Resolve, To Convene a Study Group To Study Proficiency in Content Areas for Secondary School Graduation Standards
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1294
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: DILL, TIPPING, DIAMOND, SAVIELLO, DUNPHY, HIGGINS

Legislative Document
No. 1294
S.P. 446
In Senate, April 4, 2017
Resolve, To Convene a Study Group To Study Proficiency in 
Content Areas for Secondary School Graduation Standards
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed.
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator DILL of Penobscot.
Cosponsored by Representative TIPPING of Orono and
Senators: DIAMOND of Cumberland, SAVIELLO of Franklin, Representatives: DUNPHY of 
Old Town, HIGGINS of Dover-Foxcroft.
Sec. 1.  Commissioner of Education to convene study group to study 
proficiency in content areas for purposes of secondary school graduation 
standards.  Resolved:  That the Commissioner of Education shall convene a study 
group to study proficiency in content areas under the parameters for essential instruction 
and graduation requirements in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 6209, 
subsection 2.  The study group must be composed of members interested in secondary 
education, and the membership must have approximately equal representation from the 
Department of Education, the Maine Curriculum Leaders' Association, the Maine 
Principals' Association and groups focused on relevant content areas such as the 
Association of Teachers of Mathematics in Maine and the Maine Association for Health, 
Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.  If there is no group focused on a relevant 
content area available, the Maine Education Association may provide a representative for 
that relevant content area; and be it further 
Sec. 2.  Study group purpose.  Resolved:  That the purpose of the study group 
in section 1 is, for every content area under the parameters for essential instruction and 
graduation, to determine a baseline proficiency standard that represents a midpoint 
between the Department of Education's current 8th grade graduation standards of 
proficiency and secondary school graduation standards of proficiency; and be it further 
Sec. 3.  Recommended legislation.  Resolved: That, along with any 
recommended legislation the Commissioner of Education determines appropriate, the 
commissioner with the assistance of the study group shall develop recommended 
legislation to require a student graduating in the class of 2024-2025 to obtain full 
proficiency in 6 of the 8 content areas under the parameters for essential instruction and 
graduation requirements chosen at the student's discretion and at least baseline 
proficiency under section 2 in the remaining 2 content areas; and be it further 
Sec. 4.  Report.  Resolved:  By December 6, 2017, the Commissioner of 
Education shall submit a report based upon the study and recommended legislation to the 
Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs.  The joint standing 
committee may report out a bill based upon the report to the Second Regular Session of 
the 128th Legislature. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve directs the Commissioner of Education to convene a study group with 
various interested parties and stakeholders to determine baseline proficiency standards for 
the 8 content areas under the parameters for essential instruction and graduation 
requirements that represent a midpoint between current 8th grade standards of proficiency 
and secondary school graduation standards of proficiency.  Current law requires for the 
graduating class of 2024-2025 full proficiency in all 8 content areas in order to graduate 
from secondary school.  This resolve directs the Commissioner of Education to draft 
recommended legislation to require full proficiency in 6 of the content areas chosen at the 
student's discretion and baseline proficiencies in the remaining 2 content areas as 
requirements to graduate from secondary school for the 2024-2025 school year.