Bureau of Justice Assistance Announces Two Grant Opportunities Under the STOP School Violence Act

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), alongside the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), is inviting state, local, and tribal jurisdictions to apply for grant funding under the Student, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) Violence Act Program. This act seeks to support and assist those jurisdictions in increasing the safety of their school personnel and students. To these ends, the BJA has announced two competitive grants: The Prevention and Mental Health Training Program and the Threat Assessment and Technology Reporting Program. Applications for both grants are due July 23, 2018.

The Threat Assessment and Technology Reporting Program would support and assist state, local, territorial, and tribal jurisdictions as they work to improve efforts to reduce violent crime, focusing on the creation of threat assessment teams for schools and the use of technology to create anonymous reporting systems for suspicious activity related to violence in schools. More information on the Threat Assessment and Technology Reporting Program grant competition can be found at: https://www.bja.gov/funding/SSVthreat18.pdf

The Prevention and Mental Health Training Program would support and assist state, local, and tribal jurisdictions as they work to improve efforts to reduce violent crime, focusing on the creation of school safety training and mental health programs related to violence in schools for school personnel and students. More information on the Prevention and Mental Health Training Program grant competition can be found at: https://www.bja.gov/funding/SSVtraining18.pdf

For more information, contact Pat.Hinckley@maine.gov or support@grants.gov.

Maine DOE Partners with National Retail Foundation and Retail Association of Maine to Provide RISE Up Retail Training

The National Retail Foundation, the Maine Department of Education’s Adult Education program, and the Retail Association of Maine are partnering in the creation of a RISE Up training program for Maine adults seeking retail training and certification.

The program will begin in Maine with a pilot group of young adults between the ages of 18 and 22 in Kittery, but the Maine DOE has plans to replicate this program across the state later this year, and the training is designed to be accessible to participants of all backgrounds, economic means, ages, and education.

The RISE Up program, which was launched nationwide by the NRF in January of 2017 and has since trained and certified over 26,000 participants, will provide training for three workforce skills credentials. This includes the Retail Industry Fundamentals credential, which prepares participants for a variety entry-level retail associate positions by training them in related skills, ranging from retail tools and technology to interview skills.

More information on the program and the credentials it offers can be found on the Maine Retail Foundation’s website.

Register Now for the 2018 Commissioner’s Conference

The Maine Department of Education is still accepting registrations for the 107th Annual Commissioner’s Conference on June 27 – 28 at the Augusta Civic Center in Augusta. Developed in collaboration with the Maine School Superintendents Association, this year’s working agenda is attached below, highlights include:

Keynote speaker Duke Albanese – The highly-esteemed speaker, consultant and former Commissioner of Education will deliver a powerful message called “Fulfilling the Dream of a Prosperous Maine: Getting There Requires a Focus on Education and Effective Leadership for Learning, Citizenship, and Opportunities for All Maine Students”.
Discussion and meeting topics including: Career and Technical Education, Student Behavior and Student Health, Educator Workforce, Certification, Regionalization, ESEA/ESSA, School Improvement, Priorities and Goals of the Department and more.
The Annual Awards & Recognition Banquet

Conference Information Register here

2-day – Wednesday and Thursday – $170.00
1-day – Wednesday (6/27) – $105.00
1-day – Thursday (6/28) – $65.00

*Registration includes all sessions, meals and materials Resources

Registrations are intended for School Officials, Educational Organization staff, Higher Education Officials, and State Board of Education members.

For more information about the conference, please contact Georgette Valliere at 624-6605 or Georgette.Valliere@maine.gov.

FY19 ESEA Application and 2017-2018 Performance Report Now Open for Submission

The 2018-2019 Elementary and Secondary Education Act Consolidated Application for funds (FY19 ESEA Application) and 2017-2018 Performance Report are now open for completion and submission. ESEA Coordinators are encouraged to review each page of the application/performance report and contact the assigned Regional ESEA Team Member at the Maine DOE with any questions regarding the application.

Here are a few reminders when preparing to submit your application:

Ensure the projects within the application are based on the needs reported in your Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA).
Each SAU must submit a CNA by July 1, 2018. Please email your submission to Janette.Kirk@maine.gov. ESEA funding is dependent upon the submission of a CNA to the Maine Department of Education in conjunction with the FY19 ESEA Application. ESEA funding applications will not be reviewed if a district level CNA has not been submitted to the Maine DOE. A delay in a CNA submission will delay ESEA funding.
All applications for ESEA funding are due on August 1, 2018.
Applications will be reviewed in the order they are received by your assigned Regional ESEA Team Member.
Districts with private schools should be completing their consultation during the month of June. This information needs to be submitted under the Non-Public Participation Form section of the FY19 ESEA Application.
Please direct all questions to your assigned Regional ESEA Team Member.
LEA’s Consolidated Applications are not complete without a Superintendent’s certification.

The Department appreciates the hard work and continual support in making this process effective for all schools in the State of Maine.

For further information and questions please contact Chelsey Fortin-Trimble at 624-6815 or Chelsey.A.Fortin@maine.gov or Janette Kirk at 624-6707 or Janette.Kirk@maine.gov

MEDIA RELEASE: Student Nutrition Continues Beyond School Year with Summer Food Service Program

AUGUSTA — With the assistance of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Maine public schools have long offered a nutritious breakfast and lunch meal program to thousands of children in Maine during the school year. With summer right around the corner, it’s time to think about keeping children healthy while school is out. The Summer Food Service Program, a U.S. Department of Agriculture program, operates at hundreds of sites across Maine to ensure children get the nutrition they need when school is out.

“The National School Lunch Program is an important element of the Maine public school system’s dedication to providing a healthy learning environment for students, and we are equally dedicated to ensuring that healthy environment can be extended to them even when school is not in session through the Summer Food Service Program,” said Maine Department of Education Commissioner Robert G. Hasson, Jr.

“This program seeks to address a clear health need during the summer months wherever it may be evident in Maine, and while it has been successful in doing so in the past, the Department expects that increased participation this summer will further foster this success and, as a result, the continued health of Maine students.”

The Summer Food Service Program may be offered statewide in areas or at sites where more than 50 percent of the children are eligible for free or reduced meal benefits under the National School Lunch Program or census track data supports the need. Eligible sponsoring organizations include schools, nonprofit residential summer camps, government agencies, and tax-exempt organizations including faith-based organizations.

In 2017, 120 sponsors participated in the program, serving meals at 438 sites throughout the state. In 2018, these numbers are expected to grow. The 2018 program begins statewide today, Monday, June 18. Sponsors operate open sites in all 16 counties in Maine; anyone 18 and under may come to eat at no cost. To find nearby Summer Meal sites, please visit USDA’s Summer Meal Site Finder website at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/summerfoodrocks, text “Summer Meals” to 97779 or call Maine 211. Information is available mid-June.

For more information about the Maine DOE’s Summer Food Service Program, contact adriane.ackroyd@maine.gov, call 624-6726 or visit http://www.maine.gov/doe/nutrition/programs/sfsp/index.html.

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In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the Agency ere they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, heard of hearing, or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or

(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider. In accordance with State law this institution is prohibited from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs)

To file a complaint of discrimination, write Maine Human Rights Commission, 51 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0051. Maine is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Update on Educator Portal of New Online Certification System

The Maine Department of Education launched the educator portal of the new online certification system yesterday, June 14, 2018. Following the release of the educator portal, the Department is sharing the results of the release, including some helpful times for those who have yet to log-in and renew:

On the first day 2,564 educators created their accounts and 1,605 applications were submitted through the new online system. From those applications, 1,498 endorsements were auto issued immediately.
As of June 21, 2018, more than 7,300 educator accounts have been created, the Department has received more than 4,500 applications and 2,800 of those applicants have received one or more auto issued endorsements (more than 4,100 endorsements have been auto issued so far).

Items to know:

The renewal process is customized to each individual educator’s file and steps in the process will be skipped depending on what is needed from the educator.
If educators are renewing a professional or a provisional certificate and no fingerprint checks are required, the certificate will be auto renewed immediately.
- For all other certificates or if anything needs to be checked, the renewal will be placed in a queue for evaluators to analyze.
If educators have been recommended by their certification chair, there is no need to upload documentation and those steps will be skipped in the process.
If you are having issues using the internet browser Firefox, please try a different browser (for example, Chrome or Internet Explorer).
The system will not accept American Express as a payment.
During payment, when you are asked to input the address it is asking for your billing address, not the address of your credit card company.

Reminder from yesterday’s initial launch communication:

Download Instructions on How to Create an Account.
Once your account is created, you may log-in and complete the steps necessary to renew your credential. Please download the step by step instructions on How to Submit a Renewal Application.
If you are currently working in a Maine public school district and have not been recommended by your certification committee, please confer with your certification chair and/or superintendent.

The Certification Office is available to answer questions by phone at 207-624-6603, Monday through Friday from 9:00AM – 3:30PM.

Further communications and updates are available on the Maine Department of Education Certification Webpage, Maine DOE’s official Facebook and Twitter pages, and the DOE newsroom.

Maine DOE Update – June 14, 2018

From the Maine Department of Education

Reporting Items

Chronic Absenteeism Data Training Webinar Recording

The Maine Department of Education held a webinar on Tuesday, June 12 for districts and schools to discuss the recently released 2016/17 chronic absenteeism data including collection process and resources available to help with 2017-2018 reporting. | More

NEO Accountability Report and Certification Webinar to be Held June 21

In order to determine supports for Maine schools, student level participation and student group demographics must be collected. The snapshot date for the data collection this year was May 4, 2018. | More

| Visit the DC&R Reporting Calendar |

News & Updates

PRIORITY NOTICE: New Certification System Educator Portal is Now Open for Educator Renewals

The Maine Department of Education has released the long-awaited educator portal for the new online credentialing system, Maine Educator Information System (MEIS). Educators can now log-in to the new online certification system and renew their certifications completely online. | More

Upcoming regional grant opportunity

The Maine DOE is pleased to share that the second round of competitive grant funding provided by the Fund for the Efficient Delivery of Educational Services (FEDES – Round 2) will be announced in early July. | More

Schools Selected for 2019 Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP)

Schools selected to participate in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) for School Year 2019 have been released. | More

Updates for Major Capital Construction Program and Integrated, Consolidated 9-16 Facilities Pilot

The scoring process for the Major Capital School Construction Program is complete for the 74 schools visited during the Fall of 2017. The proposed priority list was presented to the State Board of Education at its June 13, 2018 meeting and accepted. This initiates a 30 day period in which schools on the list have the chance to appeal the scoring process. | More

Science & Technology Standards Review – Writing Team

The Maine Department of Education is performing a review of the Maine Learning Results for Science & Technology and is looking for participants to serve as part of the writing team. The purpose of the writing team is to revise the current standards based on guidance provided from a steering committee. | More

EPA Releases Diesel Emissions Grant Information for Tribal Applicants

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing the Clean Diesel Tribal Grant Competition, a grant competition for tribal applicants with projects that reduce diesel emissions in high-impact areas. Each applicant may request up to $800,000 in federal funding, with $2.0 million available for the grant competition overall. | More

Maine DOE Welcomes 9 Student Interns for 2018 Summer Season

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) announced 9 student interns who will be working for the summer at the Maine DOE headquarters in Augusta. | More

More Dispatches | Press Releases | Priority Notices

Professional Development & Training Opportunities

Civil Rights Training: Addressing Bullying Behavior, School Culture & Bias

The US DOE, Office for Civil Rights will be offering training on June 26, 2018. | More

IBPA Bullying Prevention Through SEL and Kindness Summit – August 17 in Augusta

The International Bullying Prevention Association (IBPA) is partnering with the Maine Department of Education to provide a one-day summit to address bullying prevention through social and emotional learning and kindness. | More

| Visit the Professional Development Calendar |

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

View current Child Development Services employment opportunities here

Schools Selected for 2019 Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP)

Schools selected to participate in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) for School Year 2019 have been released.

For a list of awarded schools please visit the Child Nutrition website here. A total of 156 schools were selected to participate. School Year 2019 funding for the program will begin on October 1, 2018.

The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) provides all children in participating schools with a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables at no cost during the school day. The FFVP introduces children to a variety of produce that they might otherwise not have the chance to try. Eligible schools wishing to participate must submit an annual application to the Child Nutrition office.

For more information on FFVP please contact Stephanie Stambach, Child Nutrition Consultant at stephanie.stambach@maine.gov or 624-6732.

NEO Accountability Report and Certification Webinar to be Held June 21

In order to determine supports for Maine schools, student level participation and student group demographics must be collected. The snapshot date for the data collection this year was May 4, 2018.

The NEO Accountability Report allows districts to validate student enrollment and demographic data. The Accountability Report lists students by student groups which will directly inform student group reporting as part of school support determinations and ESEA Report Cards. The report also identifies which assessments the students should have taken, full academic year enrollment for all students, and whether or not a student will be included for accountability measures or only for assessment reporting.

The Accountability Certification will need to be submitted by each Superintendent. Once validated, the data will be used for ESEA Report Cards and other assessment and accountability reporting.

NEO Accountability Report and Certification Webinar

Purpose: Review the report, certification requirements, and ask any questions you may have regarding the report.
Date: Thursday, June 21, 2018
Time: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Register here

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. This webinar will be recorded and available to view afterward.

For further questions contact Charlotte Ellis, Data Manager at Charlotte.Ellis@maine.gov.

Upcoming regional grant opportunity

FEDES grant funds are intended to assist in financing the cost of local and regional initiatives that are both innovative and sustainable, will improve educational opportunities and access for students, increase student achievement through a more efficient delivery of educational programs, and economize on and maximize educational services.

Further communications and updates about this opportunity will be explained in the EMBRACE Regionalization Information Center, which can be found on the Maine Department of Education website, and in the Maine DOE Newsroom in the coming weeks.

For further questions contact Maine DOE Regionalization Project Manager, Jennifer Pooler at Jennifer.G.Pooler@maine.gov or Maine DOE Regionalization Coordinator, Deb Lajoie at Deborah.J.Lajoie@maine.gov.