ADMINISTRATIVE LETTER: 38
POLICY CODE: GC
This letter describes changes being proposed by the Maine Department of Education to Maine Department of Education Regulation 13, “Qualifying Examinations for Teachers, Educational Specialists, and Administrators.” Below is the public notice describing the changes and information on how to participate in the rulemaking process.
Proposed changes to Chapter 13 stem from the ongoing revision process employed by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Each Praxis exam undergoes regeneration every five years. The end result is a recommended cut off score that is deemed appropriate for the just qualified candidate.
The current language of Chapter 13 includes a table listing all required tests and qualifying scores. As a result, Chapter 13 must be opened every year to accommodate changes to the 5-10 tests that are regenerated each year. This proposed change eliminates the table and other references to most specific tests and scores and refers constituents to the ETS website or the Certification Office of the Maine Department of Education for the necessary information. This would allow the State Board of Education to review and approve yearly changes and then direct the Coordinator of Certification to make necessary updates to the ETS website, evaluation letters, and other information provided to applicants by the Certification Office.
The State Board of Education’s Certification and Higher Education Committee recommended that the State Board of Education initiate rulemaking to allow the proposed amendments listed above to be made to Chapter 13 in accordance with the Maine Administrative Procedure Act (APA). The State Board of Education voted to proceed with this rulemaking on May 11, 2011.
The current rules and the proposed amendments are available online at:
http://www.maine.gov/education/sb/index.html
Hard copies may be obtained by contacting Mark A. Cyr, Certification Coordinator, at the Maine Department of Education at 207-624-6603 or by email at Mark.Cyr@maine.gov .
A public hearing will be held on Monday, June 13, 2011, 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM in room 500 of the Cross State Office Building, 111 Sewall Street, Augusta, Maine.
WRITTEN COMMENT DEADLINE: 5:00 PM, Friday, June 24, 2011. Comments may be submitted to the Department of Education as follows:
Mail:
Mark A. Cyr
Department of Education
Certification Office
23 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0023
Hand Deliver:
Mark A. Cyr
Department of Education
Cross Office Building, 5th Floor
111 Sewall Street
Augusta, ME 04330
NOTE: No Saturday or Sunday hand delivery; Cross State Office Building is closed.