The Maine DOE is providing the state’s Special Purpose Private Schools (SPPS) with new resources so their students are better positioned on the pathway to proficiency.
In recent months, the Department has been working with the SPPS community and some school administrative units (SAUs) that place students in SPPSs to develop ways that those students can be assured of a pathway to receipt of a diploma once the sending SAU begins to award diplomas that are proficiency-based starting in 2018.
In order to better understand the progress being made by SPPSs towards establishment of a system that would provide that assurance, the Department is requiring each SPPS to submit a completed Report on Transition to a Proficiency-Based System. This report will allow the SPPS to describe how it intends to meet the goal of providing instruction based on standards-aligned curricula, with a system in place for evaluating and reporting students’ progress towards meeting those standards. The report is due to be submitted to the Department by July 1. More information including instructions for completing the report are available here.
To provide further technical assistance to SPPSs with regard to the completion of these reports, the Department will present a webinar on this topic on Monday, April 27 at 9 a.m. The Department will also host call-in sessions to respond to questions from the field on May 5, 12, 19 and 26 from 9 to 10 a.m.
The Department has also developed a form Work Recognition and Diploma Agreement for use by SPPSs and the SAUs which place students at those schools that clarify the process by which those students can become eligible to receive a diploma from the sending SAUs. The form is available here and its use will become mandatory beginning on July 1.
As this important work progresses, the Department has asked the SPPSs to begin now to save evidence of proficiency in the eight content areas and guiding principles for all students currently in ninth grade whose sending SAUs will be issuing proficiency-based diplomas starting in 2018.
For more information or technical assistance, please contact Jon Braff or Peg Armstrong at the Maine DOE at jonathan.braff@maine.gov/624-6671 or peg.armstrong@maine.gov/624-6654.
Proficiency based tasks are not private school exclusive, but it’s good to keep in mind. I’m lad that reports are being required. It is never a bad thing to require documentation that keeps everyone honest. Thanks for bringing this issue to light!