and Practical Life Skills
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1860
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: MASON, SAVIELLO, ALLEY, HARLOW, NADEAU, STEARNS, WOOD, CYRWAY, LANGLEY
Amends: 20-A MRSA §1, 20-A MRSA §4711, 20-A MRSA §4712, 20-A MRSA §4721, 20-A MRSA §6209

Legislative Document
No. 1860
H.P. 1295
House of Representatives, March 8, 2018
An Act To Prepare All Students for Work and Life by Requiring 
that Students Receive Instruction in Vocational Preparation and 
Practical Life Skills
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative MASON of Lisbon.  (GOVERNOR'S BILL)
Cosponsored by Senator SAVIELLO of Franklin and
Representatives: ALLEY of Beals, HARLOW of Portland, NADEAU of Winslow, STEARNS 
of Guilford, WOOD of Greene, Senators: CYRWAY of Kennebec, LANGLEY of Hancock, 
MASON of Androscoggin.
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 career vocational preparation and education development practical 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 career vocational preparation and education 
development practical 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 career vocational preparation and education development practical 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; 
career vocational preparation and education development practical 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.  Career Vocational preparation and education development practical 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.