Welcome to the May issue of the Maine DOE Monthly.
Spring is a season of celebrations, and in keeping with that, we spent much of the month celebrating the students, teachers and improvements at Maine schools.
We released the 2014 school report cards, and recognized the 121 A and B schools as well as those that showed great growth with certificates of achievement signed by Governor LePage and Commissioner Rier. In conjunction with the report card rollout, we also spent the week visiting several of the 100 or so schools that improved by at least one letter grade so we could congratulate their progress and learn more about what they are doing to inspire students and raise performance levels.
Earlier this month, we also recognized the new County Teachers of the Year at a State House ceremony during Teacher Appreciation Week and tonight, Commissioner Rier will honor diploma recipients at the first of three Adult Education graduations he’ll speak at, reflecting our commitment to education and workforce development.
If you’re curious about what’s worth celebrating in your local school, then visit our Education Data Warehouse to see their report card and dozens of data points. Since the grades went public earlier in May, thousands of Mainers have visited this free Maine DOE resource to learn about the many positive things happening in their schools and what opportunities exist for supporting improvement. You can watch a short webinar on how to use the warehouse 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
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
Commissioner celebrates Washington County school improvements on first day of report card rollout tour
MACHIAS – Maine’s Commissioner of Education spent Monday in Washington County, recognizing two schools there for raising their grades on the 2014 school report cards that will be released to the public on Thursday. | More
Maine DOE report cards offer learning opportunities
Just as we teach our kids to be lifelong learners, we have to be too. The school report cards released by the Department provide a learning opportunity for us all. Some will be quick to dismiss the grades and the Department that delivers them. Others will use them exactly as Maine DOE intended, seeing them as a snapshot of a school’s performance and a springboard for diving into the data to learn more about a school’s strengths and where there are opportunities for improvement. | More
Commissioner Rier commends Adult Education, graduates at three ceremonies
TOPSHAM – Maine’s Education Commissioner will celebrate the 57 students who have earned their high school degree at the Merrymeeting Adult Education graduation tonight. He will participate in two other adult education graduations this spring, including the RSU 52 Adult and Community Education graduation in Turner on May 30 and the Windham/Raymond Adult Education graduation in Windham on June 12. | More
Education Commissioner recognizes County Teachers of the Year
This Teacher Appreciation Week, I had the honor on behalf of the Department and the LePage Administration of recognizing the first-ever Maine County Teachers of the Year. | More
Students, educators to showcase 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 strengthens educator effectiveness
The Department has adopted Rule Chapter 180, which establishes standards and procedures for the implementation of performance evaluation and professional growth systems that improve educator effectiveness by establishing clear expectations and providing actionable feedback and support to help educators meet them. | More