From the Maine Department of Education
The Standardized Assessment Task Force of 21 Maine educators are busy at work this summer as the state seeks a vendor/partner to carry out the Maine Educational Assessment for public school students in grades 3-8 and 11. In June, the task force met to discuss the successes and needed areas of improvement of the last assessment. Now the role of this group is to engage in a question and answer exchange that will act as a guide to help the Department draft a Request for Proposals (RFP). These proposals will be scored according to the RFP to determine which organization will serve as Maine’s next vendor.
In an effort to ensure that all of Maine’s K-12 public school students have “an equal opportunity to a quality education,” Maine DOE conducts an assessment each year of all public school students in certain grades. This assessment must be standardized so that each student is measured by the same instrument. By having every public school student in Maine take the same (or standardized) test, it is possible to measure the educational opportunity that a child in Kittery, for example, has in relation to a child in Fort Kent.
Notices and Reporting
- Qualified Zone Academy Bond (QZAB), due Oct. 15
- NCLB Consolidated Application, due Aug. 1 (Reminder)
- NCLB Performance Report, due Aug. 1 (Reminder)
More Notices | Administrative Letters | Reporting Calendar
News & Views
State awards $1.63 million through a grant to help a struggling school
Washburn Elementary School in Auburn will use just over $1.63 million in School Improvement Grant (SIG) funding awarded by the Maine DOE. | More
Maine educators expand learning technology skills this week
The Maine DOE’s MLTI 2015 Summer Institute kicks off at Bowdoin. | More
Celebrating 30 years of wellness
Teams representing 22 Maine school districts benefited in June from their experiences at the 30th Annual Maine Schoolsite Health Promotion Program & Wellness Conference. | More
Three Maine CTEs to offer plumbing programs
Career and Technical Education (CTE) centers in Farmington, Norway and Lewiston will begin offering new plumbing programs. | More
Free school-based emergency course for rural districts and law enforcement
A free course on school-based emergencies for rural Maine districts and law enforcement will be offered on Aug. 20 in Belfast. | More
Maine Warden Service and Maine DOE working to assess applicant’s skills
The Maine DOE and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife are working cooperatively to assess an applicant’s readiness, according to State learning standards. | More
Notice of annual audit requirements
Maine DOE is providing notice of a change to requirements as well as reminders about the annual audit requirements for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, and subsequent years. | More
Maine DOE revises policy on standards-based IEP goals
The Maine DOE has revised its policy on writing standards-based IEP goals, available here. | More
QZAB Tax Credit Bond applications due October 15
The Department currently has $1,435,000 of QZAB issuing authority to distribute to qualifying schools units. | More
Maine DOE adopts rules to establish new test requirements for qualifying examinations of Teachers, Educational Specialists and Administrators
Rule Chapter 13: Qualifying Examinations of Teachers, Educational Specialists and Administrators has been formally adopted by the Department and took effect June 23. | More
MaineCare Seed payment adjustments made, report review by August 21
The 2015-16 subsidy checks for General Purpose Aid for local schools will reflect adjustments for MaineCare Seed payments. | More
Upcoming proficiency-based education conference in Dexter
Limited space is available for MooseCamp, a proficiency-themed conference in Dexter on Aug. 12. | More
More Dispatches | Press Releases | From the Commissioner
LATEST DOE Career/Project Opportunities
- Education Specialist II – Special Education Consultant
- Administrative Support Services for 21ST CCLC Program
- Payroll Services for 21ST CCLC Program
- Preschool Expansion Grant Fiscal Agent Services
- Adult Education Integrated Education and Training Pilot Grant
- View current Child Development Services employment opportunities here