From the Maine Department of Education
The Maine DOE has contracted one of the state’s foremost learning technology leaders to help schools as they prepare to administer Maine’s first-ever statewide online assessment this spring.
Andy Wallace will work with the Department to develop technology related resources and provide support to schools to ensure they are ready to successfully administer the Maine Educational Assessment for Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy developed by the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC).
Wallace is currently the technology director for the South Portland School Department and will continue in that role while also working with the Department on a seven month contract. He brings more than 14 years of experience as a technology director in both rural and urban school districts to the Department assignment, and was recently named the 2014 Administrator of the Year by the Maine Association of School Librarians.
Please note: This is the final issue of the Commissioner’s Update for 2014 as State Offices will be closed for holidays on Thursday, Dec. 25 and Thursday, Jan. 1. All of us at the Maine DOE send warm wishes to you and your school communities for a happy holiday season and we look forward to continuing to serve you in 2015. Please expect to receive the December Maine DOE Monthly on Tuesday, Dec. 30 and the next weekly Commissioner’s Update on Thursday, Jan. 8.
Notices and Reporting
- Report of Adult Education for Subsidy Purposes (EF-M-39B), due Jan. 15
- Annual Certification of Superintendent, due Jan. 31
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News & Views
Maine DOE releases scheduling guidance for new State assessment
To support district and school testing coordinators in their planning for the spring 2015 administration of the Maine Educational Assessment in Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy, the Maine DOE has posted scheduling guidelines on the assessment section of its website. | More
Clarification of public preschool program requirements
The Maine DOE has received many inquiries from school district personnel seeking clarification on the public preschool legislation passed last spring. | More
Maine DOE provides resources to help schools keep students safe
In light of several high profile incidents in Maine involving threats to schools, the Department is reminding districts of the many resources it has already available to support schools in their ongoing efforts to keep students safe. | More
Maine joins New England states to create common system for reporting on educational performance
A consortium of states including Maine has released two years of reports created under a first of its kind regional common data project. | More
Certification of superintendent election or reelection
The Maine DOE is reminding administrators and school board members of the approaching deadline for annual certification of employment of Superintendent of Schools. | More
Maine students put STEM skills to the test at FIRST LEGO League Championship
Hundreds of Maine students from Kittery to Frenchville came together last weekend to compete at the 15th Annual FIRST LEGO League Championship, run by Maine Robotics and held at the Augusta Civic Center. | More
Annual gifted and talented program applications past due
The Department is reminding school district administrators that their 2014-15 annual applications for gifted and talented program approval were due on Dec. 5. | More
Department encourages early summer food program planning
The Maine DOE is encouraging districts to begin planning now for their Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). | More
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