The "Opportunity to Learn" Approach

Increasing Educational Accountability through Local Control

Through the Maine Course Pathways Project, the state of Maine is embarking on a groundbreaking approach to educational accountability: ensuring that all students have the opportunity to learn all state requirements. The concept “opportunity to learn” refers to the existing efforts within schools and classrooms that promote learning for all students. The focus of this approach is on the scope of the curriculum and instruction that is available to students, and being able to verify the opportunities which schools provide students to learn what is expected of them. .

This approach to accountability enables transparency and local control. Students, parents, teachers, and administrators will know exactly what knowledge and skills are being taught, and what need to be added, to a school’s academic programming. The state is able to examine what is being taught, leaving it up to the schools to determine the how and when. This process will also allow school districts and the Maine DOE to design and deliver targeted technical assistance and professional development. For the first time, the state will be able to determine that high school graduates statewide, regardless of the school or classes taken, will have the chance to learn, practice, and be assessed on the knowledge and skills deemed essential for future success.