From the Maine DOE
Following several changes by the Maine Legislature, I am pleased to say that the Department has finally adopted Rule Chapter 180, which establishes standards and procedures for the implementation of performance evaluation and professional growth systems (known as PE/PG systems) that each school administrative unit (SAU) is required to have implemented by the 2015-16 school year. PE/PG systems for teachers and principals improve educator effectiveness by establishing clear expectations for professional practice and student learning/growth and providing actionable feedback and support to help educators meet them.
The Department outlined the changes it made through the public rulemaking process last fall in a previous Commissioner’s Update dispatch. It is important to note that during the Legislature’s review this spring of Maine DOE’s provisionally-adopted rule, there was agreement that student growth measures should be a significant factor in determining a teacher or principal effectiveness rating and that local school boards have the authority and responsibility to approve or reject the stakeholder group’s proposed PE/PG system plan. Additionally, the Legislature maintained that the Maine DOE will still have to approve PE/PG system plans and that there are contingencies if local stakeholder groups can’t reach consensus, including adoption of a State model.
Notices and Reporting
- Additional HQT Reporting in NEO Dashboard, due June 20
- School Bus Purchase Program Approval – Cancellation Report (Ef-T-20A), due June 15
- 2013-14 Special Education Exit Certification (Reminder), due June 30
- Inventory of Hazardous Chemicals, due Sept. 1
More Notices Administrative Letters Reporting Calendar
News & Views
State releases 2014 report cards, congratulates high performing and high progress schools
AUGUSTA – The 2014 school report cards are out and certificates of achievement signed by Governor Paul R. LePage and Education Commissioner Jim Rier are in the mail for 121 schools that earned an A or B grade. | More
Students, educators to celebrate technology as learning tool at annual MLTI conference
ORONO – Students from 44 schools will gather at UMaine on Thursday to showcase how technology provided by the Maine Department of Education is transforming their learning and better preparing them for classroom and career success. | More
Maine DOE proposes rules for suicide awareness and prevention
The enactment of PL 2013, Chapter 53, (LD 609), An Act To Increase Suicide Awareness and Prevention in Maine Public Schools, requires all Maine school personnel to be trained in suicide awareness and prevention. It further requires all school administrative units (SAU) to put supports in place to help prevent suicide. | More
Maine DOE releases professional practice model survey results
The development and implementation of Performance Evaluation and Professional Growth (PE/PG) systems has prompted many school administrators to look for opportunities to share ideas and resources. | More
Maine DOE reminds districts of new military identifier for fall reporting
The Maine DOE is reminding superintendents, Infinite Campus (IC) data managers, building administrators and school office personnel of the state-wide implementation of the military-dependent child identifier responses in Infinite Campus expected in the upcoming October upload. | More
Maine DOE announces 2014 summer literacy institute
The Maine DOE is inviting teams of educators to attend the 2014 Summer Literacy Institute to be held August 12-13 at Thomas College in Waterville. The two-day event will feature members of the Vermont Writing Collaborative sharing its book Writing for Understanding. Presenters will explain the Writing for Understanding approach which describes a method of teaching writing that clearly matches the purpose and supports inclusion of strong evidence to support the main ideas. | More
Members sought for deaf or hard of hearing commission
The Maine Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened (CDHHLD) is seeking nominations to fill vacancies on the Commission. Students, parents, educators and community members with knowledge and experience related to hearing loss are especially important to the work the Commission does to implement positive changes for Maine’s deaf and hard of hearing citizens. | More
Department reminds SAU’S of additional 2013-14 HQT data collection requirement
Maine is required by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) to conduct a second “Highly Qualified” Teacher (HQT) data collection for the 2013-14 school year. | More
LATEST DOE Career/Project Opportunities
- Migrant Education Field Recruiter
- School Nutrition Specialist
- Programmer Analyst – Applications Development Team
- State Agencies for Higher Education (SAHE) Improving Teacher Quality Grants