Commissioner’s Update – August 23, 2012

In a few weeks, the Department will be offering a series of one-day meetings to explain Maine’s new state literacy plan, Literacy for ME, which we’ll be unveiling in early September. Educators, literacy specialists, parents, stakeholders—anyone with an interest in literacy is invited to form a well-represented group locally and sign-up to attend a meeting. Helping all Maine residents develop strong literacy skills is an essential part of the Maine DOE’s mission, and we need the involvement of everyone in our communities.

Tonight we will host the last of three public forums to discuss the Department’s draft for ESEA flexibility. If you missed the forums online and in Westbrook earlier this week, you can review a summary of attendees’ feedback below. I encourage you to join us tonight in Brewer at 6 p.m for a final chance to discuss the waiver before we submit to the feds on Sept. 6.

With this issue, the Commissioner’s Update resumes its regular weekly schedule for the 2012-13 school year.

— Stephen Bowen

ACTION ITEMS

Administrative Letters

No new administrative letters this week.

More Administrative Letters

Notices

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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.

Special Education Tuition & Board Report (EF-S 07), due September 17
Highly Qualified Teacher Data, past due

Reporting Calendar

NEWS & VIEWS

You’re invited: help build a local literacy plan for your community

The Maine Department of Education will sponsor a series of regional meetings to provide local community teams with an understanding of Maine’s new comprehensive state literacy plan, Literacy for ME. | More

Maine residents join first forum online to discuss ESEA flexibility draft

A small group of Maine residents joined an online forum Monday night to provide Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen with feedback on the Department’s draft proposal for flexibility under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Here is a summary of the feedback participants offered. | More

Last chance for input on ESEA flexibility

The Maine DOE will submit a formal request for flexibility under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to the U.S. Department of Education by Sept. 6. During this final round of both online and in-person forums, we want you to respond to the overview of our proposal, which we will finalize and send to the feds by the deadline. | More | Commissioner’s blog (August 20, 2012) | Seeking public feedback on education plan (press release; August 15, 2012)

Teacher of the Year finalists named

Two elementary school teachers and one middle school special education teacher have been named the state finalists for the title of 2013 Maine Teacher of the Year. | More

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