(a) "Proficiency education" means a practice of student-centered education that is based on the following principles:

(A) Students learn in a personalized environment and advance upon demonstrated mastery of industry, state or national standards;

(B) Measurable learning objectives are explicit and empower the students;

(C) Student assessment is meaningful and a positive learning experience; and

(D) Students receive rapid, differentiated support and learning outcomes, including applied learning.

(b) "Proficiency grading" means assigning a well-defined, descriptive value of a student’s demonstrated knowledge and skills to report whether the student meets or exceeds a defined level of performance.

(2) A school district may implement a proficiency education system as provided by this section.

(3)(a) For a school district that will implement or has implemented a proficiency education system or a proficiency grading system, the superintendent of the school district shall revise the duties of an existing committee to include the development and implementation of the proficiency education system or the proficiency grading system. If a school district does not have an existing committee to serve the purpose described in this paragraph, the superintendent of the school district shall establish a committee. A committee that is revised or established as provided by this paragraph shall act as an advisory committee.

(b) An advisory committee described in paragraph (a) of this subsection must consist of teachers, administrators and other school district personnel. When an employee organization represents educators of the school district, the superintendent of the school district, at the direction of the school district board, shall collaborate with the local president of the employee organization to recommend the appointment of educators to the advisory committee.

(4) An advisory committee described in subsection (3) of this section shall:

(a) Identify the best practices in proficiency education;

(b) Identify the best practices in proficiency grading and reporting;

(c) Determine the best method and format to communicate to students and parents the students’ progress toward meeting or exceeding the academic content standards;

(d) Determine educator professional learning needs with respect to proficiency education and proficiency grading;

(e) Examine the time needed to implement proficiency education and proficiency grading and reporting;

(f) Collaborate with administrators to ensure that the district data and reporting system are aligned to tasks that are related to proficiency education;

(g) Address any problems that emerge in the implementation of proficiency education and proficiency grading and reporting systems; and

(h) Make recommendations to the school district superintendent based on the determinations of the advisory committee as described in paragraphs (a) to (g) of this subsection or necessary for the development and implementation of proficiency education and proficiency grading and reporting. [2014 c.42 §3]