Commissioner’s Update – February 27, 2014

From the Maine DOE

2014 marks the 10^th anniversary of Mainers voting to require that the State fund 55 percent of the cost of public education. While we in Augusta have worked toward meeting that mandate, we have struggled most years to get to even 50 percent. Due to other funding priorities – especially those related to health and human services – the Legislature simply cannot come up with the money.

As talk of growing Maine’s Medicaid program again swirls in the State House, I’m often asked for my assessment on the potential effects of expansion on education. As our Department’s longtime Director of School Finance and Operations and now its Commissioner, I can tell you I am deeply concerned about the negative impact to Maine schools of further growing this already unsustainable program.

What is particularly troubling to me is the amount of uncertainty that surrounds expansion at the federal level, making it difficult for states and individual departments like ours within those states to truly understand and prepare for the impact. However, if history is any guide, the effects would be significant.

Continue reading →

Notices and Reporting

Qualified School Construction Bond (QSCB) Federal Tax Credit Bond Application (Reminder), due March 14
2014 Maine Educator Talent Pool Recommendations (Reminder), due May 2

More Notices
Administrative Letters
Reporting Calendar

News & Views

Security reports suggest improvements to keep schools, students safe

Maine schools have positive climates and State agencies are proactive in providing them meaningful safety-related resources, but there are extensive opportunities to better ensure safety. Those are the high-level findings of two school security reports the Maine DOE overviewed to the Legislature’s Education Committee this week. | More

Themes emerge in transition to proficiency-based systems

Focusing funding on professional development, communicating early and often with educators and parents, and the need for strong leadership were the leading learnings that emerged in an analysis of the case studies currently featured on the Maine DOE’s Center for Best Practice. | More

Regional standards-based instruction and assessment workshop for World Language teachers

The Standards-Based Instruction and Assessment Initiative is offering regional workshops to educate and support World Language teachers on standards-based instruction and assessment of student proficiency as districts implement the proficiency-based diploma law. | More

Resources for developing proficiency-based systems that support student learning

The goal of proficiency-based education is to ensure that students acquire the knowledge and skills needed for success in college and careers and the centerpiece of achieving proficiency is a clear focus on learning and instruction. There is extensive guidance for developing educational systems that support student proficiency. | More

Drop-in history lab supports National History Day prep

UMaine faculty and graduate students are hosting an informal drop-in history lab to provide one-on-one support for grade 6-12 students and teachers who are preparing a National History Day (NHD) research project. | More

USDA proposes standards for school nutrition professionals

The United States Department of Agriculture is proposing a rule that would establish minimum professional standards for school nutrition personnel who manage and operate the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. | More

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

Programmer Analyst – OIT/DOE Applications Development Team

Dispatches
Press Releases
From the Commissioner

Commissioner concerned about Medicaid expansion impact on education

Due to other funding priorities – especially those related to health and human services – the Legislature simply cannot come up with the money.

As talk of growing Maine’s Medicaid program again swirls in the State House, I’m often asked for my assessment on the potential effects of expansion on education.

Continue reading “Commissioner concerned about Medicaid expansion impact on education” →

Security reports suggest improvements to keep schools, students safe

Maine schools have positive climates and State agencies are proactive in providing them meaningful safety-related resources, but there are extensive opportunities to better ensure safety.

Those are the high-level findings of two school security reports the Maine DOE overviewed to the Legislature’s Education Committee this week. Continue reading “Security reports suggest improvements to keep schools, students safe” →

Themes emerge in transition to proficiency-based system

USDA proposes standards for school nutrition professionals

Regional standards-based instruction and assessment workshop for World Language teachers

The Standards-Based Instruction and Assessment Initiative is an ongoing collaborative effort between the Maine DOE, the Foreign Language Association of Maine and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). Regional workshops are being offered through the collaborative to educate and support World Language teachers on standards-based instruction and assessment of student proficiency as districts implement the proficiency-based diploma law. Continue reading “Regional standards-based instruction and assessment workshop for World Language teachers” →

Drop-in history lab supports National History Day prep

The lab will be held on Wednesday, March 5 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. in the Computer Classroom at the Fogler Library on UMaine’s Orono campus. Anyone interested in talking about any kind of historical research, local resources and current developments in historical scholarship (whether local, regional, national or global) is welcome to attend. Continue reading “Drop-in history lab supports National History Day prep” →

Developing proficiency-based systems that support student learning

The goal of proficiency-based education is to ensure that students acquire the knowledge and skills needed for success in college and careers and the centerpiece of achieving proficiency is a clear focus on learning and instruction. Continue reading “Developing proficiency-based systems that support student learning” →

Maine DOE Monthly – February 25, 2014

Welcome to the February issue of the Maine DOE Monthly.

Our Department continues to deliver on our promise to support schools, especially in their implementation of critical work like the proficiency-based diploma, educator effectiveness evaluations, and new standards and assessments. This month, we provided new resources that directly help educators and administrators, including sample policies for proficiency-based education systems, approved educator effectiveness models, guidance on merging certification support and performance evaluation systems, and expanded suicide prevention and awareness training.

We’re also excited to announce that last Thursday following unanimous confirmation by the Maine Legislature’s Education Committee and then the Maine Senate, Jim Rier was sworn-in by Governor LePage as Maine’s Commissioner of Education. If you haven’t had the opportunity to work with Jim in his years of service to Maine schools and students first as a member of the State Board of Education and since 2003 here at the Department, you can learn more about him here.

As always, read on for a roundup of other recent updates from the Department and stay tuned to our Newsroom and weekly Commissioner’s Updates for the latest news you can use from the Maine DOE.

Dispatches & Press Releases

Nominations sought for 2015 Maine Teacher of the Year

AUGUSTA – Nominations are open through Feb. 28 for the 2015 Maine Teacher of the Year. For the first time since the Maine DOE recognition program launched in 1954, the public is being invited to join school and district leaders in going online to directly nominate educators for the prestigious statewide distinction, the winner of which serves as an advocate for Maine’s teachers, students and education system. | More

K-12 should take note of higher ed’s voluntary move to proficiency-based education, Commissioner says

Last week I had the opportunity to participate in the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s (UMPI) exciting announcement they would be moving to a proficiency-based system beginning next fall. I believe UMPI’s voluntary adoption of this model sends a strong message to the K-12 system that proficiency-based is the new normal in Maine education – not just because it is required by State statute, but because it is the right thing to do for kids. | More

Commissioner Rier promotes value of expanded State suicide prevention training

All of us share a commitment to ensuring our schools are physically and emotionally safe and supportive places for students to learn and thrive. As your Commissioner of Education, I want you to know our Department is collaborating with others to take serious steps to help students before they harm themselves. | More

State Board of Education seeks student representatives

The Maine State Board of Education is accepting applications for potential student members from schools in the Second Congressional District. | More

Charter Commission to vote on applications March 3

The Maine Charter School Commission will vote at its March 3 meeting on whether to move forward the applications of three public charter schools proposed to open in Maine this fall. | More

Maine DOE shares educator effectiveness approved models

To support school administrative units (SAUs) in continuing with work already underway when the rule was originally proposed in 2013 as well as SAUs who are just beginning to explore professional practice models, the Department has posted and will update as needed the Maine DOE Menu of Approved Professional Practice Models along with information about the requirements for a model on its Educator Effectiveness website. | More

Policies support proficiency-based education implementation

District policies are critical supports for proficiency-based education and successful locally-led implementation may require the revision of existing district policies. Many school districts around the state are currently engaged in discussions to revise policies to reflect their proficiency-based systems. | More

Guidance on merging certification support and performance evaluation systems

In preparation for supporting provisionally certified teacher-candidates as they work toward State professional certification, local Professional Learning Community Support Systems (PLCSS) teams across Maine are gearing up to review their programs and deliver mentor training. | More

Maine DOE seeks summer food site sponsors

AUGUSTA – The Maine Department of Education is seeking organizations to help provide low-income children healthy meals when school is not in session this summer. | More

Self-assessment for proficiency-based diploma transition online through June

Fostering candid self-evaluation, the self-assessment tool provided by Maine DOE leads districts through a comprehensive set of questions focused on policy, practice and community engagement aspects of implementation. | More

Dispatches
Press Releases
From the Commissioner

Commissioner’s Update – February 20, 2014

From the Maine DOE

Last week I had the opportunity to participate in the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s (UMPI) exciting announcement they would be moving to a proficiency-based system beginning next fall.

Perhaps nothing puts students first more than proficiency-based education. As many of you know, this model is built around the reality that while students learn in different ways and speeds, proficiency is ultimately the most critical outcome of their schooling.

I believe UMPI’s voluntary adoption of this model sends a strong message to the K-12 system that proficiency-based is the new normal in Maine education – not just because it is required by State statute, but because it is the right thing to do for kids.

Continue reading →

Notices and Reporting

Qualified School Construction Bond (QSCB) Federal Tax Credit Bond Application (Reminder), due March 14
2014 Maine Educator Talent Pool Recommendations (Reminder), due May 2

More Notices
Administrative Letters
Reporting Calendar

News & Views

UMPI launches proficiency-based education initiative

BANGOR—The University of Maine at Presque Isle was joined by several top Maine education officials during a Feb. 13 press conference in Bangor to announce its transition to proficiency-based education, a move that makes UMPI the first university in Maine and one of the first in the nation to deliver this type of interactive learning. | More

Maine DOE provides guidance on educator evaluation steering committees

The next generation Performance Evaluation and Professional Growth (PE/PG) systems under development in Maine entail major shifts in how we approach the evaluation and professional development of educators. In making these shifts, schools in Maine and other states where educator effectiveness systems have been implemented report that stakeholder involvement, constituency buy-in and collaboration are essential to a successful outcome. | More

Guiding Principles performance assessment tasks to support proficiency-based diplomas

The Maine DOE is currently collaborating with the Maine Curriculum Leaders Association and the Cohort for Customized Learning to develop performance assessment tasks aligned to the Guiding Principles of the Maine Learning Results. | More

State Board of Education seeks student representatives

The Maine State Board of Education is accepting applications for potential student members from schools in the Second Congressional District. | More

Comments sought on Maine’s IDEA Part B Application

The Maine DOE is seeking comments from the public on its annual application for federal funds under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which covers services for preschool- and school-age children with disabilities. | More

Comments sought on Maine’s IDEA Part C Application

Maine is required to complete an application annually for the Part C (birth through two) program under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). | More

Maine DOE offers Section 504 training March 28

The Maine DOE will host Section 504 training on March 28 in Augusta. Region I Office for Civil Rights staff will discuss the requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and explain the responsibilities of public schools in the education of students with disabilities. Additionally, a Maine panel of Section 504 experts will discuss individual school administrative unit’s approaches to the implementation of Section 504. | More