The 26 states of the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, of which Maine is one, are on target to administer the first Smarter Balanced assessment in spring 2015. That gives teachers and students the 2013-14 school year and most of the 2014-15 school year to prepare for the new assessments. You and your students (and their parents, too) can try out the practice tests online to experience what the new test will be like. Smarter Balanced will be administered via computer, a change that serves Maine well given the Maine Learning Technology Initiative has helped our students and educators become national leaders in computer readiness.
Month: August 2013
Request funding for National Board Certified Teacher Scholarship
A school administrative unit or a publicly-supported secondary school may request funding from the National Board Certification Scholarship Fund on behalf of teachers who meet the requirements. This fund encourages teachers to apply to and enroll in the certification program offered by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards or its successor organization.
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Changes to National Board Certified Teacher Salary Supplement
Recent legislative changes to the Salary Supplement for Teachers who have attained National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification are now in effect. Eligible teachers now include a public school teacher or a teacher in a publicly-supported secondary school who has attained certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards or its successor organization. The amount of the salary supplement for fiscal year 2013-14 is $2,750, unless proration is necessary.
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New changes start in September to DOE reimbursement system
The GEM reimbursement system has undergone several recent changes to help strengthen monitoring procedures designed to ensure compliance with federal sub-recipient monitoring requirements.
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Rule Change Adoption: Chapter 13, Qualifying Examinations for Teachers, Educational Specialists and Administrators
The revised Rule for Qualifying Examinations for Teachers, Educational Specialists and Administrators, Chapter 13, is now effective.
The changes to Chapter 13 stem from the regular regeneration (revision) process employed by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Each Praxis exam undergoes regeneration every five years. ETS conducts a multi-state standard setting study designed to assemble two separate groups of current practitioners who work for two to three days to review the validity and reliability of the test being regenerated. Continue reading “Rule Change Adoption: Chapter 13, Qualifying Examinations for Teachers, Educational Specialists and Administrators”
Rule Change Adoption: Chapter 61, Rules for Major Capital School Construction Projects
The revised Rules for Major Capital School Construction Projects, Chapter 61, have been filed with the Secretary of State and will go into effect on Aug. 17.
Chapter 61 governs the expenditure of millions of Maine taxpayers’ dollars in support of safe and effective schools that support the demands of 21st century education. Extensive needs for improved education facilities across the State make it imperative that the rules be kept clear, current and supportive of the State’s education goals. Continue reading “Rule Change Adoption: Chapter 61, Rules for Major Capital School Construction Projects”
All districts and schools must train staff in Global Harmonization System
Department of Labor responds to federal mandate with free online training video
AUGUSTA – All employees in the state of Maine—in both the private and public sectors—must be trained in the federal Occupation Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) new Global Harmonization System Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) by Dec. 1. As part of this federal mandate, schools and districts are responsible for training their staff on GHS and must be able to demonstrate compliance upon inspection.
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Restraint and Seclusion updates available
Non-regulatory guidance
The Department has posted non-regulatory guidance to help schools and other covered educational programs understand the requirements and limitations contained in Rule Chapter 33: Rule Governing Physical Restraint and Seclusion. The guidance document, which is available online, provides information about the rule, describes student behavior scenarios and analyzes potential responses to those scenarios, and provides links to additional resources including tools for managing student behavior.
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New pest management requirements for schools
The State of Maine has revised its integrated pest management (IPM) and pesticide regulations pertaining to all public and private schools serving any grades kindergarten through 12. These changes were made to improve communication and provide training and tools for IPM coordinators. There are three important changes. Continue reading “New pest management requirements for schools”
Free webinar on school mold, moisture control
A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency webinar on mold and moisture control in schools this Wednesday will be headlined by two Mainers.
Alyce Swann, facilities supervisor for RSU 21, and Steven Caulfield, senior vice president for Turner Building Science and Design and president of the Maine Indoor Air Quality Council, will be the featured speakers for the webinar Mold and Moisture Control in Schools: Potential Health Effects and Safe Clean-Up Practices. Jennifer Lemon, of EPA’s Indoor Environments Division, will facilitate the free webinar, which will be held Wednesday, Aug. 7 from 1 to 2:15 p.m. Continue reading “Free webinar on school mold, moisture control”
Maine DOE Newsroom 