There are certain data points collected by the Maine DOE that have a direct impact on the calculation of subsidy. The Department has prepared a chart that shows the data that impacts the ED 279 subsidy printouts, when that data is due, and when any required revisions must be submitted in order to be included in the FY 20 EPS Funding Calculation.
Data that impacts the ED 279 subsidy printouts (PDF) »
Please contact Paula Gravelle at Paula.B.Gravelle@maine.gov with any questions.
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos today recognized three Maine schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2018. The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.
“I’m pleased to celebrate with you as your school is named a National Blue Ribbon School,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos in a video message to the honorees. “We recognize and honor your important work in preparing students for successful careers and meaningful lives. Congratulations on your students’ accomplishments and for your extraordinary commitment to meeting their unique needs.”
“Congratulations to the students, educators and school leaders at Dr. Levesque Elementary School, Falmouth High School, and Yarmouth Elementary School for their unwaivering commitment to education and student achievement,” said Maine Department of Education Commissioner Robert G. Hasson, Jr.
The coveted National Blue Ribbon Schools award affirms the hard work of educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content.
Now in its 36th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed recognition on more than 8,800 schools. On November 7 and 8, the Secretary and the Department of Education will celebrate with all honorees at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.
All schools are honored in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates:
Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year. The Department invites National Blue Ribbon School nominations from the top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Department of Defense Education Activity and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by The Council for American Private Education (CAPE).
Photographs and brief descriptions of the 2018 National Blue Ribbon Schools are available at http://www.ed.gov/nationalblueribbonschools.
School Name and City
Beginning in FY19, the Essential Programs and Services(EPS) funding formula added an allocation for PreK programs’ estimate student count. The PreK program estimate count allocation is intended to provide funding for PreK programming in advance of actual student enrollment, helping to offset the upfront costs associated with expanding or starting PreK programs. This PreK program allocation was first authorized into law on July 1, 2018 to begin in FY19.
If an SAU is opening or expanding a PreK program and the SAU would like to receive an FY20 estimate PreK allocation they must notify the Maine DOE’s finance team by completing the FY20 Estimate PreK Count Survey before October 31, 2018. SAUs completing this survey must also complete the PreK Program Application by April 30, 2019 and obtain program approval.
This FY20 Estimate PreK Count Survey is meant to capture the overall FY20 statewide obligation for estimate new and expanding PreK programs, but does not guarantee funding. This estimate count allocation will be used to provide funding on the FY20 ED279. SAUs must enroll the number of children included in the projected estimate count by October 1, 2019. After October 1, 2019 an audit adjustment, based on actual enrollment reported in NEO on October 1, 2019, will be made to the PreK allocation assigned on the FY20 ED279.
For more information please contact Deb Lajoie at 624-6613 or deborah.j.lajoie@maine.gov
| Visit the DC&R Reporting Calendar |
Governor LePage signed into law PL 2017, Chapter 466 on July 10, 2018, allowing SAUs to award either proficiency-based or credit-based diplomas. This change will take effect on December 13, 2018. The new diploma law, enacted by the 128th Legislature, removes the mandate that a high school diploma be based on a student’s demonstration of proficiency in Maine’s Learning Results and instead makes a proficiency-based diploma one of two options. | More
Administrative Letter #17 announced an implementation date of October 1, 2018 for Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) designed to meet requirements for documenting certain services that are both educationally and medically necessary in accordance with both IDEA and Section 65 and Section 28 of the Maine Care Benefits Manual. | More
The Maine Department of Education will be launching a new website on Friday, September 28, 2018. Over the course of the summer months, Department staff have been working on updating and re-writing website content for a new website that features an improved search function, a user-friendly interface, and a content management system which will allow Department staff to keep content updated and timely. | More
Each year, millions of people become ill due to respiratory illnesses. Some of the more common respiratory illnesses in schools may include influenza, pertussis, and the common cold. | More
Maine’s Libra Foundation, founded by philanthropist Betty Noyce, has partnered with Tumblehome, Inc., an award-winning publisher of science-related books for children, to offer a “library box” of ten free books to every school in Maine that serves students in grades 5-8. Be on the lookout for an online survey coming to your superintendent or librarian. | More
The Maine School Nurse Association (MASN) recently announce that Janis Hogan from Camden Hills Regional High School is the School Nurse of the Year, 2018-2019. This award acknowledges a member of the Maine School Nurse Association who demonstrates excellence in school nursing practice and leadership in school nursing. | More
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Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Maine has developed a differentiated model of school supports that includes statewide professional development targeted to regional needs. Upon review of submitted statewide Comprehensive Needs Assessments/SAU Consolidated Plans, the Maine DOE is providing regional professional development to address the explicit needs outlined in submitted CNAs. | More
| Visit the Professional Development Calendar |
The Maine Department of Education will be launching a new website on Friday, September 28, 2018. Over the course of the summer months, Department staff have been working on updating and re-writing website content for a new website that features an improved search function, a user-friendly interface, and a content management system which will allow Department staff to keep content updated and timely.
The new website will replace the current website found at maine.gov/doe. It will have a similar, yet new, look and feel.
It is important to note that those who have bookmarked links to the Department’s current website may need to re-save their bookmarks when the new website is released because there will be some pages that have a different website address.
To ensure that the field and the public can find information on the new website on Friday and going forward, please send all inquiries, comments, concerns, and questions related to the website to doe.webmaster@maine.gov.
For further questions about the launch of the new website, please contact Maine Department of Education Director of Communications, Rachel Paling at rachel.paling@maine.gov.
Administrative Letter #17 announced an implementation date of October 1, 2018 for Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) designed to meet requirements for documenting certain services that are both educationally and medically necessary in accordance with both IDEA and Section 65 and Section 28 of the Maine Care Benefits Manual.
The Department of Education has continued to receive a number of questions from the field regarding this change. We are committed to giving the best answers possible and need time to continue the development of answers that are correct and timely. As a result, we will postpone the requirements of Administrative Letters #13 and #17 concerning IEP development to ensure that the field receives adequate support.
In our continuing goals of being responsive to the field, providing technical assistance, and generally supporting the development of quality IEPs regardless of pay sources, we have postponed the implementation of the new IEP form.
Answers to the questions will be published before implementation. The targeted start date is now January 1, 2019.
For further questions, contact the Maine Department of Education Office of Special Services at (207) 624-6713.
Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Maine has developed a differentiated model of school supports that includes statewide professional development targeted to regional needs. Upon review of submitted statewide Comprehensive Needs Assessments/SAU Consolidated Plans, the Maine DOE is providing regional professional development to address the explicit needs outlined in submitted CNAs.
The Department invites district, school, and classroom leaders, and their staff to attend the many regional professional development opportunities being offered by the Department this fall. These sessions are offered at no cost and sessions information is available on the Department’s professional development calendar.
Session Description: Schools across the country are adopting a trauma-sensitive approach in order to effectively educate students who have been exposed to adverse experiences. Neurodevelopmental impacts resulting from childhood adversity hinder a student’s ability to engage in the academic setting and manifest as disruptive, and often unsafe, behavior in the classroom. Creating trauma competent schools has become an imperative for educators who work to ensure safety and promote learning for ALL students. The field of social neuroscience draws from vast disciplines to explain how we have evolved in the context of interpersonal relationships through attachment and group cohesion, and how we have subsequently developed the capacity to shape the brains of those with whom interact and connect. This presentation will describe how educators can use our knowledge of interpersonal neurobiology to create classrooms and student relationships that maximize growth and learning. Participants will understand their role in creating trauma-competent systems and be able to employ trauma-sensitive principles, practices, and procedures to address the impact of trauma on learners and increase their students ability to succeed in the school environment.
Facilitator Information: Cassie Yackley, Psy.D., has spent more than 25 years committed to understanding and effectively addressing the impact of traumatic/adverse experiences on children, caregivers/families, and systems. She brings together recent discoveries from developmental neuroscience, attachment, implementation science, and reflective practice to help audiences develop skills of relationship and self-awareness in ways that transform organizations, promote staff professional growth and wellness, and improve outcomes for the consumers they serve.
The three session dates and locations are listed below with a link to each registration. Space is limited so we recommend you register at the earliest possible opportunity. Please register no later than, October 9, 2018 for the session closest to you.
Oct. 16, 2018
Elks Lodge – Brewer
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Oct. 17, 2018
State Armory – Augusta
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Oct. 18, 2018
Elks Lodge – Portland
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Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. with each session running from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with a break for a provided lunch.
If you have any questions or need more information, please contact ESEA Federal Programs and Title I Director, Chelsey Fortin-Trimble at chelsey.a.fortin@maine.gov.
The Maine School Nurse Association (MASN) recently announce that Janis Hogan from Camden Hills Regional High School is the School Nurse of the Year, 2018-2019. This award acknowledges a member of the Maine School Nurse Association who demonstrates excellence in school nursing practice and leadership in school nursing.
In her role at Camden Hills, Janis’ presence and influence can be noted everywhere. The librarian/technology director who nominated her stated that “Janis is well-informed on issues that affect our students’ health, and is aware of local, state, and national health trends for youth; she uses this to inform her decisions about student care, programming, advocacy, and outreach efforts, and she also shares this information with teachers and administrators at the building and district level.” The pervasiveness of her influence can be grouped into the initiatives that she embraces and leads.
For more information visit the Maine Association of School Nurses Website. Learn more about how to nominate your school nurse.
Maine’s Libra Foundation, founded by philanthropist Betty Noyce, has partnered with Tumblehome, Inc., an award-winning publisher of science-related books for children, to offer a “library box” of ten free books to every school in Maine that serves students in grades 5-8. Be on the lookout for an online survey coming to your superintendent or librarian. The survey will ask you to select ten science books and to answer a couple of other questions.
The survey is optional, but will help make sure you get the books you want. Among the recommended books are GEOLOGY IS A PIECE OF CAKE by Maine author and sixth grade science teacher Katie Coppens; novels and nonfiction; four winners of National Science Teacher Association/Children’s Book Council awards; and more. To learn more about Tumblehome, see http://www.tumblehomelearning.com.
If you have questions, contact Shari Templeton shari.templeton@maine.gov
Each year, millions of people become ill due to respiratory illnesses. Some of the more common respiratory illnesses in schools may include influenza, pertussis, and the common cold. Varicella (or chickenpox) does not cause a respiratory illness but it does infect individuals by entering through the respiratory tract and conjunctiva. Schools should be aware of these illnesses, how to prevent them, and what to report.
Diseases:
What schools can do:
What to report:
For more information:
Maine DOE Newsroom 