3.__Grade 9 to grade 12.__Proficiency in the core of the learning results in grade 9 to grade 12 must be measured 5 times in 4 years by a locally developed, curriculum-embedded common assessment. The assessments may be interdisciplinary.

4.__Public high school graduation decisions.__By the 2007-2008 school year, public high school graduation must be determined by student achievement of the core of the learning results based on the school administrative unit's local assessment system established pursuant to this section in addition to other requirements as established by school board policy.

5.__Graduation decisions at certain private high schools. By the 2007-2008 school year, high school graduation for publicly funded students in private schools approved for tuition that enroll at least 60% publicly funded students, as determined by the previous school year's October and April average enrollment, must be determined by student achievement of the core of the learning results in addition to other requirements that may be established by the trustees.

Sec. 4. Department of Education; rules; training. The Department of Education shall adopt routine technical rules pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A to implement this Act. The department shall develop and facilitate training and professional development for educators to enable them to gather and analyze data pertaining to local assessments and to make changes in instruction to accommodate the local assessments provided for in this Act.

Sec. 5. Effective date. Those sections of this Act that repeal the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 6202-A and enact Title 20-A, section 6202-B take effect January 1, 2006.

SUMMARY

This bill simplifies implementation of the learning results and provides for local assessments of reading, writing and math, the core principles of the learning results.