From the Maine Department of Education
Results from the spring 2015 Maine Educational Assessment (MEA) for mathematics and English language arts/literacy are being carefully rolled out. The steps in that process include:
Online Reporting System: Since mid-July, preliminary results have been available to schools/SAUs in the Online Reporting System (ORS) of the assessment portal at me.portal.airast.org. These reports have students placed as they were in the Test Information Distribution System (TIDE), and not necessarily aggregated according to Maine’s decision rules (e.g., exclusion of home-schooled students, outplaced students included with sending district, exclusion of students with special considerations). Access to these results is controlled by the permissions structure in TIDE, which allows for different levels of access. Permissions begin with the superintendent’s designation of a District/System Administrator (DSA). If administration changes have taken place which necessitate the assignment of a new DSA, the current superintendent needs to send an email identifying the designated DSA to the Department’s Bethany Dodge at bethany.l.dodge@maine.gov.
Notices and Reporting
- Local Entitlement Application, due Sept. 15 (Reminder)
- Leased Space Application, due Sept. 15 (Reminder)
- Special Education Tuition & Board Report (EF-S-07), due Sept. 15 (Reminder)
- Title VI: Rural Education Performance Report, due Sept. 15 (Reminder)
More Notices | Administrative Letters | Reporting Calendar
News & Views
NCLB Report Cards now available
The 2014-15 NCLB Report Cards, showing levels of performance at Maine schools for the 2013-14 school year, are now available through the Maine DOE Data Warehouse. | More
Maine DOE awarded flexibility from Feds
The Maine Department of Education received a three-year waiver allowing flexibility regarding specific requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). | More
Funds to support proficiency-based diploma transition
Maine school administrative units (SAUs), that operate public schools, will receive targeted funds to support the transition to a proficiency-based diploma again this year. | More
Maine DOE accomplishments for the first half of the year
The first six months of 2015 saw great success for the Maine DOE including these highlights. | More
Reminder to districts: protocol for reviewing invoices for special education services
As of July 1 all of Maine DOE’s contracts with agencies and persons providing special education services to state agency clients stipulate that invoices for those services be sent to the school administrative unit. | More
Professional standards for food service
Starting July 1, local food service directors or the individual completing director’s duties must now meet the minimum hiring requirements. | More
Salary supplement available to eligible educators and school staff
Maine educators and school staff may be eligible for a salary supplement for the 2015-16 school year. | More
Educators encouraged to apply for certification scholarship program
Maine educators are encouraged to apply to and enroll in the certification program offered by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. | More
Maine Teacher of the Year candidates nearing end of reviews
Eight teachers in the running for the 2016 Maine Teacher of the Year title presented to and answered questions from members of the State review panel last week. | More
Conference focuses on effective teaching with an emphasis on tech and social media
On August 6 and 7, a conference entitled “ECET2 Maine Teacher Leadership Summit” (Elevating and Celebrating Effective Teaching and Teachers) was held at Colby College in Waterville. | More
Pilot training of a kindergarten entry assessment
Fifteen Maine kindergarten teachers spent three days last week learning how to pilot a Kindergarten Entry Assessment (KEA). | More
Blue Hill teacher receives week-long learning in nation’s capital
A local teacher’s passion for the Civil War and his collaboration with his school librarian and local historical society, led to a week of learning this summer. | More
Horatio Alger Scholarship now open
Maine students are invited to apply for the 2016 Horatio Alger Association Scholarship Program. | More
Maine DOE staff changes and additions
While many take time to relax over the summer, some folks at Maine DOE have done little of that while embracing their new positions with the Department. | More
Schools invited to host dangers of texting while driving program
Maine schools are invited to host the AT&T “It Can Wait” program, a national initiative designed to educate youth about the dangers of texting while driving. | More
Third annual National Anthem sing-a-long
In Maine, and across the nation, students are invited to sing in unity our National Anthem on September 11. | More
Maine schools invited to study and track weather
Are you a WeatherBug? Maine Schools can now connect more closely with the communities they serve through studying and tracking weather. | More
More Dispatches | Press Releases | From the Commissioner