Next gen MLTI: tablets or laptops?

Tablets or laptops? For at least two years now we’ve been getting that question, similar to the way in which the focus once was: Mac or PC? As with the last time, Jeff Mao, our Director of Learning Technology, and I try to remind people that we don’t choose a device – we choose a learning solution that will enhance learning in the ways we demand in our request for proposals. It’s up to vendors to show us how their solution will do that, whether it’s a laptop, tablet, smartphone or something else.

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Hermon’s Bridge Year Program keeps earning praise

The Bangor Daily News recently featured Hermon High School’s innovative Bridge Year Program as it nears the end of its successful pilot year. By June, 14 juniors will have earned up to 13.5 college credits and will be on their way to completing associate’s degrees in the year after high school graduation. Governor Paul R. LePage’s two-year budget plan calls for $1 million annually to replicate this five-year high school program in other areas of the state.

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Innovative Maine Schools selected to present at conference

The schools will share successful strategies with colleagues from across New England

AUGUSTA – Three Maine secondary schools—Falmouth High School, Sanford High School, and United Technologies Center (Bangor)—have been invited to represent the state at a regional conference on effective strategies for improving teaching and learning in the 21st century.

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Classroom resources available to celebrate Maine Statehood Day

Title 1, Chapter 5 §116, designates March 15 of each year as Statehood Day to “commemorate the admission of Maine as a state into the United States of America and the ideals and wisdom of those men and women who have formed Maine’s history and traditions.”

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Bowen visits Lewiston HS to explain targeted ed support, explore virtual classes

Social studies teacher Michelle Crowley shows Commissioner Bowen the virtual lessons she teaches with the Massachusetts Virtual High School Collaborative.
Social studies teacher Michelle Crowley shows Commissioner Bowen the virtual lessons she teaches with the Massachusetts Virtual High School Collaborative.
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CORRECTION: This corrects an earlier version. Rob Callahan is director of the Lewiston Regional Technical Center.

LEWISTON – Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen detailed targeted education supports in Governor Paul R. LePage’s proposed biennial budget Thursday at Lewiston Regional Technical Center. Those supports include funding to help districts implement the proficiency-based diploma and teacher evaluation systems enacted by the Legislature last year; the expansion of college opportunities through five-year high school/associate’s degree programs, dual credit, and Adult Ed transition programs; and making the kinds of supports and technical assistance that have been available only to Title I schools available to all schools.

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Commissioner’s Update – March 14, 2013

From the Commissioner

Today I’ll be at Lewiston High School to talk about some of the targeted education support in Governor Paul R. LePage’s proposed two-year budget. These supports include funding to help districts implement the proficiency-based diploma and teacher evaluation systems; to expand access to college opportunities through five-year high school/associate’s degree programs, dual credit, and Adult Ed transition programs; and to make the kinds of supports and technical assistance that have been available only to Title I schools available to all schools.

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Notices and Reporting

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Highlighting targeted education support in Lewiston

Headshot of Commissioner Stephen BowenToday I’ll be at Lewiston High School to talk about some of the targeted education support in Governor Paul R. LePage’s proposed two-year budget. These supports include funding to help districts implement the proficiency-based diploma and teacher evaluation systems; to expand access to college opportunities through five-year high school/associate’s degree programs, dual credit, and Adult Ed transition programs; and to make the kinds of supports and technical assistance that have been available only to Title I schools available to all schools.

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Notice of public meeting to discuss Baxter Academy

Update: This article was corrected on March 14 to reflect the date and time change of the meeting.

The Maine Charter School Commission will hold a public meeting with the board of Baxter Academy for Technology and Science, a Maine charter school set to open in Portland next fall. The meeting will be held Monday, March 25, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Cross State Office Building (room 104) in Augusta.

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Nominate those who aid at-risk youth for commissioner’s awards

The 2013 Commissioner’s Recognition Awards will recognize five individuals and/or alternative programs that have made a significant contribution to meeting the needs of children and youth at risk in their schools or communities using evidence-based or promising practices.

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