Proficiency Based Diplomas

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Proficiency Based Diplomas

• Maine Education Association

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Maine Is Ahead Of The Pack

• Maine is a leader in developing a
  Proficiency-Based Diploma.
• There are still many unanswered questions about
  the design, implementation and future success of
  the idea.

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Why?

• In May 2012, the Maine Legislature passed An Act
  To Prepare Maine People for the Future Economy,
  which was signed into law on May 21, 2012. The
  legislation made Maine one of the first states in
  the country to require public high schools to
  award diplomas based on demonstrated
  proficiencynot passing grades and course
  credits. (NESSC)

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The New England Secondary Schools Consortium
(NESSC)

• http//www.aypf.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/NES
  SC-Leadership-Briefings-on-Proficiency.pdf

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NESSC Definition Of Proficiency-Based Diploma

• Simply put, a proficiency-based diploma is a
  graduation decision based on students
  demonstrating what they have learned. In
  practice, it means that every student must
  showby writing a paper, delivering a
  presentation, or completing a challenging
  project, for examplethat they have acquired a
  minimum level of proficiency and competence when
  it comes to mastering the essential knowledge and
  skills they need to succeed in college, work, and
  life.

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The Law

• 4722-A. Proficiency-based diploma standards
• Beginning January 1, 2017, a diploma indicating
  graduation from a secondary school must be based
  on student demonstration of proficiency as
  described in this section. The commissioner may
  permit a school administrative unit to award
  diplomas under this section prior to January 1,
  2017 if the commissioner finds that the unit's
  plan for awarding diplomas meets the criteria for
  proficiency-based graduation under this section.
  2011, c. 669, 7 (NEW).

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• 1. Requirements for award of diploma.  In order
  to receive a diploma indicating graduation from
  secondary school, a student must
• A. Demonstrate that the student engaged in
  educational experiences relating to English
  language arts, mathematics and science and
  technology in each year of the student's
  secondary schooling 2011, c. 669, 7 (NEW).
• B. Demonstrate proficiency in meeting state
  standards in all content areas of the system of
  learning results established under section 6209
  2011, c. 669, 7 (NEW).

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• C. Demonstrate proficiency in each of the guiding
  principles set forth in department rules
  governing implementation of te system of learning
  results established pursuant to section 6209 and
  2011, c. 669, 7 (NEW).
• D. Meet any other requirements specified by the
  governing body of the school administrative unit
  attended by the student. 2011, c. 669, 7
  (NEW).
• 2011, c. 669, 7 (NEW) .

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• 2. Method of gaining and demonstrating
  proficiency.  Students must be allowed to gain
  proficiency through multiple pathways, as
  described in section 4703, and must be allowed to
  demonstrate proficiency by presenting multiple
  types of evidence, including but not limited to
  teacher-designed or student-designed assessments,
  portfolios, performance, exhibitions, projects
  and community service.
• 2013, c. 176, 2 (AMD) .

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• 3. Exceptions.  Notwithstanding subsection 1, a
  student may be awarded a diploma indicating
  graduation from a secondary school in the
  following circumstances.
• A. A child with a disability, as defined in
  section 7001, subsection 1-B, who achieves
  proficiency as required in subsection 1, as
  specified by the goals and objectives of the
  child's individualized education plan, may be
  awarded a high school diploma. 2011, c. 669, 7
  (NEW).
• B. A student who has satisfactorily completed the
  freshman year in an accredited degree-granting
  institution of higher education may be eligible
  to receive a high school diploma from the school
  the student last attended. 2011, c. 669, 7
  (NEW).

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• B-1. A student who has satisfactorily completed
  the junior and senior years in a dual enrollment
  career and technical education program formed
  pursuant to chapter 229 and who successfully
  demonstrates proficiency as required in
  subsection 1 may be eligible to receive a high
  school diploma from the secondary school the
  student last attended. 2013, c. 318, 2 (NEW).
• C. 2013, c. 439, 4 (RP).
• D. A school administrative unit may award a high
  school diploma to a student who has met the
  standards set forth in a waiver request that was
  approved by the commissioner pursuant to section
  4502, subsection 8. 2011, c. 669, 7 (NEW).

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• E. A person may be awarded a high school diploma,
  including a posthumous award, if the person or a
  family member of the person applies to a
  secondary school and
• (1) The person
• (a) Attended a secondary school in the geographic
  area now served by the secondary school from
  which a diploma is requested or
• (b) Resides at the time of application for a
  diploma in the geographic area served by the
  secondary school from which a diploma is
  requested

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• (2) The person did not graduate or receive a
  diploma from a secondary school because the
  person left secondary school to serve in the
  Armed Forces and served during the following
  periods
• (a) World War II, from December 7, 1941 to August
  16, 1945
• (b) The Korean Conflict
• (c) The Vietnam War era, from February 28, 1961
  to May 7, 1975 or
• (d) The period of wartime or peacetime after a
  period of wartime described in division (a), (b)
  or (c) and

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• (3) The person received an honorable discharge or
  a certificate of honorable service from the Armed
  Forces.
• For the purposes of this paragraph, "Armed
  Forces" means the United States Army, Navy, Air
  Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and the Merchant
  Marines. 2013, c. 281, 2 (AMD).
• 2013, c. 439, 4 (AMD) .

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• 4. Grants contingent extension of full
  implementation.  During the period of transition
  to proficiency-based graduation in accordance
  with this section, the department, if funds are
  available, shall make annual transition grants to
  each school administrative unit equal to 1/10 of
  1 of the school administrative unit's total cost
  of education calculated under section 15688,
  subsection 1 to be used in the manner determined
  by the school administrative unit to fund the
  costs of the transition not otherwise subsidized
  by the State. The date for implementation of the
  awarding of diplomas based on student
  demonstration of proficiency as described in this
  section is extended one year for each year for
  which transition grants are not made available to
  a school administrative unit or for which levels
  of general purpose aid for local schools fall
  below school year 2012-2013 levels.
• 2011, c. 669, 7 (NEW) .

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So That Is The Law.

• Now what?

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Maine DOE website

• http//www.maine.gov/doe/proficiency/
• The Maine Department of Education has an in-depth
  section on their website with resources.
• Be sure to check here first.

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What Happened to the Maine Learning Results?

• The DOE states
• The Maine Learning Results were most recently
  updated in 2011 to include Common Core as the
  standards for English language arts and math,
  better preparing our students for success in
  college, career and civic life by creating
  deeper, more rigorous and clearer expectations
  for learning.

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Eight Content Areas of Maine Learning Results

• Career Education Development
• English Language Arts
• Health Education Physical Education
• Mathematics
• Science Technology
• Social Studies
• Visual Performing Arts
• World Languages

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How Do I Know What I Am Supposed To Do?

• The DOE says
• Ongoing, educator-driven professional learning is
  essential when developing a proficiency-based
  learning system, just as it is when continuing to
  reflect on and refine its design.
• When a district or school begins the planning
  process, professional development should focus on
  the goals and design of the systemwhat it will
  mean for students and educators, and how it will
  need to work.

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So Do You Have Adequate Professional Development?

• MEA suspects that most schools are not providing
  the professional development necessary to
  implementing Proficiency Based Diplomas.
• We have talked to our members who say most of the
  time they are left to their own devices.

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What Can I Do?

• MEAs UniServ Directors, our regional field
  staff, can help you and your colleagues.
• Contact your nearest UniServ office to find a
  time for a presentation.

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Southern Maine

• MEA UniServ Centers and StaffDISTRICTS 1, 2, 3,
  429 Christopher Toppi Drive, South Portland ME
  04106Tel. [phone] or 1-800-750-8801 Fax
  774-9786Get directions to the South Portland
  Office.UniServ DirectorsDistrict 1 - Judith
  Beverage, Ext. 2506District 2 - Gregory
  Hannaford,Ext. 2504District 3 - Rob Olson, Ext.
  2503District 4 - Becky Fernald, Ext.
  2505AssistantsCathy Hogan, Ext. 2502Gail
  Poirier, Ext. 2501

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South Central Maine

• DISTRICTS 5, 6201 Main Street, AuburnMail PO
  Box 368, Auburn ME 04212Tel. [phone] or
  1-800-649-9017 Fax [phone]Get directions to the
  Auburn Office.UniServ DirectorsDistrict 5 -
  Rose Mahoney, Ext. 2101District 6 - Nicole
  Argraves, Ext. 2102Assistant Susan Beaulieu,
  Ext. 2103

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Augusta Area

• DISTRICTS 7, 8, 9, 1035 Community Drive, Augusta
  ME 04330Tel. [phone] or 1-800-452-8709 Fax
  623-2129Get directions to the Augusta
  Office.UniServ DirectorsDistrict 7 - Joan
  Morin, Ext. 2237District 8 - Lee Libby, Ext.
  2213District 9 - Krystyna Dzialo, Ext.
  2230AssistantsDebbie Sylvester, Ext.
  2228Sara Stratton, Ext. 2208

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North Central Maine

• DISTRICTS 11, 12, 13, 14, 151349 Broadway,
  Bangor ME 04401Tel. [phone] or 1-888-942-2907  
  Fax [phone]
• Get directions to the Bangor Office.
• UniServ DirectorsDistrict 10 Aymie Walshe,
  Ext. 2308
• District 11-- Misty O'Leary, Ext. 2309District
  12 --Elizabeth Peterson, Ext. 2310District 13
  - John Bracciodieta, Ext. 2306District 14 -
  Stephanie von Glinsky, Ext. 2307AssistantsMona
  Lothian, Ext. 2302Annette Sawyer, Ext.
  2304Jo-Lynn Leithiser, Ext. 2303

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Northern Maine

• DISTRICT 15
• UniServ DirectorDistrict 16 Lou Willey, Ext.
  2401Assistant Dianne Leighton, Ext. 2400
• 128 Sweden St., Suite 2Mail PO Drawer 310,
  Caribou ME 04736Tel. [phone] or 1-800-281-3191
  Fax [phone]Get directions to the Caribou Office.