Comprehensive Education Plan Implementation of:

1. Comprehensive Education PlanImplementation of: Career Preparation Education Modern & Classical Languages Visual & Performing Arts Maine Department of Education

2. Purpose: • To create a plan to implement the standards of the Maine Learning Results in the content areas of Career Preparation Education, Modern and Classical Languages, and Visual and Performing Arts as required by 20-A MRSA section 6209.3. Maine Department of Education

3. Critical Issues • Implementation of standards 2007-2008 • Graduation requirement 2010-2011 Maine Department of Education

4. Spring ’03 approval of “charters” and state leadership teams • Spring ’03 certification to Commissioner that each district has a plan Maine Department of Education

5. Career Prep and Modern & Classical Languages not on MEA • There is a provision for a review cycle for the Maine Learning Resultsbeginning with the ’03-’04 school year Maine Department of Education

6. Generic Planning Process for each content area: • Establish a Team: bring together K-12 administrators, teachers, students, and community members • Conduct needs assessment – K-12 examination of MLR and the current status within the district, what is needed – human & material resources (e.g. technology, curriculum, staff) Maine Department of Education

7. Examine effective instructional strategies and “best practices” – nationally and statewide • Set goals for full implementation K-12 Maine Department of Education

8. Develop interim targets for partial implementation • Plan for professional development as needed (contingent upon funding) Maine Department of Education

9. Curriculum Development K-12 based on MLR (contingent upon funding) • Local Assessment Development – local development and state sponsored summer institute ’04 (contingent upon funding) Maine Department of Education

10. Career Preparation EducationRationale: • Career Preparation Education will impact all students and communities • Career Preparation Education is included in the Maine Job Council’s strategic plan Maine Department of Education

11. “The Blue Ribbon Commission on Postsecondary Educational Attainment” recommends Career Preparation Education implementation as a key step in improving the aspirations of Maine Students. Maine Department of Education

12. The implementation of Career Preparation Education has the potential to enhance and align student aspirations such that they complement Maine’s Economic Development Plan, increase postsecondary attainment, and possibly decrease the out-migration of Maine youth. Maine Department of Education

13. Career Preparation EducationCurrent Status • Career Prep Design Team continues to meet, examine “best practices”, and formulate recommendations • Career Preparation is one of the offerings at the Regional Seminars on assessment development Maine Department of Education

14. Career PreparationRecommendation: • The District Team should include K-12 classroom teachers as well as teachers from the following content areas; Business Education, Guidance, Family and Consumer Sciences, and Technology Education. Maine Department of Education

15. Recommendations for implementation of Career Preparation Education will be made by the Career Prep Design Team in early May 2003 Maine Department of Education

16. Modern & Classical LanguagesRationale • Learning to speak another’s language means taking one’s place in the human community. It means reaching out to others across cultural and linguistic boundaries. Language is far more than a system to be explained. It is our most important link to the world around us. Language is culture in motion. It is people interacting with people. Sandra Savignon (1983) Maine Department of Education

17. Research tells us that children who have studied another language … • Are significantly better at tasks requiring divergent thinking, problem solving, and figural creativity (Landry); • Score higher on standardized tests in language arts, reading, and math than students not enrolled in foreign language programs (Rafferty); Maine Department of Education

18. Have the ability to excel in the pronunciation of a foreign language (Dulay, Burt, and Krashen); • Show greater cognitive development in higher order thinking skills (Foster and Reeves); Maine Department of Education

19. Are more open to cultural diversity (Carpenter and Torney); and • Have an improved self-concept and sense of achievement (Masciantonio). Maine Department of Education

20. Modern & Classical Languages2001-2002 Status • 38% of Maine’s total K-12 student population is enrolled in one or more language programs (2% increase over the previous school year). Maine Department of Education

21. 54.5 % of Maine’s total 9-12 student population is enrolled in one or more language programs (1% increase over the previous school year). • 100% of all secondary schools offer at least one two-year sequence in a modern or classical language. Maine Department of Education

22. 30% of Maine’s total K-8 student population is enrolled in one or more language programs (2.5% increase over the previous school year). • 33% of all elementary schools (190 public & 39 private) offer exploratory and/or sequential instruction in one or more languages. Maine Department of Education

23. Programs in grades K-6 increased 13% over the previous school year. • Programs in grades 7-8 increased 9% over the previous school year. Maine Department of Education

24. K-12 student enrollment in specific language programs • 37% (31,013) French • 33% (27,384) Spanish • 21% (17,338) Exploratory/ Introduction • 6% (4,869) Latin • 2% (1,768) German • 1% (1,037) Other • Total (83,409) 4% increase Maine Department of Education

25. Contact Information • Lora Downing Lora.Downing@maine.gov phone: 207 624-6740 • Don Reutershan Don.Reutershan@maine.gov phone: 207 624-6826 Maine Department of Education