AUGUSTA (NEWS CENTER Maine) — How should Maine students be taught?
The state has had a set of educational standards, the Maine Learning Results, for 20 years. But there continues to be a disagreement over how to teach them.
Parents, teachers and students around Maine have been arguing about a teaching method called proficiency-based learning (PBL), which was adopted by the Maine Legislature six years ago. They’ve become controversial, and now the Legislature, in the final weeks of its session, is being asked to make big changes.
Some schools, like Hall-Dale High School, have been using the new system for several years. They say proficiency-based learning is used in the entire school system.
It basically uses an established set of learning standards and has teachers ensure students are proficient in one part of the subject before moving on to the next. But there are many critics of the system, and they are asking the Legislature to delay full implementation of the law, eliminate the proficiency graduation standards or repeal the whole law.
One of the criticisms has been that PBL relies on a numerical grading system instead of traditional letter grades. Some have complained that system will cause problems with college admissions. Bill Zima, superintendent of RSU 2, which includes Hall-Dale, said college admissions have not been an issue and that the system can be adapted to meet local needs.
"People think it has to be 1, 2, 3, 4, you have to use this program," said Zima, "[but] there’s no 'have to’s.' Here is the theory, now how do we go about doing it?"
Critics of PBL tell a different story.
"It's extremely regimented, it removes a lot of the flexibility for teachers to actually teach children in an organic manner," said Rep. Heidi Sampson, R-Alfred, who wants the PBL law repealed.
The state legislature’s education committee, which has been dealing with proficiency-based learning since it was passed into law six years ago, will now decide whether to change the law, delay the law or drop the law.
The Legislature is supposed to be done work by April 18, but many lawmakers say that is unlikely.