Mini-Grant Funds of up to $2,000 Available for CTE Culinary Arts Programs

The application process is now open for mini-grant funds from the UMaine Extension Professional Development in Agriculture Literacy (PDAL) program to support Maine High School Career & Technical Education (CTE) Culinary Arts Instructors.

These funds can be used for agricultural literacy education programs at Maine High School CTE Culinary Arts Programs. The deadline for email submission of the application materials is 5:00pm on March 1, 2022. Selected projects will receive funds by March 31, 2022.

Follow this link for grant applications: https://maine.agclassroom.org/programs/grants/

To apply, complete the application form and provide a short description of your proposed project, estimated budget, timeline, and how it will impact agricultural literacy education and/or promote the use of local foods in your Culinary Arts Program.

For more information or technical support contact Kathy Savoie at ksavoie@maine.edu.

MEDIA RELEASE: Education Commissioner Pender Makin Serves Lunch, Helps Teachers and School Staff at Windham High School

Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin spent the day at Windham High School, helping educators and school staff and elevating the need for additional substitutes and volunteers in Maine schools. Makin served lunch to students, visited an art class, met with educators and administrators, and spent time with teachers and students in the Katahdin Program, which provides alternative education programming for students.

“I’m so in awe of what is happening in our schools. We’re here today to shine a light on the amazing work being done by the educators, school staff, and students in our public schools and to call attention to the need for communities to support schools by volunteering and substituting,” said Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin.

When asked why people should substitute, Makin replied, “You get to make your own hours, you have the opportunity to be with the most magnificent young people, and you get to learn so much. Education is a symbiotic process—you can’t help but grow your own brain while you’re helping children learn.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated staff shortages and created a greater need for substitutes and volunteers across the state. Last month, Makin helped fill teacher and staff shortages at Readfield Elementary School. While at Readfield, Makin helped students with their math skills, worked with 1st grade students to create glossaries for books they were working on, helped students in the Readiness Skills Program, and served on lunch duty.

Photos from the day will be posted on the Maine Department of Education’s Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram accounts.

Maine DOE Update – February 4, 2022

From the Maine Department of Education

Reporting Items

| Visit the DC&R Reporting Calendar |

News & Updates

Commissioner of Education Pender Makin Kicks Off Read to ME Challenge at Solon Elementary School

Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin kicked off the state’s Read to ME Challenge at Solon Elementary School today by reading Mel Fell to Mrs. Currie’s second grade class. | More

Extension of ACCESS for ELLs and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs Assessment Administration Window

Recognizing the ongoing challenges the COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose for Maine School Administrative Units (SAUs), schools, students, and families, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) and our Assessment Team would like to ensure that the maximum flexibility possible is provided to support educators and students. | More

Physical Educators Asked to Complete Interest Form for ‘Assessment in Adapted Physical Education’ Course Through UMaine

The University of Maine has given tentative approval to offer a graduate-level course, Assessment in Adapted Physical Education. The course would train physical educators within the context of adapted physical education. It would focus on assessment tools and be offered via a distance learning modality. | More

Resources for African American History Month

February marks African American History Month and the Maine Department of Education has collected resources to help educators integrate African American history into the curriculum, not only this month but on a regular basis. | More

Update to Teacher Shortage Areas

The U.S. Department of Education annually designates teacher shortage areas for the purposes of deferment of loan repayments or reductions of teaching obligation. The Maine Department of Education recently requested input regarding designated teacher shortage areas for federal reporting and would like to thank all those who submitted information during the comment period. | More

Horatio Alger Scholarship Now Open for Student Applications

The Horatio Alger Association awards college scholarships to students who have significant financial need and have exhibited integrity and perseverance in overcoming personal adversity. The scholarships are given to deserving students each year and range in award value from $10,000 to $25,000. | More

Apply for the Maine Seal of Biliteracy

Maine students are multilingual! The Maine Seal of Biliteracy is an award that celebrates the linguistic diversity and language-learning accomplishments of graduating students across the state. Students can earn the Seal of Biliteracy by demonstrating a high degree of skill in English and at least one other language. | More

Maine Students Selected for United States Senate Youth Program

The United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) has announces that high school students Ms. Eleanore Jean Allan-Rahill and Ms. Fallon Maria Eggett will join Senator Susan M. Collins and Senator Angus S. King in representing Maine during the 60th annual USSYP Washington Week, to be held March 6 – 9, 2022. | More

MEDIA RELEASE: Organizations Needed to Provide Free Meals to Children this Summer

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 income eligible children in Maine during the school year. To extend this program, Maine Department of Education (DOE) Child Nutrition is seeking organizations who would like to participate in the federally funded Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), which provides children healthy free meals when school is not in session. | More

Filing of Second Proposed Chapter 33: Rules Governing Restraint and Seclusion (Targeted Rulemaking)

Maine DOE Welcomes Health Care Professionals Serving on School Public Health Response Team

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) has welcomed a team of health care professionals as part of the Maine Department of Education School Public Health Response Team. The School Public Health Response Team has been in the making since the start of the school year and serves as the point of contact that schools reach out to for the most current information and resources related to COVID-19. | More

Maine Schools Sharing Success Stories

| Submit your Maine School Success Story |

Professional Development & Training Opportunities

New Professional Learning Series: Welcome to Public School ~ Building High-Quality Kindergarten Transitions

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Training Provider Registry Now Open to Public

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Training Provider Registry (TPR) list of registered training providers is now open to the public. | More

Announcing Office Hours for Behavioral Threat Assessment and Safety Concerns through a LCSW Lens

Please stop by for an informal discussion about school-based behavioral threat assessment (BTA) as an approach to school violence prevention. If your school team currently utilizes a BTA process, we can help trouble-shoot any methodological issues. If your school does not implement this strategy, we can provide information on upcoming training opportunities. | More

| Visit the Professional Development Calendar |

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities View current Maine Department of Education employment opportunities here

Filing of Second Proposed Chapter 33: Rules Governing Restraint and Seclusion (Targeted Rulemaking)

As the result of the Public Law 2021, Chapter 453, statutory changes were made regarding restraint and seclusion, which is necessitating revisions to the Chapter 33 rules. Following the review of all the comments received during the first comment period for the Chapter 33 Rule Governing Physical Restraint and Seclusion, the Department determined that three substantial changes needed to be made in definitions contained in the rule. Therefore, the Department is opening a second comment period for targeted rulemaking, limited to proposed definitions for the terms “protective physical interventions” and “voluntary” and a refined definition for “serious physical injury.”

There are margin comments that serve as reference flags for the three definition changes.

Timeline for Chapter 33 Rulemaking Second Comment Period

Filed: January 23, 2022
Posted: February 2, 2022
Comment Period End: March 4, 2022

The proposed rule changes to Chapter 33 can be found here: https://www.maine.gov/doe/about/laws/rulechanges

Please submit comments to the following: https://forms.office.com/g/a1sMNmBGAF

You may alternatively send your comments via email to: w.bear.shea@maine.gov . Please use the subject line: “Chapter 33 public comment.”

MEDIA RELEASE: Organizations Needed to Provide Free Meals to Children this Summer

“For many children, their school provides the only reliable, nutritious meal that they can count on and we need to make sure those meals are there for Maine children during the summer break,” said Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin. “By participating in this program, community groups and organizations can have a tremendous impact on the health and well-being of children in their communities. The Department of Education is thankful for those organizations that continue to be a part of this vital summer program and we welcome those joining this year to extend our reach and help feed additional children in Maine.”

In July 2021, 131 sponsors participated in the program, serving meals at 861 sites throughout the state. Although there are sponsors operating in every county in Maine, there is still a long way to go towards feeding all eligible children during the summer. Community partners are working to maximize the number of sponsors utilizing the availability of funds under the SFSP.

SFSP 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. Organizations that provide services in rural communities or near migrant farm workers and tribal populations are urged to participate. Eligible sponsoring organizations include schools, nonprofit residential summer camps, government agencies, and tax-exempt organizations including faith-based organizations.

Maine DOE encourages any eligible organization to consider providing this much-needed service to Maine children. The agency will begin accepting applications to participate in February. Approved sponsors will be reimbursed for eligible meals served to children during the long summer break.

Interested organizations should begin planning now for a successful summer. Potential sponsors are required to receive training from Maine DOE. Training will occur virtually, and DOE staff will assist in the onboarding process. Maine DOE is available to consult by phone and email to answer questions regarding summer meals.

For more information about the Maine DOE’s Summer Food Service Program, contact adriane.ackroyd@maine.gov, call 592-1722 or visit https://www.maine.gov/doe/schools/nutrition/programs/sfsp.

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Disclosures
Federal
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 (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard 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 complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: https://www.usda.gov/oascr/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.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

State
The Maine Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, religion, ancestry or national origin.

Complaints of discrimination must be filed at the office of the Maine Human Rights Commission, 51 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0051. If you wish to file a discrimination complaint electronically, visit the Human Rights Commission website at https://www.maine.gov/mhrc/file/instructions and complete an intake questionnaire. Maine is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Students Celebrate Passamaquoddy Language and Culture Through Food – A Feature by the Maine Migrant Education Program

The Maine Department of Education’s Migrant Education Program contracts with the nonprofit Mano en Mano to identify and support migratory students. Mano en Mano works with farmworkers and immigrants to thrive in Maine, and recently shared a story about how Migrant Education students celebrated Passamaquoddy language and culture through food. Check out this wonderful story and many others on their website.

Opan Opu Oponok (Bread in the Oven)

This winter, regional coordinators of the Migrant Education Program (MEP) have been working alongside families and students statewide to provide educational support as well as culturally relevant enrichment activities.

One of the most recent activities was planned and run by James Mendoza, regional coordinator for Eastern Washington County. He collaborated with teachers and staff at Indian Township School to celebrate Passamaquoddy language and culture through food!

Read the full story

For more information about Mano en Maino, visit their website. For more information and resources regarding Migrant Education in Maine, contact Amelia Lyons at Amelia.Lyons@maine.gov.

Maine Students Selected for United States Senate Youth Program

Eleanore Allan-Rahill of Orono and Fallon Eggett of Veazie were selected from among the state’s top student leaders to be part of the 104 member national student delegation who will each also receive a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate study.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, the 2022 program will be held online, through a comprehensive and highly interactive virtual education and leadership forum.

The USSYP was created by Senate Resolution 324 in 1962 and has been sponsored by the Senate and fully funded by The Hearst Foundations since inception. Originally proposed by Senators Kuchel, Mansfield, Dirksen and Humphrey, the Senate leadership of the day, the impetus for the program as stated in Senate testimony is “to increase young Americans’ understanding of the interrelationships of the three branches of government, learn the caliber and responsibilities of federally elected and appointed officials, and emphasize the vital importance of democratic decision making not only for America but for people around the world.”

Each year, this extremely competitive program provides the most outstanding high school students – two from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity – with an intensive week-long study of the federal government and the people who lead it. The overall mission of the program is to help instill within each class of USSYP student delegates more profound knowledge of the American political process and a lifelong commitment to public service.

In addition to the program week, The Hearst Foundations provide each student with a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship with encouragement to continue coursework in government, history, and public affairs. All expenses for Washington Week are also provided by The Hearst Foundations; as stipulated in S.Res.324, no government funds are utilized.

Ella Allan-Rahill — Educator Shanna Goodall and Maine DOE Social Studies Specialist Joe Schmidt posing with Eleanore after giving her the news of her selection.

Eleanore Allan-Rahill, a senior at Orono High School, serves as the secretary of the Junior Board for the Maine chapter of Children’s International Summer Villages (CISV). She counts CISV as one of the most impactful organizations in her life and has held various local leadership roles and has attended national and international conferences through the organization. She was selected to represent her school at the Hugh O’Brian Maine Youth Leadership Seminar and New England Student Leadership Conference. She was the captain of her soccer team and is involved with other sports alongside the Gender Sexuality Alliance, Spanish Club, National Honor Society, Student Council, Spanish National Honor Society, Book Club, and mentoring younger students at her school through the “Riot Buddies” program. Eleanore has also received the Grade 10 English award, the National Bronze Award for Spanish achievement, and the Maine Youth Environmental Leader Scholarship to attend Maine Coast Semester at Chewonki.

Fallon Eggett, a senior at Bangor High School, serves as a representative on the Class Council. She holds leadership positions in Rho Kappa, the national Social Studies honor society, and Debate. She prides herself on engaging actively as the Bangor Junior ROTC executive officer and drill team commander, earning awards for her work within those ranks, such as the JROTC Superior Cadet award in grades 9-11, and the JROTC Order of the Daedalians award. She has been recognized as a National Merit Scholar semifinalist, and with the Speaking and Service Award from the National Speech and Debate Association. Fallon counts participation in the debate, drill, rifle, and lacrosse teams, and the Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute among her valued affiliations.

Chosen as alternates to the 2022 program were Mr. Max Provencher, a resident of Prospect, who attends Searsport District High School and Ms. Stephanie Clisham, a resident of Winterport, who attends Hampden Academy.

Delegates and alternates are selected by the state departments of education nationwide and the District of Columbia and Department of Defense Education Activity, after nomination by teachers and principals. The chief state school officer for each jurisdiction confirms the final selection.

During the program week, the student delegates will attend online meetings and briefings with senators, the president, a justice of the Supreme Court, leaders of cabinet agencies, among others.

For more information please visit: www.ussenateyouth.org.

Apply for the Maine Seal of Biliteracy

See the website for details about eligibility criteria, language assessment options, and the online application: https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/content/world-language/biliteracy

Applications are due by 5/15/22*. If you have any questions, please contact April Perkins at april.perkins@maine.gov.

*Students whose AP or IB exam scores are not available by May 15th can apply through 7/15/22.

Carrabec Community School P.E. Class Individualizes Learning Through New Heart Rate Monitors

Physical Education at Carrabec Community School looks more colorful as students’ wrists glow with a mix of blue, yellow, and red. The glow comes from the new heart rate monitors that students are using as part of Heidi Day’s Physical Education class. The monitors use colors to indicate students’ heart rates as they play and learn through Physical Education.

“The goal in this process is to make the learning personal and relevant to each individual. This system should help the students make the connection between the perceived rate of exertion and their heart’s ability to adjust to the intensity they are putting forth,” said Heidi.

Students have learned the drill. They come to class, get their assigned heart rate monitors, log them in by holding them on a scanner attached to Heidi’s computer, and keep an eye on the color. As students exercise, their heart rate data is saved on the monitor. Once the class is over, students put their monitors back on the scanner to upload their heart rate data. An e-mail is sent to them and their parent/guardian with the amount of time they spend in blue, resting heart rate, yellow, target heart rate, and red, max heart rate. Students then use a spreadsheet on their laptops to record the number of minutes in each category.

“Students will set appropriate personal goals and work weekly to achieve those standards. The spreadsheet allows tracking that averages the time the student has spent in the resting, target, and max heart rate zones. This process becomes a means of self-assessment for my students, making their experience in physical education personal and success achievable,” Heidi explained.

The heart rate monitors are working well, and students are excited by what color their monitor is, but Heidi has worked hard for that excitement. Last year Heidi attempted to integrate the monitors, but found the process overwhelming.

Heidi explained, “I love technology. However, I am limited in my skill set as well as my patience when trying to implement something new. I feel like it takes me three times longer than it should, and I get so frustrated I tend to avoid the trouble altogether.” But through perseverance and help from the MLTI 2.0 ambassador program, Heidi has found success.

“Honestly, without [the Ambassador’s] help, I don’t believe I would have been able to implement this addition to my class. He has been there to troubleshoot through the challenges, making changes and adjustments as necessary, allowing me to still focus on my students. Ask for help!  I’m so glad I did!  I am excited to have this new process in place, but I know with all the daily tasks I have to complete, there would be little chance of me learning it all on my own and implementing it without support!”

This story was written and coordinated by MLTI Ambassador Erik Wade as part of the Maine Schools Sharing the Success Campaign. To learn more, or to submit a story or an idea for a story, email rachel.paling@maine.gov.

New Professional Learning Series: Welcome to Public School ~ Building High-Quality Kindergarten Transitions

The Maine Department of Education’s Early Learning Team, in conjunction with the Governor’s Children’s Cabinet and the Office of Child and Family Services, is pleased to announce a new professional learning opportunity: Welcome to Public School – Building High-Quality Transitions to Kindergarten. Recognizing the significant milestone that transition to kindergarten is for children and families, this series explores strategies for positively engaging children, families, caregivers, educators, and community providers in the process, including ideas for building transition teams and plans. School administrators and educators who support this critical period in children’s lives are encouraged to register for the series, preferably as teams to learn together. This 4-part series will be held over Zoom, on the dates listed below:

Module 1: An Overview of Kindergarten Transitions, March 10th, 3:30-4:30
Module 2: Student and Family Engagement: Thursday, March 17th, 3:30 -4:30
Module 3: Engaging with Your Community: Thursday, March 24th, 3:30-4:30
Module 4: Being School Ready-Building Transition Teams and Plans: Thursday, March 31st, 3:30-4:30

Please register for this 4-part series through this link. Participants are encouraged to participate in teams inclusive of those who support and partner in leading kindergarten transition planning and activities within their communities. This can include, but is not limited to, School Administrative Unit administration, teaching staff, community preschool and childcare providers, and parents/caregivers

In conjunction with this learning series, the Kindergarten Transition webpages have been enhanced. These pages contain valuable resources for both parents & caregivers and educators & providers. The professional learning modules featured in this series will be available through this website and will include a facilitator guide to support use of the module content.

For more information, please contact Marcy Whitcomb, Early Childhood Program Monitor at marcy.r.whitcomb@maine.gov.