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 responsible for oversight of pest prevention, management and monitoring activities. Schools must report the name and e-mail address of the IPM Coordinator in MEDMS or by email to the Maine Board of Pesticides Control at pesticides@maine.gov.
Month: January 2015
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.
Continue reading “Department reminds district leaders EDFacts Staff Survey past due”
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 and developed by the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice on the obligations to English learner students.
Continue reading “U.S. Office of Civil Rights releases guidance on the obligations to EL students”
Bucksport High School recognized for academic excellence
Bucksport High School has been honored as a National BARR School of Academic Excellence. The school has been implementing BUILDING ASSETS, REDUCING RISKS (or “BARR”), a social emotional learning model that has been proven to decrease educational disparities while increasing achievement for all students.
Continue reading “Bucksport High School recognized for academic excellence”
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. Nominees may be any full-time educators of grades K-12 who teach American history (as a separate subject or through social studies, language arts and other subjects). State winners receive a $1,000 prize and an archive of classroom resources. One national winner receives a $10,000 prize.
Continue reading “Nominations due Feb. 1 for Maine’s History Teacher of the Year”
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 that will help underserved students become college and career ready.
iOS 8 compatible secure browser for assessment available soon
The following Priority Notice was distributed on Tuesday, Jan. 13 to superintendents, technology directors and district/system assessment administrators (DSAs) to alert them that an iOS 8 compatible secure browser for administration of the new online assessment was being developed by AIR and would be coming later this month. Continue reading “iOS 8 compatible secure browser for assessment available soon”
Commissioner’s Update – January 8, 2015
From the Maine Department of Education
The Maine DOE is continuing its work to ensure an effective teacher in every classroom and an effective leader in every school.
In the coming months, the Department will engage stakeholders in conversations to inform the development of a four to seven year state plan to provide all students with effective educators. The State will examine data and work with stakeholders to understand any identified differences in access to effective educators across high/low poverty and high/low minority schools and must submit its plan to the U.S. Department of Education by June 1.
Access to great teachers and leaders is a core priority of the Department’s Education Evolving strategic plan to put learners first, released in 2012.
Notices and Reporting
- Report of Adult Education for Subsidy Purposes (EF-M-39B), due Jan. 15 (Reminder)
- Annual Certification of Superintendent, due Jan. 31 (Reminder)
More Notices | Administrative Letters | Reporting Calendar
News & Views
Department releases new online resources to support spring MEA administration
The Maine DOE continues to support schools as they prepare for a successful spring administration of the new online Maine Educational Assessment for Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy and has recently added new resources to its website. | More
Maine DOE adopts rules to strengthen public preschool programs
Rule Chapter 124: Basic Approval Standards: Public Preschool Programs has been formally adopted by the Department of Education and took effect Dec. 28. | More
Alternate assessment for mathematics and ELA dates set, resources released
User and student registration will open next month for the National Center and State Collaborative Alternate Assessment based on Alternate Standards (NCSC AA-AAS). | More
Smarter Balanced practice, training tests now available
Smarter Balanced practice and training tests are now available to help schools better prepare students for the statewide spring assessment. | More
PAAP test bank live
The Personalized Alternate Assessment Portfolio (PAAP) task bank is up and running with 206 students registered so far. | More
Department seeks public preschool classrooms for observation pilot
The Maine DOE is seeking public preschool classrooms to pilot a research-based classroom observation tool called CLASS (Classroom Assessment Scoring System). | More
Maine DOE announces social studies DBQ workshops
The Maine DOE is inviting teachers of grades 6-12 to participate in its 2015 Social Studies Document-Based Question (DBQ) Workshop series. | More
Department reminds district leaders EDFacts Staff Survey past due
The Dec. 19 deadline for completion of the 2013-14 EDFacts Annual Academic Staff Survey has passed. | More
School, technology leaders reminded to complete assessment readiness survey
The Department is reminding school and district leaders to complete the short technology readiness survey in advance of the spring administration of the new Maine Educational Assessment for Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy. | More
Maine students invited to participate in 2015 Law Day Art Contest
The American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division is inviting Maine students to submit work to its 2015 Law Day Art Contest. | More
More Dispatches | Press Releases | From the Commissioner
LATEST DOE Career/Project Opportunities
Department releases new online resources to support spring MEA administration
The Maine DOE continues to support schools as they prepare for a successful spring administration of the new online Maine Educational Assessment for Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy and has recently added new resources to its website.
Continue reading “Department releases new online resources to support spring MEA administration”
Maine DOE adopts rules to strengthen public preschool programs
Rule Chapter 124: Basic Approval Standards: Public Preschool Programs has been formally adopted by the Department of Education and took effect Dec. 28.
Continue reading “Maine DOE adopts rules to strengthen public preschool programs”
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