AUGUSTA, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Maine Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen says Maine needs to move to an education system that allows students to graduate high school when they've mastered state standards, not when they've amassed a certain number of credits. And he wants students to have more options when it comes to how they meet those standards.
Bowen laid out his strategic plan for the Department of Education at a news conference on Tuesday. He says the state can do more to improve student performance without spending more money. The key, he says, is greater flexibility in both instruction and testing, and more sharing among educators and community members about what works.
Bowen says more students need to be given opportunities to complete classwork in an unconventional way. That means expanding access to independent study, career technical education, or projects that cover multiple disciplines. He'd also like to see school choice and more online learning.
The department also is setting up an online "Center for Best Practices" where the department and school districts can share information on programs proven to work. The commissioner also wants to create professional development programs on a regional basis, and he wants the state to adopt a standard for teacher effectiveness.
The Maine Education Association says it agrees with much of the plan, but it would like to see more details on how Bowen plans to evaluate teachers. It also does not support school choice. It feels school choice means many districts, especially those in rural areas, can have trouble figuring out their budgets, and it could create greater disparities between the performance of districts.
The commissioner is scheduled to present his plan to the legislature's education committee on Wednesday. He says it is a working document and he expects to make changes after getting feedback from the public. You can read and comment on it by clicking here.
NEWS CENTER