Center for Best Practices

Maine Cohort for Customized Learning helps implement systemic change

In the summer of 2009, coming off of the first RISC conferences, the Maine Department of Education sponsored the creation of a cohort of schools committed to working toward a RISC-modeled, proficiency-based educational system.  Two districts felt they were in a position to join: RSU 15 (Gray/New Gloucester) and RSU 57 (Massabessic).  The following summer, four other districts joined the cohort: RSU 2 (Hall-Dale), RSU 84 (Jackman), RSU 20 (Searsport/Belfast) and RSU 18 (Messalonskee).  Because of the economic chaos of the time, the state had to withdraw substantial financial backing – though it has remained an ardent supporter and partner with the cohort, providing the services of the Maine DOE coordinator of standards-based education, Dianna Doiron.  The Maine Cohort for Customized Learning (MCCL), in the spring of 2012, counts 12 school districts as members, accounting for over 25,000 of Maine’s students (13.6 percent).  Membership has had considerable consequences addressing the capacity of member districts to implement systemic change.