Keeping Up with a Fast Growing Multilingual Learner Population: Merrymeeting’s Story

This article was written by Paul Elisha, Academic Counselor for Merrymeeting Adult Education.

When I first started working as the Academic Counselor at Merrymeeting Adult Education in 2010, our Multilingual Learner (formerly referred to as English Language Learner [ELL] or English Learner [EL]) program consisted of one English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) class, one teacher, and about eight students. For the next nine years, our ESOL program fluctuated from 5 to 20 students, one to three teachers, and one to three classes. So in the fall of 2019, when I received a call from Carol Kalajainen of the Midcoast New Mainers Group saying they had about 30 asylum seekers coming to the Brunswick area who were in need of ESOL classes, I panicked inside.

Up until that phone call with Carol, I had never heard of the Midcoast New Mainers Group. I quickly discovered that they are a non-profit, faith-based group of volunteers committed to helping New Mainers get the resources and support they need to reach sustainability and establish a sense of belonging in the local community. They were eager to get the wave of asylum seekers coming to the Brunswick area connected with free English classes as soon as possible. Our first problem, however, was that none of the asylum seekers had reliable transportation to get to our classes in Topsham or Bath. When it became evident that a majority of them were moving into housing on the Brunswick Landing near the Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) Midcoast Campus, we reached out to our partners over there. They graciously provided free classroom space in the University of Maine at Augusta (UMA) Brunswick Center.

We immediately utilized the space at UMA Brunswick to do intakes, advising, CASAS testing, and classes with students. The location was ideal, but within a couple of weeks we found ourselves on the brink of being removed from campus due to one big issue: noise control. The asylum seeking families had no childcare set up, so they were bringing their young toddlers and babies to class. While UMA and SMCC were conducting college classes in the building, little kids were running around playing and yelling to each other in the lobby and moms were consoling screaming babies in the hallways.

Carol and I brainstormed the situation and the Midcoast New Mainers Group stepped in to help these families access childcare at the local Head Start and other daycares in the area. Carol and I remained in constant communication to ensure, to the best of our abilities, that classes were held during times that families had access to childcare.

As an additional resource, we were able to utilize Midcoast Literacy, a non-profit organization in Bath that provides free literacy education. Midcoast Literacy connected all of our new Multilingual Learner students with an English tutor. Arrangements were made for tutors and students to meet on the SMCC Midcoast Campus or at Curtis Memorial Library to ensure that tutoring sessions were within walking distance from where most of the asylum seekers lived.

Just as it seemed we were starting to get our feet under us in being able to serve a Multilingual Learner population three times bigger than what we were used to, COVID-19 hit. With an amazing display of flexibility, patience, and creativity, our ESOL teachers dove into conducting their classes over Zoom. The Midcoast New Mainers Group worked with both Midcoast Literacy and Bowdoin College to provide refurbished computers, laptops or tablets/iPADS to asylum seekers for them to connect with our classes and their Midcoast Literacy tutors online.

Over time, as things gradually opened back up from the pandemic, Kelli Park, one of our ESOL teachers, helped get our Multilingual Learner families outside and connected to the community. She partnered with the Brunswick Topsham Land Trust to hold outdoor potlucks and community gatherings on the Brunswick Landing (conveniently located near where a lot of our Multilingual Learner families live). This has encouraged a lot of our Multilingual Learner students to dive into learning English by immersion as they share conversation, food, music and games with each other.

As more asylum seeking families and refugees from Afghanistan move into the Brunswick area, Merrymeeting Adult Education continues to seek ways that we can grow our ESOL programming. We currently offer 10 different ESOL classes from the Beginner to Advanced levels (three of them are in-person at the UMA Brunswick Center and seven are on Zoom). We hold two in-person Accent classes at our Topsham center for Intermediate and Advanced Multilingual Learner students. Plus, we are running for the first time this April a Multilingual Learner Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Preparation Course and Northstar Digital Literacy Course for Intermediate and Advanced Multilingual Learner students interested in becoming a CNA and/or enhancing their computer skills for the workforce.

Now, in addition to having seven ESOL teachers on staff, we have also hired an interpreter, Benedita Kakhuba, who is fluent in English, Portuguese, French, Lingala and Spanish. Benedita and her family are asylum seekers from Angola. Back in the 20-21 school year, she went through our Maine College & Career Access Program to gain acceptance into Southern Maine Community College, where she currently attends part-time. As Benedita takes classes toward a degree in Business Administration, she works for us and for the Immigration Resource Center of Maine as their Housing Assistance Specialist to provide language assistance and cultural brokering services for New Mainers applying for the emergency rental assistance program. Her linguistic skills and passion for helping New Mainers gain opportunities to increase their English language skills has greatly enhanced our ESOL programming.

The Midcoast New Mainers Group continues to support our Multilingual Learner students by coordinating volunteer transportation to and from our Topsham and Bath locations for intakes, academic advising, and CASAS testing appointments. In addition, the Midcoast New Mainers Group has provided funds for our Multilingual Learner students to have their high school diplomas officially translated into English, which is often the first step toward accessing college or specific job opportunities. Plus, they have partnered with a dozen or so businesses in the Brunswick area who are committed to hiring New Mainers as soon as they receive their work permits.

When I received that initial call from Carol Kalajainen back in 2019, I had no idea how we were going to meet the academic needs of a Multilingual Learner population which was three times the size of what we were used to. I did not feel ready. Looking back, I realize that if it wasn’t for the Midcoast New Mainers Group, Midcoast Literacy, UMA Brunswick, SMCC, Curtis Memorial Library, Bowdoin College, Brunswick Topsham Land Trust, the many businesses in our area committed to providing jobs for our Multilingual Learner students, and the flexibility, ingenuity, hard work and passion of the teachers and staff at Merrymeeting Adult Education, we would not be where we are today. I have learned that it is important to tap into every resource our community has to offer when serving our students. I’m incredibly grateful for all of our local partners and community members who have stepped up to help our New Mainers feel welcome and at home here in Brunswick, Maine.

Third Round of the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) Begins on April 28, 2022

The third application filing window of the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) will open on Thursday, April 28, 2022 and close on Friday, May 13, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. ET. During the third window, schools and libraries will be able to request Emergency Connectivity Fund Program support for eligible equipment and up to 12 months of services that will be received or delivered between July 1, 2022 and December 31, 2023 for off-campus use by students, school staff, and library patrons with unmet needs.

Apply Now

What Is the Emergency Connectivity Fund?

The Emergency Connectivity Fund is a $7.17 billion program funded by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to help schools and libraries support remote learning. The Program will provide funding to schools and libraries for the reasonable costs of eligible equipment and services that can be provided to students, teachers, and library patrons who lack connected devices, such as laptop or tablet computers, and/or lack broadband access during the pandemic.
The Federal Communications Commission unanimously adopted a Report and Order on May 10, 2021 establishing the rules and procedures for the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program.
The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) is the program administrator.

Who Is Eligible to Receive Funds Through the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program?

Schools, libraries, and consortia of schools and libraries that are eligible for support under the FCC’s E-Rate program, are eligible to request and receive support through the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program.
In addition, the Order clarifies that Tribal libraries, which are eligible for support under the Library Services and Technology Act, are also eligible for the Emergency Connectivity Fund.
Schools and libraries eligible for the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program do not need to be current E-Rate participants. Eligible entities that have not applied for E-Rate support should be prepared to demonstrate eligibility as a school or library under the Program rules during USAC’s application review.

What Equipment and Services Are Covered by the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program?

The following types of equipment purchased for off-campus use by students, school staff, and library patrons who would otherwise lack sufficient connectivity to engage in remote learning are eligible for support:
- Laptop and tablet computers
- Wi-Fi hotspots
- Modems (including air cards)
- Routers
- Devices that combine a modem and router.
Schools and libraries can also receive funding for commercially available broadband internet service that provides a fixed or mobile broadband connection for off-campus use by students, school staff, or library patrons who would otherwise lack access to connectivity sufficient to engage in remote learning.
In limited circumstances where a school or library can demonstrate that there are no available service options sufficient to support remote learning for its students, school staff, or library patrons, the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program may support the construction of new networks and the equipment needed for datacasting services.
Review the Eligible Services List for additional guidance on the equipment and services eligible for funding under the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program.

Apply Now (https://www.emergencyconnectivityfund.org/)

To participate, schools and libraries must have an active FCC Registration Number. Schools, libraries, and service providers who agree to invoice on behalf of applicants must also have a SAM.gov registration to be able to receive program support. Learn how to register with SAM.gov and the FCC CORES system.

Schools and libraries that have a SAM.gov registration or FCC Registration Number do not need to register again.

Please see the Public Notice (DA 22-309 ) for additional information about the third application filing window, the service delivery date, and invoice filing deadline applicable to equipment, other non-recurring service, and recurring service requests submitted during this filing window

For questions regarding this program or any school technology infrastructure support needs, please contact Jim Chasse at james.chasse@maine.gov or 207-707-0486.

Office of Special Services to Host Office Hours on Transition and Extended Eligibility

The Office of Special Services will host regular office hours to access Transition and Extended Eligibility information weekly, 11:00am on Wednesdays, starting on May 11th.

We will cover Transition topics that are important to all IEP (Individualized Education Plan) stakeholders, including student involvement, elements of transition to include in IEPs, adult services and supports after high school, transition programs and portfolios, and diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in transition to adulthood.

The office hours will provide time for participants to share, collaborate, and highlight best practices for transition/extended eligibility and enable them to learn about transition to adulthood topics, including the transition IEP process.

To receive a link to join the office hours, please register here.

For further questions, reach out to Titus O’Rourke at titus.orourke@maine.gov.

MEDIA RELEASE: Maine Department of Education Partners With SPIRIT SERIES to Engage 12,500 Students In Story-Based Social Emotional Learning and Literacy Program

The Maine Department of Education has partnered with SPIRIT SERIES to bring its acclaimed interdisciplinary, story-based social-emotional learning and literacy programs to 12,500 students across Maine. This effort, made possible through federal relief funds, will provide a 100 percent scholarship to participating schools during the 2022-23 school year. Funding is also included for professional development opportunities, so that educators can further integrate the SERIES’ programming into their classrooms.

SPIRIT SERIES empowers students to strive for academic excellence as they learn and practice positive core values and develop leadership, critical thinking, and relationship skills while expressing themselves in highly engaging project-based learning. The program mentors students as they think deeply about their lives and experiences, organize those thoughts into a written personal story, and then record them as videos for classmates, family, and their school community.

The immersive learning opportunities offered by SPIRIT SERIES provide schools with a classroom-proven way to support the very real needs of students impacted by the pandemic, specifically in the realm of social and emotional learning and interpersonal and intrapersonal communication skills. Maine schools will have access to three SPIRIT SERIES programs: SpiritCorps—21st Century literacy and storytelling intensives for 7th to 10th graders; SpiritSeries—drama-based literacy and character education interventions for 4th to 7th graders; and SpiritWorks—professional development workshops for educators.

“We’re excited to partner with SPIRIT SERIES to offer this immersive, interdisciplinary experience to schools and students across Maine,” said Education Commissioner Pender Makin. “The SERIES provides students with the ability to develop and share their personal stories and build meaningful connections with one another and their communities. That’s really important given how the pandemic made that kind of connection difficult.”

SPIRIT SERIES has successfully delivered programming in Maine since 2014, already serving over 6,000 students in more than 20 partner schools statewide. “After working with schools in Maine for the past eight years, we are excited to partner with the Department of Education to bring our programming to all corners of the state,” said Kent Pierce, SPIRIT SERIES New England Executive Director. “Using the power of story, the SERIES inspires self-discovery and reflection around character attributes that are key to personal growth and civic-mindedness.”

“Every student, regardless of their writing proficiency level, was engaged and they were engaged from the onset. Because this age group is often inward looking, they’re very concerned about themselves—so right away they were hooked on the process,” said Aaron Filieo at Cape Elizabeth Middle School. “We have standards around writing development and writing structure. Writing and presenting these SpiritCorps stories checked those boxes and then some.”

For schools that would like to learn more about this exciting opportunity, please contact the Department of Education through this interest form.

REMINDER: Regional School Calendars Due June 1, 2022

As a reminder, Regional School Calendars are due by June 1, 2022 for school administrative units (SAU) and private schools approved for tuition purposes, in coordination with their local secondary career and technical education (CTE) school. This requirement is part of Public Law 2011, Chapter 686 to promote collaboration among local school administrative units that may benefit from inter-administrative unit collaboration beyond CTE.

For school year 2022-23, both regional school calendars and individual calendars for each school administrative unit must be submitted by the director of the local CTE Center/Region to the Department of Education (DOE) no later than June 1, 2021 for a decision on approval by July 12, 2022. Guidance and templates can be accessed electronically at www.maine.gov/doe/regionalcalendar/.

Given the coordination required for fulfillment of this law, the Maine DOE recommends that SAUs initiate discussions as soon as feasible, including representatives from all affected secondary schools and their associated career and technical education center or region.

For more information, including guidance, instructions, templates, a waiver process, and a link to the complete law, please visit www.maine.gov/doe/regionalcalendar/. Further questions should be directed to Doug Robertson doug.robertson@maine.gov at 624-6744 or Dwight Littlefield dwight.a.littlefield@maine.gov at 624-6721.

April 27 Webinar on U.S. EPA’s Clean School Bus Program: Zero-Emission and Clean School Bus Rebates

Authorized by the recently signed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the U.S. EPA’s Clean School Bus Program provides $5 billion over the next five years to replace school buses with low- and zero-emission school buses. The first funding opportunity under this program will be the 2022 Clean School Bus Rebates where the U.S. EPA will offer $500 million for zero-emission and clean school bus rebates.

Join the U.S. EPA’s Clean School Bus Program: Zero-Emission and Clean School Bus Rebates webinar on Wednesday, April 27, 2022 at 1:00 PM to learn more about who is eligible, who is prioritized, which school buses are eligible for rebates, and what the federal selection process will be.

See below for additional resources on the U.S. EPA’s 2022 Clean School Bus Program:

For more information about the program, please contact cleanschoolbus@epa.gov .

Planning for Family Reunification Before, During, and After an Emergency Train-the-Educator (TtE)

The following opportunity is being provided by the REMS TA Center, a partner of the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Safe and Supportive Schools.

The Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance (TA) Center is excited to offer the Planning for Family Reunification Before, During, and After an Emergency Train-the-Educator (TtE) Virtual Training by Request (VTBR). This dynamic and interactive 2.5-hour training is designed to provide educators and school staff with a better understanding of family reunification before, during, and after an emergency and how to develop a Family Reunification Annex for the school emergency operations plan (EOP) that meets the needs of the local school and community.

TRAINING DESCRIPTION
This training is intended to provide participants with an introduction to family reunification and how it is used to reunite children with verified and authorized family members after a critical and often highly stressful incident (e.g., a fire, a natural disaster, a school bus accident, a situation involving weapons or violence at school, etc.) that prevents a normal school dismissal. The Family Reunification Annex is recognized in Guide for Developing High-Quality.

School Emergency Operations Plans and The Role of Districts in Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operations Plans as a critical element of the overall EOP.
Participants will be equipped to review and update their Family Reunification Annex on a regular basis to ensure the most successful outcome, while applying training principles for including a step-by-step plan to reunify children with their families before, during, and after an emergency across the five mission areas.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
The intended audiences for this training are school and school district administrators, educators, staff, and members of an EOP planning team. This training is also applicable for fire officials, emergency medical services personnel, law enforcement and school resource officers, local public health officials, local mental/behavioral health practitioners, and other community partners.

TRAINING DETAILS
When: Tuesday, May 3, 2022 Time: 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET Cost: NO CHARGE
Register here (Registration for this event closes on Friday, April 29, 2022 at 5:00 p.m.)

If you have any questions or need additional assistance, please contact the REMS TA CENTER at 1-855-781-REMS [7367] or via email at info@remstacenter.org or contact the Maine School Safety Center.

Maine Broadband Coalition Offering School Speed Testing Competition

The Maine Broadband Coalition (MBC) is running a speed testing competition among middle and high schools across the state. Schools will encourage their communities to take at-home internet speed tests, and the six schools with the highest participation will win a cash technology sponsorship.

Steps to Participate:

Register your school on the MBC Website
Share your unique link
Gather speed tests from your community

Overview

Participating schools will receive a unique speed test link upon registration. That link can be shared with anyone. Your school’s score equals the number of tests conducted at that unique link. The technology sponsorship will be given to six schools across Maine (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in two divisions: large and small schools). Large schools are considered those with more than 500 students and small schools are anything less.

Sponsorship Prizes: 1st $1500 | 2nd $1000 | 3rd $500

Questions?

Contact Sam Naumann at snaumann2@gmail.com or (508)-596-0330.

Seeking Proposals for Statewide Expansion of Extended Learning Opportunity (ELO) Programming

RFA# 202204057 – Statewide Expansion of Extended Learning Opportunity (ELO) Programming

The State of Maine is seeking proposals from public education institutions and community-based organizations to adopt and/or expand Extended Learning Opportunities programs for youth ages 16-21 in Maine.

A copy of the RFA, as well as the Question & Answer Summary and all other related documents to this RFA, can be obtained at the following website: https://www.maine.gov/dafs/bbm/procurementservices/vendors/grants

Proposals must be submitted to the State of Maine Division of Procurement Services, via e-mail, at: Proposals@maine.gov. Proposal submissions must be received no later than 11:59 p.m., local time, on Thursday, May 12. Proposals will be opened the following business day. Proposals not submitted to the Division of Procurement Services’ aforementioned e-mail address by the aforementioned deadline will not be considered for contract award.

Supporting Interdisciplinary Instruction in Maine Schools 

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is committed to a whole student approach to teaching and learning that develops healthy, safe, engaged, supported, challenged, and prepared students. Meaningful learning that is project-based, integrated, and has application to the real world is essential to the whole student approach, and the Department is enhancing our support to the field around interdisciplinary instructional practices and an educator-leader model.  A dynamic team of Interdisciplinary Instruction Specialists – formerly DOE content specialists – has been brought together at the Department to lead this exciting, transformational work that builds on their deep content knowledge.  

The Department’s Interdisciplinary Instruction team will support the field in exploring interdisciplinary and project-based approaches to teaching and learning.  By offering professional learning opportunities that support the quality teaching and learning already present in Maine’s schools, these specialists will support Maine schools’ targeted efforts to expand varied and innovative learning experiences and environments for all students, and to remove barriers. These opportunities, combined with targeted resources, will support schools across the state in exploring new and exciting ways of engaging the whole student and preparing each for success in their lives.  

Interdisciplinary instruction relies on multiple content areas working together to develop student knowledge, problem-solving skills, self-confidence, self-efficacy and a passion for learning, while supporting students’ various learning styles, diverse backgrounds, interests, talents, and values. By focusing on providing interdisciplinary and project-based learning opportunities, student engagement in learning increases, student-centered learning becomes the norm, and students build critical thinking skills and problem-solving strategies.

The Department wants to honor and elevate the expertise in the field, and will be inviting educators and education organizations to share their expertise with one another to expand opportunities and collaborate statewide. To support this effort, the Department has a new suite of webpages with information and resources, and the Interdisciplinary Instruction Specialists have started hosting a series of office hours to collaborate and discuss how the Department can best support innovative teaching and learning practices. 

Check the Department’s Professional Development Calendar for the schedule of those office hours. Soon, the Specialists will begin offering professional learning opportunities related to interdisciplinary and project-based learning, and these offerings will be both synchronous and asynchronous.

For more information, please contact Jason Anderson, Interdisciplinary Instruction Team Coordinator, at jason.anderson@maine.gov. 