From the Maine DOE
Last week, the Maine Education Association (MEA) announced its reservations about the updated math and ELA standards that were incorporated into the Maine Learning Results back in 2011 and have been being implemented in Maine schools since. They also called for a moratorium on the next generation of assessments aligned to those standards, developed in collaboration with Maine teachers and the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, of which Maine is currently a governing member.
In the days since, I’ve been asked for my reaction to that organization’s position. Especially in light of the commitment so many of you have made these past three years to supporting local implementation of standards and assessment, I want to make clear where the Maine DOE stands so you have the certainty you deserve.
Notices and Reporting
- EPS April 1 Enrollment Reporting (Reminder), due April 15
- Private School April 1 Enrollment Reporting (Reminder), due April 30
- Regional School Calendars (Reminder), due May 1
- 2014 Maine Educator Talent Pool Recommendations (Reminder), due May 2
More Notices
Administrative Letters
Reporting Calendar
News & Views
Maine high school graduation rates continue to climb
AUGUSTA – Maine’s high school graduation rate continues to climb with 86.36 percent of all students who entered the ninth grade in the fall of 2009 earning their diplomas on time in 2013, but State education officials stress that proficiency must be the top priority. | More
Maine chosen for rural dropout prevention project
Maine has been selected as one of 15 states to work with the US Department of Education and the National Dropout Prevention Network/Center on the Rural Dropout Prevention Project. | More
Tripp Middle School wins top nutrition award
Tripp Middle School is the first middle school in Maine to earn a Gold Medal in the US Department of Agriculture’s HealthierUS School Challenge. | More
Schools invited to June wellness conference
Maine schools are invited to attend the 29th Annual Maine DOE Schoolsite Health Promotion & Wellness Conference, to be held Tuesday, June 24 through Thursday, June 26 at Sugarloaf. | More
Save the date for ESL Summer Academy in June
The Maine DOE is encouraging educators of English learners to save the date for the 4th Annual ESL Summer Academy for teachers and administrators, scheduled to run from Tuesday, June 24 through Thursday, June 26 at the University of Maine in Orono. | More
Registration open for World Languages Summer Institute
World Language teachers are encouraged to mark their calendars for the 3rd Annual World Languages Summer Institute, a highly successful part of the World Languages in Maine Schools: A Standards-Based Instruction and Assessment Initiative. | More
Safety top focus at school bus driver regional road-e-os
School bus drivers throughout Maine will participate in regional road-e-o competitions starting this month. | More
Scholarships available for educators of English learners
The University of Maine Project Reach program is inviting K-12 teachers across subject areas to apply to its scholarship program, which aims to improve classroom instruction for English learners (ELs) in Maine. | More
RFP issued for assessment system administrator
The Maine DOE has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking bids for the development of a web-based computer-adaptive testing system utilizing the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium’s common assessments for mathematics and English language arts. | More
2014 Educator Talent Pool recommendations deadline coming up
The Maine DOE is accepting recommendations for the 2014 Maine Educator Talent Pool through May 2. | More
MPBN launches free online resource for teachers
The Maine Public Broadcasting Network has launched a new educational offering available to educators across Maine at http://www.mpbn.net. | More
Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities
- Education Team Coordinator – Assessment and Accountability
- ESEA Programs Specialist – Title VI-B (Rural Ed); Title I (Data)
- Higher Education Specialist
- 21st Century Community Learning Center Program
- Due Process Services (Mediation Services)
- Due Process Services (Administrative Hearing Services)
- State Agencies for Higher Education (SAHE) Improving Teacher Quality Grants
- Maine Comprehensive Assessment System