Resolve, Directing the Maine Community College System, the University of Maine System and the Department of Education To Develop a Plan To Enable High School Students To Achieve a Seamless Transition to Higher Education

Sec. 1. Review and assessment. Resolved: That the Maine Community College System, the University of Maine System and the Department of Education, referred to in this resolve as "the review panel," shall collaboratively conduct a review and assessment of the opportunities available to high school students in the State to enroll in college courses at public higher education institutions in the State and other initiatives established to support high school students in their transition from high school to higher education. The review panel shall develop a plan to enable high school students, including youth between 16 years of age and 20 years of age who are enrolled in an adult education program to prepare for a Maine high school equivalency diploma, to achieve a seamless transition to public higher education institutions in the State. The review panel shall gather data on high school student enrollment in college courses at public higher education institutions in the State, including the retention rate for students who were enrolled in college courses in high school before enrolling at a public higher education institution in the State, and shall document state and public higher education institution spending on high school student enrollment and other transition initiatives. The review panel shall consider options for optimizing the range of high school student enrollment and other transition initiatives available to high school students in the State, including, but not limited to:

1. The postsecondary enrollment options available to eligible high school students as set forth in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 208-A;

2. The "Early College for ME" initiative established by the Maine Community College System, which provides scholarship and academic support services for eligible high school students;

3. The "AdvantageU" guaranteed admission program established by the Maine Community College System and the University of Maine System, which provides Maine Community College System students graduating with an Associate in Arts degree in Liberal Studies guaranteed admission to any institution of the University of Maine System;

4. Dual or concurrent college enrollment models in other states or countries that permit high school students to simultaneously complete their high school courses and begin their college coursework;

5. The establishment of an entrance examination or a student placement test, such as the SAT Reasoning Test or the ACCUPLACER placement test, for high school students who have completed their sophomore year that would be used to determine if the students are academically prepared to participate in postsecondary enrollment options or if developmental classes and support services would be beneficial before the students engage in college-level coursework;

6. The college transition courses available through adult education programs that are eligible for state subsidy as set forth in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 315 and the adult education college transition sites established through the Maine College Transition Program by adult education programs, the Maine Community College System, the University of Maine System, the Maine Compact for Higher Education, the MELMAC Education Foundation and the Maine Adult Education Association; and

7. The financial incentives and benefits available to eligible residents of the State through the Job Creation Through Educational Opportunity Program, as established by Public Law 2007, chapter 469, to ensure that high school students who participate in postsecondary enrollment and transition initiatives are also eligible for the financial benefits of this program; and be it further

Sec. 2. Report. Resolved: That the review panel shall present its findings and the plan developed under section 1, including any suggested legislation, in a report to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs by January 15, 2010. The Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs may submit legislation based on the review panel report to the Second Regular Session of the 124th Legislature.

SUMMARY

This resolve directs the Maine Community College System, the University of Maine System and the Department of Education to collaborate in a review and assessment of the opportunities available to high school students to enroll in college courses at public higher education institutions in the State and other initiatives established to support high school students in their transition from high school to higher education. The resolve directs the review panel to develop a plan to enable high school students, including youth between 16 years of age and 20 years of age who are enrolled in an adult education program to prepare for a Maine high school equivalency diploma, to achieve a seamless transition to public higher education institutions in the State. The review panel plan must be presented in a report to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs by January 15, 2010. The Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs may submit legislation based on the review panel report to the Second Regular Session of the 124th Legislature.