High School Diplomas

Proficiency-based or credit-based – DOE update

Governor LePage signed into law PL 2017, Chapter 466 on July 10, 2018, allowing SAUs to award either proficiency-based or credit-based diplomas. This change will take effect on December 13, 2018. The new diploma law, enacted by the 128th Legislature, removes the mandate that a high school diploma be based on a student’s demonstration of proficiency in Maine’s Learning Results and instead makes a proficiency-based diploma one of two options.

To help inform school districts and the public about the new law, the Department is providing a side-by-side comparison of the two diploma options. While the new law provides opportunities for flexibility and innovation in awarding a high school diploma, it also presents challenges. The Maine DOE believes the comparison chart will help districts navigate their different options to ensure that, whatever the local decision is, students are provided a high quality education.

Side-by-side comparison of the two diploma options (PDF)

The chart demonstrates that many details must be worked out both at the state and local level. As school leaders consider the uncertainties presented by the new law, the Commissioner wants districts to know that Maine DOE has an unwavering commitment to the quality of education for all Maine students. In this vein, districts should move forward with diploma requirements that serve students with an understanding that further legislation is likely necessary to reduce the inconsistencies between the two options.

The Commissioner is working collaboratively with stakeholders to establish common goals and seek solutions that ensure Maine’s high school diploma requirements provide a challenging, high quality education for every student in Maine. The Maine DOE looks forward to working with districts in this endeavor to prepare our graduates for a bright future.

Resources

Laws Quick Look Up:

• Public Law 2017, Chapter 466 Diploma law effective no later than March 2019
• Title 20-A §4722-A Proficiency-based diploma standards and transcripts Diploma Law prior to effective date of Public Law 2017, Chapter 466
• Title 20-A §4722. High school diploma standards Diploma law effective prior to Public Law 2017, Chapter 466

Maine Learning Results

Guiding Principles of The Maine Learning Results

Understanding the Guiding Principles – a Resource developed by the Maine DOE and epic, Educational Policy Improvement Center.

Cross Discipline Literacy Network

Online and face to face opportunities

Pam Ouellette (Lisbon High School), Suzanne Goulet (Waterville Sr. High School) and Lisa Gilman (Winthrop Middle School) continue to be a part of presenting collaborative professional development regarding literacy.

Vocabulary Instruction – grades 6-12 (Lisa G.)

Webinar 1: December 9, 3:00 – 4:00pm

Big and Practical Ideas About Academic Vocabulary in the Classroom

Description: How do we motivate students to see new meaning in words? When they learn the word “composition” in art, can they then transfer it to a social studies term when speaking about the composition of a community? What does it mean to write a musical composition, and how does that differ from composing an essay… or how are they the same? This webinar will provide an overview of ideas about how a teacher can go about selecting and assessing student vocabulary through five big ideas: Intentionality, Transparency, Usability, Personalization and Prioritization. The first webinar will highlight ideas on how to make vocabulary instruction intentional and transparent and offer strategies that can be used immediately in your own classrooms. Be ready to share your ideas, too.

Webinar 2: January 13, 4:30 – 5:30pm

More Practical Ideas about Academic Vocabulary in the Classroom

Description: This webinar will review the five big ideas of vocabulary instruction and delve into strategies for making vocabulary instruction usable, personal and a priority. Suggestions for implementation will be presented by three teachers of different subject areas and grade levels. Cross-curricular as well as subject-specific vocabulary strategies, will be explored. The teachers will share their experiences with concrete examples from their own classrooms. Again, be ready to share your ideas and experiences, too.

Department News Release

Bowen lauds Ed Committee vote on teacher effectiveness

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Contact:   David Connerty-Marin, 207-624-6880/831-3313

The Legislature’s Education Committee voted unanimously Wednesday afternoon in favor of LD 1858, a bill that would require schools to adopt teacher and principal evaluation systems.

“Of all the education bills this session, this one has the potential to positively impact education more than any other,” Bowen said. “The bill goes to the very heart of what we know has the greatest impact on learning: the effectiveness of teachers and school leaders. The best curriculum and learning materials in the world are of no use to us unless we have effective educators in our schools. Supporting great teaching and school leadership is what this bill is all about.”

The Education Committee has supported efforts to promote improved standards for students and now follows suit with clearer standards for teachers. The Maine Department of Education will work with many groups to develop guidelines and standards for evaluation systems, but the systems themselves will be developed or adopted at the local level.

“I appreciate the give and take with the Maine Education Association and legislators,” Bowen said. “It made this bill better by underscoring its true purpose – to improve the ways in which we prepare, support, and evaluate teachers.”

The committee approved LD 1865, which enhances career and technical education, by a 10-1 vote earlier this week. Both bills are part of Gov. Paul LePage’s education agenda and will likely go before the full Legislature in the next week or two.

Two more bills are part of the Administration’s agenda. One deals with public and private school choice options, the other with allowing funding for religious schools.  Those measures will be discussed by the committee on Thursday.

Information about all four bills, including links to the bill language and the commissioner’s testimony, can be found online at http://www.maine.gov/doe/first.

Celebration of Arts Ed. in Augusta

A Grand Day!

Tuesday marked a wonderful day. For eight years the Department has had a student art display representing grades PK-12 from many Maine schools. The artwork has been enjoyed by Department staff and visitors.

During this time few students and families have actually seen the display. We know that exhibiting artwork is an important part of the art process and that our Maine Learning Results include Exhibition – Performance Indicator B4. For many months I have been thinking about ways to provide the opportunity for students and parents to actually see the display and how to create a celebration of arts education, not just visual arts. Yesterday the ideas all came together in one grand afternoon!

Mom and daughter view the art

Student artists and musicians from Wiscasset primary, middle and high schools were invited to the Blaine House to be recognized for their accomplishments. Over 100 people attended the reception in the beautiful gardens and watched and listened while 30 students received a certificate, a letter from the First Lady Ann LePage, and a button. The Wiscasset High School Acapella group performed beautifully under the direction of music teacher Molly Winchenbach. State board chair James Banks helped present the awards. Proud Wiscasset art teachers Donna Barnes, Molly Carlson, Sarah Sutter, and Tom Block attended. Tom received the “Golden Paintbrush award” as he retires after 37 years in the classroom.

Carol Trimble, Executive Director from the Maine Alliance for Arts Education, presented the Administrator Advocate Arts award to Stewart Kestenbaum and the Bill Bonyun Artist/Educator award to Susan Webster. They have contributed many years to arts education programs for young people.

Tom Block and students perform at the Department

Student artists, their parents and invited guests moved from the Blaine House to the Department where they went on a guided tour of the exhibit. Music groups performed in the lobby area of the Department where staff and visitors could appreciate the musical selections. It was an arts education afternoon in Augusta!