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Updated 12/04/07...wl

Learning Standards and Guidelines

When the Maine State Legislature adopted the Learning Results in 1996, it established learning standards for all Maine students educated at public expense.  These grade span   (PK-2, 3-4, 5-8, and 9-12) standards in career preparation, English language arts, health and physical education, mathematics, modern and classical languages, science and technology, social studies, and visual and performing arts identify the knowledge and skills essential to prepare Maine students for work, for higher education, for citizenship, and for personal fulfillment. In addition, grade level expectations in reading and mathematics for grades 3, 5, 6, and 7 were developed in 2003-2004 and guidelines for early childhood were published in March of 2005.

Maine Learning Results

The revised Learning Results: Parameters for Essential Instruction reflect the knowledge and skills essential for college, career, and citizenship in the 21st century.  They are in effect as of October 22, 2007.  The grade level expectations (GLEs) for mathematics and reading and grade span expectations for science will be used for MEA testing in March 2008. 

The 1997 Learning Results will be used for MHSA testing in mathematics, reading, writing and science in the spring of 2008.

NEW2007 Learning Results: Parameters for Essential Instruction http://www.maine.gov/education/lres/pei/index.html

Specific Content Area Resources

1997 Learning Results: http://www.maine.gov/education/lres/lres.htm

Maine Learning Results Rules Documents – Chapter 125 Basic Approval Standards: Public School and School Administrative Units; Chapter 127 Instruction Program, Assessment and Diploma Requirements.

Grade Level Expectations (GLEs) 3-8 - In December of 2001, President Bush signed into law the educational reform act, No Child Left Behind (NCLB). One of the key features of NCLB requires every state to test annually all students in grades 3-8 in reading and mathematics against individual state standards-in our state, the Maine Learning Results. States, such as Maine, that had only grade span standards were required to develop specific grade level expectations (GLEs) and clearly define what was to be assessed each year.

UMS CollegeReady! Preparing for Success in Maine's Public Universities.  This University of Maine System site has links for UMS expectations for college readiness in mathematics and writing and the UMS statement for college readiness. 

Early Childhood Learning Guidelines in Word or in PDF - The State of Maine Early Childhood Learning Guidelines serves as a guide for state and local early care and education practitioners’ efforts to improve early childhood professional practice and programs for young children ages three through their entrance into kindergarten. This document considers the core elements contained in the State of Maine Learning Results (K-12). The Guidelines reflect current research on early learning and best practice in early education. The document can be used within and across a wide range of early learning settings—public preschool, Head Start, subsidized child care programs, private child care programs, nursery schools, family child care homes, and informal care settings. The Early Childhood Learning Guidelines are intended to effect greater collaboration and consistency across systems by aligning practice across all early childhood settings and the early grades.

Early Childhood Learning Guidelines Appendix in Word or in PDF

 

At this time, students in the class of 2010 will be required to demonstrate achievement of the standards of the 1997 Maine Learning Results in English Language Arts and Mathematics in order to graduate.  Students demonstrate achievement based on locally determined measures.

Once the Legislature adopts the proposed revised Maine Learning Results and revised graduation requirements, the Maine Department of Education will provide further guidance.