Learning about proficiency-based education

Author icon: Head shot of Commissioner Stephen Bowen Interested in learning more about proficiency-based education and the efforts of a growing number of Maine schools to transition to a system that’s shaped around students, their needs, and the ways they learn best?

This week is a good week to find out more.

Susan McMillan of the Kennebec Journal just wrapped up three-day series today that takes an in-depth look at proficiency-based education, how it’s been implemented in classrooms in Maine and elsewhere, what it means for the role of teachers, and what parents and college admissions directors think about it.

Learning in a new light, March 24
Following the movement, March 24
Maine schools using the model, March 24
Student choice at center of proficiency-based learning, March 25
A transformation for teachers, March 25
New England embracing new standards, March 25
Data on new system limited, March 26
Rushed or cautious?, March 26

On Thursday night, a number of educators who have been implementing proficiency-based education in their classrooms will discuss the approach at a public forum at the Samoset Resort in Rockport. I’ll also be joining the discussion.

Check out the flyer for more details.

I hope you’ll take advantage of these opportunities.

One thought on “Learning about proficiency-based education”

As a result of a “back to the earth movement” population bulge of the 70’s & 80’s, small communities in Maine experienced a spike in the number of their school aged children. Now that the bulge has worked its’ way through the schools, small communities are experiencing subsized grade level classrooms. The most obvious solution to this very expensive problem is the “multi-aged” classroom. In order to manage this type of classroom, educators are being forced to adopt a student centered classroom model. For those of us who were trained in this technique in the 70’s, this turn of events is a blessing in disguise. Unfortunately as with most change in Maine, the wave starts from the southern border and works north. I live on Deer Isle and haven’t years enough to wait for our island children to experience the joy of a student centered curriculum. We need State leadership in Downeast Maine. Let’s get more aggressive in reaching out to small school districts in the State and educate them as to the benifits to their school budgets of multi-aged classrooms! When can you visit Deer Isle/Stonington with that message?

George St. Amand says:

May 27, 2012 at 9:08 am

As a result of a “back to the earth movement” population bulge of the 70’s & 80’s, small communities in Maine experienced a spike in the number of their school aged children. Now that the bulge has worked its’ way through the schools, small communities are experiencing subsized grade level classrooms. The most obvious solution to this very expensive problem is the “multi-aged” classroom. In order to manage this type of classroom, educators are being forced to adopt a student centered classroom model. For those of us who were trained in this technique in the 70’s, this turn of events is a blessing in disguise. Unfortunately as with most change in Maine, the wave starts from the southern border and works north. I live on Deer Isle and haven’t years enough to wait for our island children to experience the joy of a student centered curriculum. We need State leadership in Downeast Maine. Let’s get more aggressive in reaching out to small school districts in the State and educate them as to the benifits to their school budgets of multi-aged classrooms! When can you visit Deer Isle/Stonington with that message?

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