Commissioner’s Update – January 15, 2015

From the Maine Department of Education

The Maine DOE is releasing additional new resources to support the development and implementation of Performance Evaluation and Professional Growth (PEPG) systems. The new resources build upon those released last month and include Leader Evaluation and Professional Growth (LEPG) modules and a presentation specifically for special educators.

Among the previously released resources were educator training modules produced in collaboration with American Institutes of Research and the Department has now additionally added the last three modules in the State LEPG module series. Though each of the modules is aligned with the details of the State PEPG model for teachers or the State PEPG model for principals, they can be adapted by local districts as needed. The modules are located on the State Teacher PEPG and State Principal PEPG pages of the Educator Effectiveness website.

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Connecting classroom to math assessment focus of February Department workshops

The Maine DOE is inviting math educators to one of the six workshops the Department will host across the state next month focused on connecting the classroom to the new online Maine Education Assessment developed by Smarter Balanced. | More

EPS Commission releases final report

The Commission to Strengthen the Adequacy and Equity of Certain Cost Components of the School Funding Formula has released its final report. | More

Educators invited to Maine DOE winter wellness workshop

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Department webinar to overview new assessment accommodations

The Maine DOE will host a webinar on Jan. 23 to overview the features and accommodations that will be available with the new online Maine Educational Assessment for Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy developed by Smarter Balanced. | More

U.S. Office of Civil Rights releases guidance on the obligations to EL students

The Maine DOE is encouraging review of new guidance released by the U.S. Office of Civil Rights on the obligations to English learner students. | More

Department reminds schools of pest control reporting, upcoming training

The Maine DOE is reminding all schools serving K-12 students that they are required to appoint a staff member to be the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Coordinator. | More

Department reminds district leaders EDFacts Staff Survey past due

The Department is asking districts that have not yet completed their 2013-14 EDFacts Annual Academic Staff Survey to do so before the statewide data is uploaded to the U.S. Department of Education. | More

iOS 8 compatible secure browser for assessment available soon

The Maine DOE is aware that the secure browser application that will be used for the administration of the Maine Educational Assessment for Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy developed by Smarter Balanced is currently not compatible with iOS 8. | More

January is Invite Your Maine Legislator to School Month

Schools are encouraged to invite legislators to visit classrooms and meet with teachers, administrators and students this month. | More

Maine students selected for United States Senate Youth Program

Two Maine students will travel to Washington, D.C. for a week in March to serve as delegates to the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP). | More

Bucksport High School recognized for academic excellence

Bucksport High School has been honored as a National BARR School of Academic Excellence. | More

Nominations due Feb. 1 for Maine’s History Teacher of the Year

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, Preserve America and the History Channel annually recognize outstanding American history teachers at the state and national levels. | More

College For Every Student awards to help underserved students become college, career ready

College For Every Student (CFES) has received funding to provide five low-income middle or high schools with Closing the Gap awards. | More

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