Sec. 4. Commissioner of Education to convene committees. During the moratorium established pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 6202-A, subsection 2-A, the Commissioner of Education shall convene:

1. A representative committee to design a growth model using the revised Maine education assessment for grades 3 to 8, thereby redefining the statewide assessment program as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 6202; and

2. A representative committee to:

A. Design a course of study and common state assessments for language arts and mathematics for high school students;

B. Provide recommendations for the remaining content areas; and

C. Design a pilot program to provide models for the determination of student achievement that merits the attainment of a learning results endorsement diploma, evaluated through a facilitated process.

Sec. 5. Professional development funds; technical assistance. For fiscal year 2006-07, the Commissioner of Education may expend and disburse up to $1,000,000 of the $2,000,000 appropriated by the Legislature to carry out the purposes of Public Law 1995, chapter 649, sections 6 and 7 to provide targeted professional development or technical assistance to increase the capacity of school administrative units to:

1. Develop data systems that:

A. Integrate assessments and assessment data into curriculum and instruction;

B. Design, validate, score and interpret assessments; and

C. Develop standards-based reporting systems;