School districts must be ready to offer the Certificate of Initial Mastery in English and mathematics by the 1998-99 school year and in all nine areas by the 2002-2003 school year.

Recently, the Department of Education decided to phase in some of the assessments for the CIM that would have been required next year. Schools will assess students' progress toward the CIM at grades 3, 5, and 8. Students who do not pass all or portions of CIM assessments by the end of the tenth grade will have opportunities to strengthen their skills and try again.

Certificates of Advanced Mastery will be presented in English, math and career-related learning during the 2001-2002 school year. The state plans to add four more achievement areas, in science, social science, arts and second languages, by the 2004-2005 school year.

The CAM will be awarded to students who meet the state's 12th-grade standards and fulfill additional requirements. Students will be required to achieve career-related learning standards in internships, mentorships, or on- or off-campus business experiences. They will also need to choose focused study and career-related learning in one of the following areas: arts and communications, business and management, industry and engineering, natural resources, health services or human resources.

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