Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §6202-A, sub-§§5 and 6 are enacted to read:

5.__Public high school grade 9 entry.__By the 2007-2008 school year, public high school grade 9 entry must be determined by student achievement of the standards of the system of learning results in English language arts, health and physical education, mathematics, science and technology and social studies, based on the school administrative unit's local assessment system established pursuant to this section, in addition to other requirements as established by school board policy.__By the 2009- 2010 school year, public high school grade 9 entry must be determined by student achievement of the standards of the system of learning results in all content areas of the system of learning results, based on the school administrative unit's assessment system established pursuant to this section, in addition to other requirements as established by policy of the school board.

6.__Grade 9 entry at certain private high schools.__By the 2007-2008 school year, high school grade 9 entry for publicly funded students in private schools approved for tuition that enroll at least 60% publicly funded students, as determined by the previous school year's October and April average enrollment, must be determined by student achievement of the standards of the system of learning results in English language arts, health and physical education, mathematics, science and technology and social studies, in addition to other requirements that may be established by the trustees.__By the 2009-2010 school year, high school grade 9 entry for publicly funded students in private schools must be determined by student achievement of the standards of the system of learning results in all content areas of the system of learning results, in addition to other requirements as established by the trustees.

SUMMARY

This bill requires that students must meet the learning results requirements for grade 8 before being allowed to enter grade 9.