From the Maine Department of Education
The following release was published Nov. 17 regarding Maine’s membership in the national initiative to broaden access to postsecondary learning.
Maine is now the 36th state to join the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), an initiative that will make distance-education courses more accessible to students across state lines and make it easier for institutions to participate in interstate distance education.
SARA is an agreement among its member states, districts and U.S. territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance-education courses and programs. Maine’s Acting Education Commissioner, Bill Beardsley says, “SARA facilitates Maine’s interface with education opportunities across the country while bypassing the old case-by-case burdensome course approval system. Maine students benefit and state red tape is minimized with no loss of accountability. It is a state consortium approach we value.”
The Maine Department of Education will start accepting SARA applications from institutions of higher education beginning December 1, 2015.
Notices and Reporting Items
- CTE Early College Grants, due Nov. 22 (Reminder)
- School Bus Purchase Program Application (NEO Transportation) (EF-T-17), due Nov. 25 (Reminder)
- Title VI: Rural Education End of Year Carryover Report, due Jan. 1
- Title VI: Rural Education ADA Count, due Jan. 1
- Rural Education Information Form School Year 2016-17, due Jan. 1
More Notices | Administrative Letters | Reporting Calendar
News & Views
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Federal guidance to help students with disabilities
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Council studies implementation of proficiency-based grad requirements
The Maine Legislature tasked the Maine Proficiency Education Council to study and make recommendations regarding implementation of the proficiency-based graduation requirements to the Commissioner of Education and the Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs. | More
Rulemaking underway on new CPR/AED law
In June 2015, LD 556 was passed which amended Maine DOE statute Sec. 20-A MRSA § 6304, An Act To Require Public Schools To Offer Instruction Related to Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and the Use of an Automated External Defibrillator. | More
Regional school calendars due by May 6
School administrative units and private schools approved for tuition purposes are expected to establish regional school calendars by May 6, 2016. | More
National school transportation conference focuses on safety and federal updates
School buses are an iconic symbol that represents access to education in the United States. Right now, as they are, school buses are by far the safest way for students to travel to and from school.| More
Child nutrition staff recognized
Recently, five members of Maine DOE’s School Finance and Operations Team were recognized for their work in summer meals for students. | More
Robots helping students
While more and more classrooms are exploring science concepts through robotics, and youth are participating in school robotics competitions or attending robotics camps during vacations, at least two Maine schools are actually helping students. | More
More Dispatches | Press Releases | From the Commissioner
LATEST DOE Career/Project Opportunities
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- View current Child Development Services employment opportunities here