Resolve, To Create a Working Group To Identify Elementary School and Middle School Applied Learning Opportunities

Sec. 1. Applied learning opportunities working group. Resolved: That the Executive Director of Jobs for Maine's Graduates, established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 6901, shall convene a working group under this resolve to identify opportunities for providing applied learning pathways for students enrolled in kindergarten to grade 8 in public schools in the State. The working group shall evaluate the implementation of existing applied learning programs in the State and in other jurisdictions, including programs featuring a public-private partnership between public schools, business and trade associations and key education stakeholders that combines classroom instructional methods with applied learning activities to form integrated learning pathways for kindergarten to grade 8 students; and be it further

Sec. 2. Working group; duties. Resolved: That the working group formed under this resolve shall consider applied learning options that are learner-centered, that focus on the needs of disaffected elementary and middle school students who may be at risk of dropping out of school before they obtain a high school diploma and that provide equitable educational opportunity for all kindergarten to grade 8 public school students. The working group shall develop an applied learning instruction template that business and trade association volunteers can use to prepare presentations and hands-on, applied learning activities for kindergarten to grade 8 students. The working group shall also consider issues related to the implementation of applied learning pathways, including the most effective means of promoting applied learning opportunities and best practices for kindergarten to grade 8 students and the design of a web-based portal that can be used to post the programs and best practices identified by the working group on the Department of Education's publicly accessible website so that all schools may use them and benefit from them; and be it further

Sec. 3. Working group; members. Resolved: That the Executive Director of Jobs for Maine's Graduates shall invite the following organizations to appoint representatives of their organizations to serve as members of the working group under this resolve:

1. Maine Association for Career and Technical Education;

2. Maine State Chamber of Commerce;

3. Maine Restaurant Association;

4. Associated Builders and Contractors of Maine;

5. The Cianbro Companies; and

6. The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Council, as established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 11.

The Executive Director of Jobs for Maine's Graduates shall also invite representatives of key education stakeholder groups that have an interest in applied learning opportunities to participate; and be it further

Sec. 4. Working group; report. Resolved: That the Executive Director of Jobs for Maine's Graduates shall report the findings of the working group under this resolve along with any suggested legislation to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs by January 10, 2014. The joint standing committee may submit a bill regarding the subject matter of the report to the Second Regular Session of the 126th Legislature.