An Act To Ensure the Successful Implementation of Proficiency-based Diplomas by Extending the Timeline for Phasing in Their Implementation
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1666
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: KORNFIELD, BERRY, DENNO, DOORE, GATTINE, GOLDEN
Amends: 20-A MRSA §4722-A

Legislative Document
No. 1666
H.P. 1152
House of Representatives, December 5, 2017
An Act To Ensure the Successful Implementation of Proficiency-
based Diplomas by Extending the Timeline for Phasing in Their 
Implementation
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203.
Received by the Clerk of the House on December 1, 2017.  Referred to the Committee on 
Education and Cultural Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to 
Joint Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative KORNFIELD of Bangor.
Cosponsored by Representatives: BERRY of Bowdoinham, DENNO of Cumberland, DOORE 
of Augusta, GATTINE of Westbrook, GOLDEN of Lewiston, McCREIGHT of Harpswell.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §4722-A, sub-§1, ¶B-1, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 489, §2, 
is amended to read:
B-1.  Phase in the following diploma requirements from the 2020-2021 2021-2022 
school year to the 2024-2025 2025-2026 school year:
(1)  For a student graduating in the graduating class of 2020-2021 2021-2022, 
certify that the student has demonstrated proficiency in meeting the state 
standards in the content areas of English language arts, mathematics, science and 
technology and social studies;
(2)  For a student graduating in the graduating class of 2021-2022 2022-2023, 
certify that the student has demonstrated proficiency in meeting the state 
standards in the content areas of English language arts, mathematics, science and 
technology, social studies and at least one additional content area of the student’s 
choice;
(3)  For a student graduating in the graduating class of 2022-2023 2023-2024, 
certify that the student has demonstrated proficiency in meeting the state 
standards in the content areas of English language arts, mathematics, science and 
technology, social studies and at least 2 additional content areas of the student’s 
choice;
(4)  For a student graduating in the graduating class of 2023-2024 2024-2025, 
certify that the student has demonstrated proficiency in meeting the state 
standards in the content areas of English language arts, mathematics, science and 
technology, social studies and at least 3 additional content areas of the student’s 
choice; and
(5)  For a student graduating in the graduating class of 2024-2025 2025-2026 and 
for each subsequent graduating class, certify that the student has demonstrated 
proficiency in meeting the state standards in all content areas.
For the purposes of this paragraph, "content areas" refers to the content areas of the 
system of learning results established under section 6209.
Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA §4722-A, sub-§3, ¶B-2, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 489, §2, 
is amended to read:
B-2.  For the graduating class of 2020-2021 2021-2022 and each subsequent 
graduating class, a student who has satisfactorily completed a state-approved career 
and technical education program of study and either met 3rd-party-verified national 
or state industry standards set forth in department rules established pursuant to 
section 8306-B or earned 6 credits in a dual enrollment career and technical education 
program formed pursuant to chapter 229 from a regionally accredited institution of 
higher education and who has successfully demonstrated proficiency in meeting state 
standards in the content areas and the guiding principles set forth in department rules 
governing implementation of the system of learning results established pursuant to 
section 6209, is eligible to receive a high school diploma from the secondary school 
the student last attended. A student may be awarded a high school diploma from the 
secondary school the student last attended in accordance with the phase-in of the 
following diploma requirements for the graduating class of 2020-2021 2021-2022 to 
the graduating class of 2023-2024 2024-2025:
(1) For a student graduating in the graduating class of 2020-2021 2021-2022, the 
student has demonstrated proficiency in meeting the state standards in the content 
areas of English language arts, mathematics and social studies;
(2) For a student graduating in the graduating class of 2021-2022 2022-2023, the 
student has demonstrated proficiency in meeting the state standards in the content 
areas of English language arts, mathematics, social studies and at least one 
additional content area of the student’s choosing;
(3) For a student graduating in the graduating class of 2022-2023 2023-2024, the 
student has demonstrated proficiency in meeting the state standards in the content 
areas of English language arts, mathematics, social studies and at least 2 
additional content areas of the student’s choosing; and
(4) For a student graduating in the graduating class of 2023-2024 2024-2025 and 
in each subsequent graduating class, the student has demonstrated proficiency in 
meeting the state standards in the content areas of English language arts, 
mathematics, social studies and at least 3 additional content areas of the student’s 
choosing.
For the purposes of this paragraph, "content areas" refers to the content areas of the 
system of learning results established under section 6209.
SUMMARY
This bill delays by one year the timeline for the implementation of proficiency-based 
diplomas.