Welcome to the January edition of Maine DOE Updates.
This month, Governor Paul R. LePage submitted his two-year budget proposal – it increases funding in some areas, while moving some retirement costs to local districts. The net result is essentially a flat-funding of education while most other agencies and programs are seeing cuts. We’ve provided some budget-related charts to help you sort it out, and we’ll continue to post new information in the coming weeks as the Legislature debates the Governor’s proposal.
Yesterday was the last day to submit input on the final public draft of the Next Generation Science Standards. Thanks to all of you who did – Maine was one of the most active states in the nation in weighing in, based on our population. We’re also accepting 2014 Teacher of the Year nominations through Feb. 1; to learn about the whirlwind experience of one Maine Teacher of the Year, check out Alana Margeson’s blog post below.
DISPATCHES AND PRESS RELEASES
2014 Teacher of the Year nominations deadline coming up
The Maine Department of Education is accepting nominations for the 2014 Maine Teacher of the Year through Feb. 1, 2013. | More
Impact on education funding in proposed budget
In a two-year state budget proposal that has a lot of reductions, education was largely spared by comparison – state education funds to school districts will be essentially flat for the next two years, at the post-curtailment rate. By Commissioner Bowen | More
Bridge Year program poised for growth
In the spring of 2014, fourteen Hermon High School students will graduate with a high school diploma, a year’s worth of college credits and the incentive to continue their education thanks to Hermon’s Bridge Year program, launched during the 2012-13 school year. | More | Bowen shares plans for five-year high school expansion
Maine students selected for United States Senate Youth Program
AUGUSTA—Senators Susan M. Collins and Angus King today announced the names of the two students who have been selected as delegates to the 51st Annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) that will be held March 9 to 16, 2013, in Washington, D.C. | More
Students take MLTI’s RiceBowl Challenge to combat hunger
With hundreds of students from across Maine participating in the Maine Learning Technology Initiative’s annual RiceBowl Challenge, the success of the program is no surprise. MLTI partnered with freerice.com to launch the challenge and to encourage students to help end world hunger. | More
Soliciting input on Next Gen Science Standards
The second (and final) public draft of the Next Generation Science Standards was released Tuesday, Jan. 8, at 3 p.m. The Maine DOE, Achieve, and NSTA encourage teachers to review the draft and provide feedback to Achieve during the comment period, which ends Jan. 29. | More
Alana Margeson’s “Top Five” lessons as Maine’s Teacher of the Year
As we kick off the new year, I cannot help but be especially reflective, given the profound impact of this year on my personal and professional life. By Alana Margeson | More
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