Beginning in September, Boothbay region schools will adopt educational proficiency standards set by the Maine legislature.

Dan Welch, Boothbay Region High School principal, updated the Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor Community School District (CSD) School committee on the changes at the Wednesday, May 3 meeting.

In January, the Legislature added § 4722-A. Proficiency-based diploma standards and transcripts to Maine Statute § 4722 – Title 20-A: Education. Welch explained that the new statute requires secondary schools to award diplomas based not only on the number of credits a student earns, but also on standards set within certain content areas and within cross-curriculum standards.

Content areas include demonstrating proficiency standards in English, math, science and technology and social studies. Cross-curricular course standards can be met in multiple ways, including internships, mentorships, independent study, apprenticeships and community service. 

Graduating classes up to 2025 will have to demonstrate the same proficiencies as the Class of 2021, with one added requirement per year. For example, students expecting to graduate in 2022 will add one additional content area of the student’s choice. Seniors graduating in 2023 will need to demonstrate proficiency in two additional content areas, and 2024 graduates will require three additional content areas. The class of 2025 and subsequent classes will be expected to demonstrate proficiency in meeting the state standards in all content areas.   

Each secondary school in Maine has had some flexibility on what type of system to adopt. Welch said BRHS will still maintain course completion requirements for graduation, and will continue to grade courses and maintain student grade point averages. “We chose to maintain some of the traditional ways we do things,” Welch said.

BRHS teachers have been working hard to create the system, according to Welch. “It’s new for everybody. We’ve had a lot of discussion at the department level, and we’ve had a leadership team in place.”

Students will be responsible for building a digital portfolio throughout their high school careers. The portfolio will indicate how each content area and cross-curricular standard has been met. Teachers and parents will have access to the portfolio.

Larry Colcord, committee chair, asked Welch how this model would apply to written tests. “For instance, some kids are good at communicating, but if you put a test in front of them, they freeze up,” he said.

Welch told Colcord the new standards are too comprehensive to be assessed on the basis of a written test, although those tests will remain part of the classroom. Welch said, “Teachers need to know, ‘Did you do the reading last night?’”

Under the new system, students will have opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge in different ways. “A student might work with a parent who’s a carpenter and could use that to explain how that applies to learning geometry. A student might be doing Eagle Scout work, or working with the Rotary Club.  That experience could be used as an example of what it is like to be a clear and effective communicator,” said Welch.

Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS) 98 Assistant Superintendent Shawn Carlson told the committee the present standards lack flexibility on different performance measures within the same subject. “It doesn’t allow us to say to a student, ‘You did really well on this set of units, but not so well here.’ Proficiency is aimed at trying to make sure kids cross the line on all those standards,” he said. 

Committee member Bruce MacDonald said he was concerned about students who might not be able to meet the standards. “I love the attention to different areas. I just wonder, how do you get everybody to perform to competency levels in all these areas,” he asked. 

AOS 98 Superintendent Eileen King said, “Those are questions everyone has. We’re going to put the best plan in place to meet the needs of our kids. Sometimes, we’ll have to go back to move forward.”

Colcord said he is looking forward to the new system because it gives different types of students an opportunity to show what they can do. “It’s a good way to give them confidence going into a classroom, and to be able to get a good grade, not just by writing or reading, but through demonstration.”

Welch told committee members he would set up informational sessions for parents and the public regarding the new system in the fall.