Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §6210 is enacted to read:

§6210.__Certificate of mastery

1.__Certificate required for graduation.__Beginning in the 2005-06 school year, all students in grade level 12 required to participate in the system of learning results established in section 6209 must earn a certificate of mastery of the academic standards included in the system of learning results in the areas of math; English; science and technology; social studies, including history, economics and civics; career preparation; visual and performing arts; health and physical education; and foreign languages.__A certificate of mastery is required before a student may be granted a high school diploma.

2. Statewide testing program.__The department in consultation with the state board shall establish and implement a statewide testing program to assess the mastery of academic standards of students in grade level 12.__The testing program must be developed for use beginning in the 2005-06 school year.__Under the program, students that earn a passing score, as established by the department, are granted a certificate of mastery.

SUMMARY

This bill requires all students in grade level 12 to earn a certificate of mastery based on the State's learning results standards before graduating. The bill requires that testing of students begin in the 2005-06 school year.