What a week!
Tuesday’s release of our strategic plan for education in Maine proved an energizing success.
Five talented, confident and ambitious students joined me at Capital Area Technical Center in Augusta to unveil our plan, called “Education Evolving: Maine’s Plan for Putting Learners First.” The students were the the key to making Tuesday’s release event the success that it was.
Maggie Stokes, Gareth Robinson, Brooklyn Pinkham, Morgan Horn and Kaytie Scully, after all, are already living the vision articulated in our 35-page plan. They are taking control of their learning, discovering their passions and excelling in their academics as a result. Their teachers, principals, and district leaders are leading the state in the move to an education system that puts students at the center and builds the system around their needs. It’s my hope that, by implementing the action steps detailed in our plan, all of Maine’s students will have the opportunities that the five students we saw on Tuesday have had in their education.
As I’ve noted previously, the strategic plan is a working document that could change in the coming months. I encourage you all to read it and join the discussion about it.
— Stephen Bowen
ACTION ITEMS
Administrative Letters
Notices
- ARRA IDEA Part B performance reporting closed Jan. 13; late reports due now
- Curriculum group offers 2nd Common Core conference
- Charter schools rule proposal revised
- Maine DOE seeks community learning center proposals
Reporting
Please note: We generally provide notice of requirements only once. Please check the Reporting Calendar (link below) regularly for a list of ALL upcoming items.
- No new reporting requirements this week.
NEWS & VIEWS
Recognizing education’s evolution
The educational enterprise is constantly changing with the times. Our newly released strategic plan for education recognizes that reality. By Stephen Bowen | More | Commissioner unveils strategic education plan | Offer your feedback on ‘Education Evolving’
Video: Learning faster, more creatively with technology
Gareth Robinson uses technology in school to learn at his own pace and do work that interests him. If it were up to him, technology would play an even greater role in learning. By Gareth Robinson | More
Video: ‘Voice and choice’ in learning
Unpacking the standards, being clear about what’s expected, and having a say in how she learns have made fourth grade more illuminating and understandable. By Maggie Stokes | More
- USM Pioneers program pays full tuition, fees for STEM majors
- Harvard institute focuses on coordinated PreK-3 approach