Category Archives: From the Commissioner

Accountability and improvement work in high gear

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Commissioner Stephen Bowen | 1 Comment

Author icon: Head shot of Commissioner Stephen Bowen Our efforts to create an accountability and improvement system that works for our students, teachers and schools — and replaces the system we have under the No Child Left Behind Act — are kicking into high gear.

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Posted in Accountability, From the Commissioner

Appreciating our teachers

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Commissioner Stephen Bowen | 1 Comment

Author icon: Head shot of Commissioner Stephen Bowen It’s Teacher Appreciation Week, a time to thank our teachers for their dedication to our students.

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Posted in From the Commissioner, Teachers

Clear expectations, rigorous evaluations, continued growth

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Commissioner Stephen Bowen | Leave a comment

Author icon: Head shot of Commissioner Stephen Bowen If this legislative session results in the passage of just one bill that brings about major improvements to our educational system, this would be it: LD 1858.

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Posted in Administrators, From the Commissioner, Instruction, Teachers

Learning about proficiency-based education

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Commissioner Stephen Bowen | Leave a comment

Author icon: Head shot of Commissioner Stephen Bowen Interested in learning more about proficiency-based education and the efforts of a growing number of Maine schools to transition to a system that’s shaped around students, their needs, and the ways they learn best?

This week is a good week to find out more.

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Posted in From the Commissioner, Instruction, Knox County, People, Public meetings, Standards

Starting the serious work of crafting a new accountability system

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Commissioner Stephen Bowen | Leave a comment

Author icon: Head shot of Commissioner Stephen Bowen When we took to the road in December, we wanted to hear what the public had to say about the system we use to hold our schools accountable. And hear from the public we did. We had more than 1,500 people respond to an online survey; several dozen turned out at public forums in Bangor, Portland and online.

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Posted in Accountability, Assessment, From the Commissioner, Instruction

Moving to a learner-centered system

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Commissioner Stephen Bowen | 11 Comments

Author icon: Head shot of Commissioner Stephen Bowen

It’s been a busy and exciting month for us as we advance our efforts to move Maine to an education system that is centered around students.

Feedback has started to come in about our newly released strategic plan, “Education Evolving: Maine’s Plan for Putting Learners First.” We appreciate the constructive suggestions and comments from those who have taken time to read the document, and we actively encourage more feedback.

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Posted in Administrators, Career & Technical, Families, From the Commissioner, High School, Students, Teachers, Teaching & Learning

Recognizing education’s evolution

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Commissioner Stephen Bowen | Leave a comment

Author icon: Head shot of Commissioner Stephen Bowen After 10 months of collecting and considering the public’s feedback and thinking seriously about our priorities, we’ve publicly released a strategic plan for education in Maine.

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Posted in Academics, Administrators, Adult Ed, Androscoggin County, Assessment, Continuous Learning, Elementary School, Families, From the Commissioner, Hancock County, High School, Instruction, Kennebec County, Middle School, Standards, Students, Teachers, Teaching & Learning

The upside of not being first

Posted on November 30, 2011 by Commissioner Stephen Bowen | Leave a comment

Author icon: Head shot of Commissioner Stephen Bowen Sometimes, it’s OK if we’re not first.

In fact, it offers Maine an advantage when it comes to preparing an application for flexibility from provisions of the federal No Child Left Behind law.

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Posted in Accountability, From the Commissioner

Taking a chance on behalf of kids

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Commissioner Stephen Bowen | 2 Comments

Author icon: Head shot of Commissioner Stephen Bowen When author Tony Wagner visited Maine this summer to speak at the University of Maine, he lamented that there’s not much research and development to speak of in public education.

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Posted in Androscoggin County, Elementary School, From the Commissioner, Instruction, Students, Teachers, Technology