From the Maine Department of Education
The Blue Ribbon Commission to Reform Public Education Funding and Improve Student Performance is now underway, after enactment by the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Paul LePage. It is now recorded into statue as PUBLIC Law, Chapter 389, LD 1641.
The Commission will meet on June 6 at Oxford Hills High School and the meeting will be open to the public. All documents presented at these meetings can be found here.
“There are several macro trends we need to address,” says Commission Chair Bill Beardsley. “In the past 15 years, state funding formula expenses for public PreK–12 education have risen by 51 percent; local expenditures on public PreK–12 education have risen by 75 percent while total PreK–12 education enrollments have fallen by 34,000 to about 178,000 students. At the same time, while Maine remains slightly above national average in student achievement in ELA/literacy and mathematics, the income achievement gap across Maine remains large. Students in wealthier schools and counties, in terms of family income, have significantly higher academic achievement than students in lower income schools and counties.”
Notices and Reporting Items
- Regional School Calendar, due May 6 (Reminder)
- Qualified Zone Academy Bond (QZAB), due May 26 (Reminder)
More Notices | Administrative Letters | Reporting Calendar
News & Views
Students honored for their creative accomplishments by Maine’s First Lady
The Hall of Flags was filled with music and a lot of excited school students who were recognized at a celebration of Excellence in Maine Visual and Performing Arts Education. | More
Maine Charter School Commission seeking candidates for a new member
The Maine Charter School Commission consists of seven members appointed by the Maine State Board of Education. The Commission has begun a search to fill a vacancy for the unexpired term May 2016 – June 2018. | More
Senator Collins visits with school children in Aroostook County
Senator Susan Collins journeyed back to her home turf of Aroostook County recently and visited the Aroostook County Action Program Early Care and Education Center. | More
Error in packaging creates confusion for PAAP returns
The Personalized Alternate Assessment Portfolio (PAAP) pick up by UPS on May 3 will occur regardless of a potentially late submission of the electronic Principal Certification of Proper Test Administration. | More
May is Lyme Disease Awareness month
Maine’s Center for Disease Control (CDC) is planning events in May to raise awareness. | More
Maine DOE health education spring conference
The Maine Department of Education hosted the 18th annual Comprehensive School Health Education Spring Conference. | More
Science webinar from NOAA
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will broadcast a live educational webinar from Galveston, Texas as part of the 2016 Hurricane Awareness Tour. | More
Inmates preparing for college has nine people on a new path
“I never knew how to start with college classes.” That is what one York County Jail inmate shared recently when interviewed by the Journal Tribune. | More
More Dispatches | Press Releases | Priority Notices
LATEST DOE Career/Project Opportunities
- Request for Proposals: Maine Educational Assessment Online Reporting System
- Request for Proposals: Data Analysis and Evaluation Services for 21st CCLC Program
- View current Child Development Services employment opportunities here