AUBURN — Edward Little High School’s Class of 2021 — incoming seventh-graders — will be the first to graduate in Auburn with a new proficiency-based diploma, curriculum Director Shelly Mogul told the Auburn School Committee on Wednesday night.

Proficiency-based diplomas are required by state law to boost expectations of all students.

Initially, the state said the new diplomas must be in place for the Class of 2018. As districts started implementing new standards and new grading, problems arose.

“As the state discovered, it’s hard work,” Mogul said.

Last year, Auburn received a waiver, giving the district more time. The goal, Mogul said, is to make sure the process is smooth, and that students, parents and teachers understand and are comfortable with new standards, grades and expectations.

Mogul shared that teachers have begun working on standards for the new grading system. Eventually, traditional 100-point scale grades will be replaced by scores of one through four, with three being proficient and four exceeding proficiency.

“This is a big focus of our work right now,” she said. “We’re trying to figure out how we navigate the change from a 100-point scale average grade to a grade that actually reflects learning. When you look at two students with a grade of 82, those 82s are not the same knowledge and skills.”

There are ongoing conversations with middle and high school teachers about the shift, Mogul said.

“We’re treading very carefully in the area of grading,” she said.

Committee member Peter Letourneau said Lewiston schools have had trouble with consistency in grading and reporting, “which is what sent parents over the edge.” He asked, will Auburn “teachers going to be comfortable with the grading consistency?”

Yes, Mogul said, noting that’s why Auburn will shift grading gradually. Next year, freshmen will have proficiency grading as well as traditional in three subjects: English, math and science.

“They’re going to start to get additional information about students,” and teachers will use the same standards, she said. “We are trying to learn from things that happened in other places.”

Committee member Bonnie Hayes wanted to know if the needs of students in  advanced placement classes will be met.

Mogul said needs of all students would be met and there will still be AP classes. Once a student has met proficiency, he or she may take college classes while in high school or apply and boost their knowledge in community settings.

Hayes said changes will have to be well-communicated.

“We need to do a better job explaining it to the community,” she said.

That’s one reason “why we filed for an extension plan,” so there are clear benchmarks, Mogul said.

The overall goal is to boost expectations of all students and make a high school diploma more meaningful, educators said, adding that the status quo isn’t good enough.

“We’ve allowed mediocrity,” Mogul said. “You can get out of high school with an average of 70. We know that’s not OK. They may not be prepared. That’s why we’re trying to change.”

Committee members will get updates as plans develop.

In other business, the committee voted to raise student lunch prices in some schools from $1.55 to $1.60. There hadn’t been an increase in eight years, Business Manager Jude Cyr said. The federal government requires that school districts keep pace with rising costs of quality school meals.

The increase only applies to three schools: Auburn Middle School, East Auburn Elementary School and Fairview Elementary School. All other Auburn elementary schools are eligible for free lunch.

[email protected]