Author: Maine Department of Education

MTSS Professional Development Opportunity: Four-Step Problem Solving in Tier 1

Time is short and needs are high.  As we rapidly progress through the second half of the 20-21 school year, many educators begin to ask, “Have I gotten enough done? Are my kids ready for the next grade? How will I ever meet the needs of those I notice struggling with the time I have left?”

Beginning March 3rd, a new 6-week MicroPD series will focus on strategies for strengthening tier 1 supports for all students by exploring a 4-step problem solving process as it is applied at the tier 1 level.  The goal of the series is to develop both understanding and application strategies for improving supports for all students through tier 1 instruction.  Participation in this MicroPD series will prepare administrators, interventionists, and other support staff/teams with skills to evaluate the tier 1 setting in their school, application of a four step problem solving process for addressing areas of need, and action planning for initiating the process to better support teachers and students as they round out the school year.

Session dates and topics:

  • Session 1: March 3:   Exploring effective four step problem solving models
  • Session 2: March 10: Goal/Problem Identification
  • Session 3: March 17: Problem Analysis
  • Session 4: March 24: Instructional/Intervention Design
  • Session 5: March 31: Response to Instruction/Intervention
  • Session 6: April 7: Implications for leaders/action planning

Sessions will be held on Wednesdays from 1:00-2:00 PM for 6 weeks.  Participants will receive a PD companion guide that they can use to facilitate their learning throughout the series.  Can’t attend all of the sessions?  That’s ok!  Sessions will be recorded and registered participants will be able to view the recording and use the companion guide to catch up and stay on track with the series.

You MUST register for this new PD series even if you have registered for MTSS MicroPD in the past.  Registration for this PD will close on Tuesday, March 2nd and registered participants will receive the workbook prior to the start of the MicroPD on March 3rd.

Click here to register for this 6-week series: https://mainestate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMvdeuorDMjGNweH6sTL8KWee5S4KZIi0UK

For more information or if you have questions, please contact Andrea.Logan@maine.gov.

Education Innovators Panel: Equity in Education March 4th at 3pm

The below opportunity is hosted by Educate Maine, the Education Action Forum of Maine, Thomas College’s Center for Innovation in Education, and the Maine State Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation.

Education Innovators: Equity in Education
March 4th from 3pm to 4pm

Attendees will hear from district, teacher, and nonprofit leaders about promising practices used to close opportunity gaps. Attendees will hear about equity initiatives implemented across school districts, examine classroom-based practices, and learn about building community support for equity priorities.

The speakers are: 

  • Dr. Marsha Drake, Chief Equity Officer, Hamilton County Schools, Tennessee
  • Cindy Soule, Teacher, Gerald A. Talbot School, 2021 Maine State Teacher of the Year
  • Brittany Ray, Executive Director, Trauma-Responsive Equitable Education

This event is free for attendees. Interested participants can register here: https://mainestatemecoc.wliinc14.com/events/Education-Innovators-Series-503/details 

See the attached flyer for more details.

This event is part of the Education Innovators Series supported by Educate Maine, the Education Action Forum of Maine, Thomas College’s Center for Innovation in Education, and the Maine State Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation

Bangor High School Students Record Themselves Reading Aloud for Elementary School Remote Learners

Bangor High School Student Council members recorded a selection of the 2020-2021 nominee picture books for the annual Chickadee Awards. This project was completed for Bangor elementary children learning remotely so that they might hear and enjoy the read aloud books from home.

Learn more about the project and see the recorded readings here

Thank you to the Bangor High School students for sharing the love of reading with younger students!

Information for this article was provided by the Bangor School Department as part of the Maine Schools Sharing Success Campaign. To submit a story or an idea, email it to Rachel at rachel.paling@maine.gov.

 

Priority Notice: Maine Learning Results Review Writing Teams Now Accepting Applications

The Maine Department of Education is performing a regularly scheduled review of the Maine Learning Results for the following areas: Health Education and Physical Education, Visual and Performing Arts, and World Languages. The Department is looking for participants to serve as part of the writing teams this summer. The purpose of the writing teams is to revise the current standards, based on guidance provided from content area steering committees. For more information about the standards review process, check the new Maine DOE standards revision website.

Teams will serve as representative samples of educators in each of the content areas who are actively working across locations throughout Maine that cover PreK-12 grade levels. It is our hope to have participation from all Maine counties, ensuring geographic diversity.

Most of the work will take place in June, July, and August. Drawing from prior experience, most content area writing teams took approximately three days or 21 hours to complete the work. All summer meetings will be held virtually in two- to four-hour blocks of time. Specific schedules will be determined by the content area specialists with input from writing team members.

All interested educators are strongly encouraged to participate. All participants will receive contact hours for their participation.

If you are interested and committed to participating in this important work, please complete this short application by Friday, March 26, 2021 to be considered. Department content area specialists will reach out to interested participants with more information in the coming weeks.

For more information or questions contact the applicable Maine DOE Content Specialist:

PRIORITY NOTICE: There is Still Time to Nominate Maine Schools to Win a New Fitness Center

Maine has been selected to participate in the 2021 DON’T QUIT! Campaign, a national effort to encourage physical fitness in youth. As part of the campaign, the National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils (NFGFC) will gift Fitness Centers to three Maine schools that use new and unique methods to promote student physical activity and wellness to help them construct fitness centers. Read the 2/8 DON’T QUIT! Campaign announcement here.

All public and public charter elementary and middle schools in Maine who have a majority of students between the ages of 8 to 14 years old and an available room ready for equipment installation by June 2021 within their existing infrastructure are eligible to apply. Three schools in each state, prioritized based on need, will be chosen from applicants by NFGFC to receive a brand new, state-of-the-art DON’T QUIT! Fitness Center.

Download Application to Nominate a Maine School

Learn more information about the program.

Each fitness center is financed through public/private partnerships with companies like The Coca-Cola Company, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation, Wheels Up and Nike, and does not rely on taxpayer dollars or state funding. Fitness in Motion provides all the fitness equipment, which is manufactured in the United States.

Physical activity and exercise are shown to help prevent and treat more than 40 chronic diseases, enhance individual health and quality of life, and reduce health care costs.  In schools, studies show that physical activity improves academic achievement, increases confidence and self-esteem, reduces discipline problems, cuts absenteeism, and fosters better interpersonal relationships.

School nominations will be accepted starting today, Monday, February 8, 2021 until Friday, March 19, 2021. Maine people interested in nominating their school can visit  https://natgovfit.org/nominate-your-school/ and click on the Maine state seal to download and submit the short application.

More information about the program can be found here.

Service Project Funding Opportunity

In partnership with the Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation, Volunteer Maine is excited to offer service support grants to groups working with middle and high school students to learn about and tackle issues around hunger and food insecurity in their communities.

The Service Instigator Grant ($750 – $1,000) will be used to assist youth in exploring the root causes of hunger and food insecurity, and design and conduct a service project related to what they discover.

Applications are due by March 5th, and projects are to be completed by May 2nd. To learn more, CLICK HERE.

Check VolunteerMaine.gov for future updates.

Tips and Information for Districts Offering Complimentary Meals 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the way schools and districts have been offering meals to children across the state has changed dramatically. Food service staff have worked tirelessly to adapt and come up with many creative methods for meal service by schools.

The complimentary meals, free of charge to all families, are being offered as part of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) emergency meal program – a response to the pandemic.  The emergency meal program ensures compliance with the required law of offering meals on educational days. It is not part of the federal School Lunch Program, but a special program which offers meals to all children during this time of challenge.

Given the underutilization of this program by students and families across Maine, the Department is offering some tips that school/district nutrition teams can use to help increase participation by maximizing nutrition and appeal to students, adding flexibly for families, and by increasing promotion and communication:

  • Children’s preferences and favorites should be considered when planning menus.
  • Meals offered should be nutritious and appealing.
  • Flexible delivery methods are needed to accommodate working parents.
  • Volunteers from the community can be sourced to supplement food service staff.
  • Advertise as “complementary meals” or “emergency meals” (not as “School Lunch”).
  • Maximize communication by using your district’s social media and online platforms. Include photos of menus and featured ingredients.
  • Include delivery site information and picture of location (or a picture of the delivery vehicle).
  • Always reiterate that the meals are free for everyone!

If you need more information, support, and/or training, contact Maine DOE Child Nutrition Office at 207-624-6842.

Maine DOE Update – February 19, 2021

From the Maine Department of Education

Reporting Items

| Visit the DC&R Reporting Calendar |

News & Updates

REMINDER: Verify FY 22 Preliminary ED 279 Reports by February 25, 2021

This notification is a friendly reminder to Maine School Administrative Units to please review your FY 22 Preliminary ED 279 School Funding Reports and contact the School Finance Team with any questions, errors, or omissions by February 25, 2021. | More

REMINDER: USDA Food Orders Due on February 22nd

School Food Service Departments across the state are busy entering the orders for USDA food for School Year 2022. It is hard to believe we are in the process of ordering food for next school year! This is a friendly reminder that the USDA food orders are due by noon on February 22nd. | More

Get to know the Maine DOE Team: Meet Staci Warren

Maine DOE team member Staci Warren is being highlighted this week as part of the Get to know the Maine DOE Team Campaign. Learn a little more about Staci. | More

Maine Schools Sharing Success Stories

| Submit your Maine School Success Story |

Professional Development & Training Opportunities

State of Maine Collaborative Child Abuse Prevention Training

Stop Trafficking US, Cumberland County Children’s Advocacy Center, Maine School Safety Center, and the Maine Department of Education would like to invite you to attend a day of training entitled, State of Maine Collaborative Child Abuse Prevention Training.  | More

Digital Learning Day (2/25) Live Broadcast: Overcoming Adversity with Resilience & Hope for the Future

This opportunity is being hosted by Alliance for Excellent Education. Celebrate Digital Learning Day (DLDay) on February 25, 2021 with stories of educators who have overcome adversity and are embracing innovation. These stories are guaranteed to inspire and invigorate your vision for the future. | More

| Visit the Professional Development Calendar |

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

View current Maine Department of Education employment opportunities here

REMINDER: Verify FY 22 Preliminary ED 279 Reports by February 25, 2021

This notification is a friendly reminder to Maine School Administrative Units to please review your FY 22 Preliminary ED 279 School Funding Reports and contact the School Finance Team with any questions, errors, or omissions by February 25, 2021.

ED 279 Reports are accessible at https://neo.maine.gov/DOE/neo/eps/Reports/EPSSpecialReports.aspx

Should you have questions regarding subsidy printouts, please contact the School Finance Team: Tyler Backus at tyler.backus@maine.gov; Paula Gravelle at paula.b.gravelle@maine.gov; or Ida Batista at ida.batista@maine.gov.

REMINDER: USDA Food Orders Due on February 22nd

School Food Service Departments across the state are busy entering the orders for USDA food for School Year 2022.  It is hard to believe we are in the process of ordering food for next school year! This is a friendly reminder that the USDA food orders are due by noon on February 22nd.

Directions to place food orders in the new CNPweb system are posted on our web page here: https://www.maine.gov/doe/schools/nutrition/programs/fd. Once orders are placed, the Department will submit them to USDA for the bidding/purchasing process for Maine.

Thank you and great job to those that have completed the USDA food ordering process already.

If you have any questions or need support in this process, contact Maine DOE Child Nutrition at 207-624-6822.