Month: August 2017

PRIORITY NOTICE: Live Broadcast of 8/14 Hearing on Proposed Rule Chapter 134 (Regulations for Awarding a High School Diploma)

On Monday, August 14th, the Maine DOE is providing an opportunity to listen to the live public hearing of proposed rule Chapter 134 (Regulation for Awarding a High School Diploma) to anyone unable to attend the hearing from 9-11 AM in room 500 at the Cross State Office Building in Augusta.

Listen live on 8/14 at 9 am using this link: https://zoom.us/j/264310902

Written comments may also be submitted by 5pm on September 8, 2017 to the attention of Diana Doiron at diana.doiron@maine.gov or at Maine Department of Education, 23 State House Station, Augusta, ME  04333.

Pursuant to the rulemaking requirements in 20-A MRS §4722-A, Chapter 134 rule must address the following:

  • Allow flexibility and innovation at the school and district level for the development of consistent graduation standards.
  • Identify the manner in which multiple pathways in career and technical education can provide evidence of proficiency in the disciplines of the content areas and Guiding Principles of Maine’s system of learning results.
  • Establish criteria for the placement in career and technical education programs while ensuring all students are exposed to all content areas of the system of learning results.

For more information on proposed rule Chapter 134 and the diploma based on proficiency, contact Maine Department of Education Proficiency-Based Education Specialist, Diana Doiron at diana.doiron@maine.gov

New School Nurse Orientation registration is open

If you hired a new nurse for your school over the summer be sure to encourage them to attend the New School Nurse Orientation on September 29th in Augusta.

New School Nurse Orientation is a specialized program designed to help nurses transition into the educational setting. Some of the topics included in day one will be: professional requirements, resources, overview of the School Health Manual, data reporting requirements for nurses, screening requirements and procedures as well as educational rules and laws. There will be two more days covering different topics for new School Nurses scheduled later in the school year.

When: September 29, 2017 8am – 3pm
Where: Augusta, ME Burton Cross Office Building
Cost: FREE
How to register: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NewSchoolNurseOrientation1

If you have any questions please contact Emily Poland, RN, School Nurse Consultant for the Maine Department of Education at 207-624-6688 or Emily.poland@maine.gov.

Maine DOE Update – August 10, 2017

From the Maine Department of Education

Notices and Reporting Items

Professional Development Opportunities

More Notices | Administrative Letters | Reporting Calendar

News & Views

New School Nurse Orientation registration is open

If you hired a new nurse for your school over the summer be sure to encourage them to attend the New School Nurse Orientation on September 29th in Augusta. | More

Mentoring workshop for educators of gifted and talented program

The Maine Department of Education will sponsor a mentoring workshop for new and experienced gifted and talented (GT) educators at the Division of Transportation (DOT) Building on 66 Industrial Drive in Augusta on September 14, 9am-3pm… | More

Changes to the Maine Unified Special Education Regulations (M.U.S.E.R.)

Changes to the Maine Unified Special Education Regulations, Birth-20, (M.U.S.E.R.) will go into effect on August 25, 2017. Until that date, schools should continue to use existing procedures for the identification of children with a specific learning disability… | More

Maine teachers learn about agriculture

July 31st through August 4th, 23 educators grades K-12, along with other participants at the Maine Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC) Summer Institute, hosted at the University of Maine, learned how to incorporate information on Maine agriculture into their classrooms… | More

More Dispatches | Press Releases | Priority Notices

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

Maine teachers learn about agriculture

Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Summer Institute participants enjoy a final group gathering outside their classroom at the University of Maine at FarmingtonJuly 31st through August 4th, 23 educators grades K-12, along with other participants at the Maine Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC) Summer Institute, hosted at the University of Maine, learned how to incorporate information on Maine agriculture into their classrooms.

(Pictured above: Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Summer Institute participants enjoy a final group gathering outside their classroom at the University of Maine at Farmington)

Through local farm tours and creative lesson plans, educators gained additional insights into agriculture and its importance to the Maine economy and to Maine’s rich culture and history, as well as how to connect agriculture with the academics they teach at their home schools.

Bonnie Brown instructs teachers about growing flowers at Shaky Barn Farm Gardens in Livermore(Pictured left: Bonnie Brown instructs teachers about growing flowers at Shaky Barn Farm Gardens in Livermore.)

The Summer Institute was supported in part through the proceeds from Maine’s Agricultural license plate.  Farm tours in the Farmington area included a goat/cheese farm, sheep/wool farm, apple orchard, dairy farm, flower nurseries and other exciting highlights.

Participants left with not only an increased appreciation for the role and work of the Maine farmer, but also with many ideas on how to impart agricultural information to their students in the coming year.

(Pictured below: Teachers enjoy the dairy goats at York Hill Farm in New Sharon.)

Teachers enjoy the dairy goats at York Hill Farm in New SharonFor more information on Maine Agriculture in the Classroom and training/grant opportunities available to teachers, please contact Willie Sawyer Grenier, Executive Director, Maine Agriculture in the Classroom, maitc@maine.gov  (207) 287-5522  www.MaineAgintheClassroom.org

 

 

Changes to the Maine Unified Special Education Regulations (M.U.S.E.R.)

Changes to the Maine Unified Special Education Regulations, Birth-20, (M.U.S.E.R.) will go into effect on August 25, 2017. Until that date, schools should continue to use existing procedures for the identification of children with a specific learning disability.

Chapter 101 (Section VII.2.L) and pertaining to the identification of children with specific learning disabilities was amended to require:

  1. the inclusion of general education intervention data under Section III of the rule when the IEP team uses a process based on the child’s response to scientific, research-based interventions and,
  2. the inclusion of  psychological processing data from standardized measures to identify contributing factors.

These changes will affect any child’s evaluation that begins on or after August 25, 2017.

The Specific Learning Disability Eligibility Form that is used in the process of identifying children with specific learning disabilities will also change on August 25, 2017.

Please check the Maine DOE website at http://www.maine.gov/doe/specialed/forms/ for more information or contact the Maine Department of Education, Office of Special Services at 624-6713.

Mentoring workshop for educators of gifted and talented program

The Maine Department of Education will sponsor a mentoring workshop for new and experienced gifted and talented (GT) educators at the Division of Transportation (DOT) Building on 66 Industrial Drive in Augusta on September 14, 9am-3pm.

Workshop topics include: reviewing this year’s renewal application process, exploring identification tools, discussing curriculum options aligned with regular education initiatives, organizing and managing GT programs, evaluating program effectiveness, and discussing budget concerns.

The morning will consist of a workshop designed for teachers and administrators who are looking for information regarding this year’s renewal application process. The workshop will also provide a forum to discuss GT programming.

Depending on the needs of the participants, in the afternoon, attendees will be broken into two groups. One group will be educators who are fairly new to the field. They will continue their in-depth discussions on the topics listed above. The second group will be educators who have been in the GT field for a longer period and may have far–reaching concerns and challenges. The mediator of this group, Lee Worcester PhD, asks that the advanced GT educators suggest a topic for the afternoon session by September 7 at lee.worcester@yahoo.com or 943-8804.

To register by September 10th at: http://events.egov.com/eventreg/ME/event.htm?name=giftedtalentedmentoringworkshopfall2017. Due to the location, lunch and refreshments will not be provided.

For any questions regarding the workshop, contact Educational Consultants: Lee Worcester at lee.worcester@yahoo.com or Patti Drapeau at ptdrapeau@aol.com.

PRIORITY NOTICE: Maine DOE Seeks Comments on Proposed Rule Chapter 134 (regulations for awarding a high school diploma)

The Maine DOE welcomes comments on proposed regulation, Chapter 134 pursuant to 20-A MRS §4722-A (Regulations for Awarding a High School Diploma). A public hearing will be held on August 14th in room 500 at the Cross State Office Building from 9-11 am. Anyone unable to attend the public hearing may send written comments by 5 pm on September 8, 2017. Written comments may be sent to the attention Diana Doiron at diana.doiron@maine.gov or 23 SHS Station, Augusta, ME 04333.

The development of Chapter 134 has been underway since the summer of 2016 guided by the rule making requirements of the proficiency diploma law. This rule must:

  • Allow flexibility and innovation at the school and district level for the development of  consistent graduation standards,
  • Identify the manner in which multiple pathways in career and technical education can provide evidence of proficiency in the disciplines of the content areas and Guiding Principles of Maine’s system of learning results, and
  • Establish criteria for the placement in career and technical education programs while ensuring all students are exposed to all content areas of the system of learning results.

For more information on the diploma based on proficiency, contact Maine Department of Education Proficiency-Based Education Specialist, Diana Doiron at diana.doiron@maine.gov or 624-6823.

Maine DOE Update – August 3, 2017

From the Maine Department of Education

Notices and Reporting Items

Professional Development Opportunities

More Notices | Administrative Letters | Reporting Calendar

News & Views

Revised certification rules: guidance and clarification (Chapter 115)

The revised Chapter 115 certification rules have arrived and the Maine Department of Education (DOE) is providing the following clarifications.. | More

More Dispatches | Press Releases | Priority Notices

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

Revised certification rules: guidance and clarification (Chapter 115)

The revised Chapter 115 certification rules have arrived and the Maine Department of Education (DOE) is providing the following clarifications: 

  • Part I of Chapter 115 goes into effect August 12th, 2017.
     
  • Part II does not go into effect until July 1, 2019, including the revisions to grade spans.  For now we will continue to use the K-3, K-8, 7-12 or K-12 grade spans for certification purposes.
     
  • For future reference a decision has been made by the Maine Department of Education to allow individuals who have a K-8 certification to continue with that credential, as long as the credential does not lapse.   

During the fall, the Maine DOE will be making more recommendations to certification rules to further accommodate the needs of, and feedback from the educational field.

For more information contact the Maine DOE Certification office at 207-624-6603 or cert.doe@maine.gov.