During the transition to a proficiency-based system of teaching and learning, districts and schools will need to review and possibly revise existing policies, while also creating new policies that address emerging models, practices, and learning experiences.
In our view, the best policies balance prescription with flexibility—they provide detailed, unambiguous guidance on the most essential design features of a local educational system, while also allowing school leaders and teachers a great deal of flexibility when it comes to implementation. While effectively written policies can provide clarity and sustain important innovations, educators must also be given the flexibility they need to evolve educational systems and practices over time and remain responsive to emerging student needs.
On this page you’ll find references to state statutes related to (1) high school graduation requirements, (2) state learning standards, (3) proficiency-based learning, and (4) multiple/personalized learning pathways in the six New England Secondary School Consortium States of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Connecticut
High School Graduation Requirements
→ Chapter 170, Boards of Education, Sec. 10–221a. High School Graduation Requirements
State Learning Standards
→ Chapter 170, Boards of Education, Sec. 10–221a. High school graduation requirements, Paragraphs (d), (f), (g) and (h)
→ Content-Area Standards
→ Connecticut Core Standards
Proficiency-Based Learning
→ Chapter 170, Boards of Education, Sec. 10–221a. High School Graduation Requirements, Paragraphs (d), (f), (g) and (h), and Sec. 10–223a. Promotion and Graduation Policies
Multiple/Personalized Pathways
→ Chapter 170, Boards of Education, Sec. 10-221a. High school graduation requirements, Paragraphs (d), (f), (g) and (h)
Maine
High School Graduation Requirements→ Maine Revised Statutes Title 20–A: Education, Part 3: Elementary & Secondary Education, Chapter 207–A: Instruction, Subchapter 3: Secondary Schools, §4722–A Proficiency-Based Diploma Standards
State Learning Standards
→ Maine Revised Statutes Title 20–A: Education, Part 3: Elementary & Secondary Education, Chapter 222: Standards and Assessment of Student Performance, Heading: PL 2001, C. 454, §26 (RPR), §6209. System of Learning Results Established
→ Maine Learning Results
Proficiency-Based Learning
→ Maine Revised Statutes Title 20–A: Education, Part 3: Elementary & Secondary Education, Chapter 207–A: Instruction, Subchapter 3: Secondary Schools, §4722–A Proficiency-Based Diploma Standards
Multiple/Personalized Pathways
→ Maine Revised Statutes Title 20–A: Education Part 3: Elementary & Secondary Education Chapter 207–A: Instruction Subchapter 1: General Requirements §4703. Instruction for Individual Students
Massachusetts
Coming Soon…
New Hampshire
High School Graduation Requirements
→ Minimum Standards for Public School Approval, State Board of Education Regulation 306.27, High School Curriculum, Credits, Graduation Requirements, and Cocurricular Program
State Learning Standards
→ Minimum Standards for Public School Approval, State Board of Education Regulation 306.27, High School Curriculum, Credits, Graduation Requirements, and Cocurricular Program
→ New Hampshire College and Career Ready Standards
→ Common Core State Standards
Proficiency-Based Learning
→ State Board of Education Regulation 306.27, High School Curriculum, Credits, Graduation Requirements, and Cocurricular Program, Paragraphs (a), (b), (c) (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), and (k)
Multiple/Personalized Pathways
→ State Board of Education Regulation 306.27, High School Curriculum, Credits, Graduation Requirements, and Cocurricular Program, Paragraphs (a), (b), (c) (d), and (e)
Rhode Island
High School Graduation Requirements → Regulations of the Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education, K-12 Literacy, Restructuring of the Learning Environment at the Middle and High School Levels, and Proficiency-Based Graduation Requirements (PBGR) at High Schools, Title L, Secondary Design, Chapter 6, L-6-3.0
→ Rhode Island Diploma System
State Learning Standards
→ Regulations of the Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education, K-12 Literacy, Restructuring of the Learning Environment at the Middle and High School Levels, and Proficiency-Based Graduation Requirements (PBGR) at High Schools, Title L, Secondary Design, Chapter 6, L-6-3.0
→ World-Class Standards
Proficiency-Based Learning
→ Basic Education Program Regulations, Rhode Island Basic Education Plan (Title G), Chapter 14: Safe, Healthy and Supportive Learning Environment, G-14.1 Academic Supports and Interventions for All Students, Paragraphs (b) and (c)
Multiple/Personalized Pathways
→ Rhode Island Basic Education Plan (Title G), Chapter 13: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, G-13.1 A Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum, G-13-1.1 Framework for a Comprehensive Curriculum, Sub-Paragraph 1
Vermont
High School Graduation Requirements
→ Vermont State Board of Education, Education Quality Standards, 2120.7 Graduation Requirements, 2120.8 Local Graduation Requirements
State Learning Standards
→ Vermont State Statutes, Title 16: Education, Chapter 3: State Board of Education, § 164. State board; General Powers and Duties
→ Framework of Standards and Learning Opportunities
→ Common Core State Standards
Proficiency-Based Learning
→ Vermont State Board of Education, Education Quality Standards, Section 2114 Definitions, Section 2120.8 Local Graduation Requirements, Section 2123.2 Development and Implementation of Local Comprehensive Assessment System
Multiple/Personalized Pathways
→ Vermont State Board of Education, Education Quality Standards, Section 2120.2 Flexible Pathways
→ No. 77. An Act Relating to Encouraging Flexible Pathways to Secondary School Completion, Sec. 1. 16 V.S.A. Chapter 23, Subchapter 2., Flexible Pathways to Secondary School Completion, § 941. Flexible Pathways Initiative
Download the NESSC State Policies (.pdf)
