FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact Maine CF:  Carl Little
Contact Maine DOE:  Kelli Deveaux

AUGUSTA—Maine Community Foundation (MaineCF) is partnering with the Maine Department of Education (DOE) to ensure that adult learners have the technology they need to continue their studies. A grant of $75,000 from MaineCF will fund laptops for 56 adult education programs to allow students to remotely complete their high school equivalency or workforce training programs.

The partnership is based on the mutual belief of MaineCF and Maine DOE that better access to educational opportunities will help improve the quality of life for Maine people. While much attention has been given to Pre-K to 12 schools in Maine, adult education programs are a key support for Maine’s most at-risk students and workforce development to strengthen Maine’s economy.

The shift to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the fragility and fragmentation of technology access in Maine. The progress of many adult education students has been stalled by their inability to participate in online classes. MaineCF hopes that closing the technology gap will help adult education students complete their programs and continue their path to lifelong learning.

“Adult Education students already are facing significant barriers in their pursuit of education,” noted Cherie Galyean, MaineCF director of strategic learning and staff member behind the foundation’s Access to Education strategic goal area. “MaineCF does not want technology to be one of those barriers. Our hope is that this grant will help address the problem of digital inequity and help adult learners continue on their path to success.”

MaineCF worked with Maine DOE’s Adult Education team to survey the adult education programs in Maine and found technology access was a barrier that needed to be addressed.

“Though adult education programs quickly transitioned to remote learning, students without computer devices were unable to continue,” said Dr. Gail Senese, Maine DOE director of adult education. “As a result, hundreds of students enrolled in high school equivalency and workforce training programs were unable to earn their credentials, college transition learners were cut off from classes preparing them for postsecondary admission, and English language students were left isolated,” she noted. “The advocacy of Maine Community Foundation for adult learners is demonstrated in a generous donation, resulting in the acquisition of 375 devices, including laptops and Chromebooks, that local programs will be able to provide to the most in-need students.”

School and daycare center closings also have impacted adult learners who need flexible learning schedules as they care for their children. Adult education programs have expanded their capacity to provide remote instruction to ensure that learning can continue, regardless of schedule or location. But access to technology remains critical for these students.

“Many of our students do not have the necessary technology at home to access online learning classes, and we know that with access comes opportunity,” said Biddeford Adult Education Director Paulette Bonneau. “These computers take away one more barrier to our students’ success, allowing them to continue their learning without interruption and to learn anytime, from anywhere.”

The Department of Education is expected to deliver the laptops to adult education providers regionally by the end of the month to be distributed as soon as possible to students with the greatest need.

“Adult education programs are vitally important and are successful because they provide adult learners with a more flexible schedule to fulfill their education needs anytime during the year,” said Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin. “The need for these devices to help them continue this important work is critical and the DOE is extremely grateful to MaineCF for its generosity in providing this much-needed funding to Maine’s adult education programs.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Contact: Kelli Deveaux

The Maine Department of Education has released a special video message from Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin and other key leaders from the Department to encourage and remind the people of Maine to provide input for ensuring a safe return to classroom instruction. Video can be viewed, here.

Maine DOE continues to work with educators and health experts from across the State to develop health markers and corresponding plans to ensure the safe return to classroom instruction.  As this work develops, the Department is seeking input from additional stakeholders from across the State through a series of surveys that were released on July 6.

The surveys, available for families, educators, student support providers, and school and district leaders, are available through July 12. The data and feedback will be compiled by a research group and considered by the team who will continue to revise the Department’s Draft Framework for Returning to Classroom Instruction over the next month.

Your participation in these surveys is greatly appreciated in preparation for the next school year.  Our fervent hope is that our continued trends in the battle against COVID-19 here in Maine will allow our schools to resume classroom instruction for the start of the 2020-2021 school year, as our schools serve as a stabilizing force for our communities, students, families and the economy. All of our energy and efforts are going into helping to provide support and guidance to schools and families who are making extraordinarily difficult decisions.

The Maine Department of Education will be releasing surveys to gather input about the safe return to classroom instruction today at noon, and would like to hear from our school community members! Our research partners are finalizing 10 translated versions for families/caregivers, which will be posted as soon as they become available. The official DOE surveys can be found at: https://www.maine.gov/doe/fall2020survey.

The Maine Department of Education Data Team will be holding their annual summer trainings during the last two weeks of July and the first two weeks of August.  The focus this year will be on tips and resources to assist School Administrative Units (SAUs) with data reporting and with viewing/certifying reports.

• Training sessions this year will be held remotely utilizing the GoToWebinar™ application.
• All training sessions will begin with a presentation and conclude with a topical Q&A. Please feel free to register for as many sessions as you would like.
• Sessions are duplicated to ensure as much availability as possible.
• All sessions will be recorded and posted to the Helpdesk’s Webinar Page .
• These training sessions are not necessarily intended for individuals who are brand new to state required reporting.

The MEDMS helpdesk is now offering one on one onboard training for SAU and school staff that are new to state required reporting. To request this training, simply email the MEDMS helpdesk at MEDMS.Helpdesk@Maine.gov and request our new user training. Please note that these trainings will be held as helpdesk availability allows.

Training Sessions, Dates and Times

What’s New for 2021 & Online Resources – A presentation of all of the new staff and student data requirements for the 2020-2021 school year. We will also review the helpful online resources available to SAU and school staff charged with required state reporting

• July 21^st @ 10AM – 12PM              Register Now
• August 11th @ 10AM – 12PM        Register Now

Student Upload Error Messages – This presentation will focus on understanding the various possible error messages that you may receive when uploading student data to Synergy State Edition.

• August 6th @ 1PM – 3PM             Register Now
• August 13th @ 10AM – 12PM        Register Now

Updating and Maintaining Contact Information – In this session we will be discussing why this data is important, how this data is used by the Department and how to keep staff contact information up to date.

• August 4th @ 10AM – 11AM         Register Now
• August 13th @ 1PM – 2PM           Register Now

NEO Staff Refresher – A refresher of the NEO Staff module including data entry, associated reports and helpful resources.

• August 4th @ 1PM – 3PM              Register Now
• August 11th @ 1PM – 3PM             Register Now

Externally Managed Data – (EL, Migrant, Foster Care, Residential, Direct Certification, etc.…) – A presentation focused on exploring and explaining student data elements that are derived from sources outside of the reporting SAU.

• July 21^st @ 1PM – 3PM                   Register Now
• August 6th @ 10AM – 12PM          Register Now

Student Reports – This session will cover all of the various reports in the NEO Student Reports module.

• July 22^nd @ 10AM – 12PM              Register Now
• August 12th @ 1PM – 3PM             Register Now

Home Instruction – Presenting of the NEO Home Instruction module, how it works, who it is for, as well as any updates for the 2021 school year.

• July 22^nd @ 1PM – 3PM                 Register Now
• August 12th @ 10AM – 12PM        Register Now

Review of Enrollment Guidance Document – In this session we will be reviewing one of our most valuable online resources, our Enrollment Guidance document. This document depicts unique enrollment situations and who is responsible for what data requirements in these situations.

• August 5th @10AM – 12PM           Register Now
• August 10th @ 1PM – 3PM            Register Now

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 2, 2020

Contact: Kelli Deveaux

Department of Education to Release Statewide Survey to Inform Framework for Returning to Classroom Instruction

Maine Department of Education continues to work with educators and health experts from across the State to develop health markers and corresponding plans to ensure the safe return to classroom instruction.  As this work develops, the Department is seeking input from additional stakeholders from across the State, and will release a survey on July 6.

On June 11, 2020 the Department of Education released the first draft of a framework to assist school administrative units (SAUs) in developing their plans and determining their capacity to meet the national CDC guidelines for safely returning to classroom instruction.  This draft framework will continue to evolve and will be developed based on science and community health markers.

The framework was created with input from a diverse group of stakeholders, and included education and health experts, students, parents, education advocates and leaders. We have worked with a research organization to develop a survey through which educators and support professionals, education leaders, and families of students can provide comment and share their opinions on the 2020-2021 school year and possible models and needs for a safe return to classroom instruction.

Four different surveys have been created, specific to the role of the person completing the survey, including: 1.  Teachers and educational technicians; 2:  School or SAU leadership;  3:  Specialists and student support staff or 4.  Family member. The surveys will be available at https://www.maine.gov/doe/fall2020survey beginning July 6 through July 12. The Family Survey is available in 11 languages.

The data and feedback will be compiled by the research group and considered by the team who will continue to revise the framework over the next month. While these surveys will provide a snapshot at the state and county level, many superintendents have asked for and are reviewing their own community-specific information, which will inform the work of their Collaborative Planning Team in developing instructional plans that will be responsive to risk levels.

Your participation in these surveys is greatly appreciated in preparation for the next school year.  Our fervent hope is that our continued trends in the battle against COVID-19 here in Maine will allow our schools to resume classroom instruction for the start of the 2020-2021 school year, as our schools serve as a stabilizing force for our communities, students, families and the economy. Yet, it is prudent at this time to both hope for the best, and prepare for many possible scenarios.

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Since July 1, 2017, school approval standards governing implementation of public preschool programs in Maine have been in effect, as authorized by Title 20-A, Maine Revised Statutes, Chapters 203 and 206. Now that these rules, incorporated in Rule Chapter 124, have been in effect for several years, and in preparation for continued expansion of public preschool programming, the Maine Department of Education (Maine DOE) invites interested stakeholders to attend a conceptual conversation related to the rule on July 14, 2020 from 1pm-3pm via Zoom. The conceptual conversation will be an opportunity to provide feedback on current implementation of the Rule. If you are interested in being part of the conversation, please register, and a link will be provided.

The Department intends to take the following steps with respect to review of Chapter 124:

1.  On July 14, 2020, stakeholders are invited to attend a conceptual conversation which will be facilitated by Early Learning Team Coordinator Lee Anne Larsen, Early Childhood Specialist Nicole Madore, and Federal/State Liaison Jaci Holmes. This conversation will be guided by the following discussion prompts:

• What aspects of Chapter 124 promote high-quality public preschool?
• What aspects of Chapter 124 present challenges for implementing and/or achieving high-quality public preschool programming?
• As the Maine DOE continues to support the expansion of public preschool opportunities to reach universal capacity, including partnerships with Head Start and private childcare/preschool programs, does Chapter 124 adequately support achievement of this goal?

2.  Taking into consideration the insights gained from the discussion on July 14, the Department will propose updates to Chapter 124 and begin the Maine Administrative Procedures Act (A.P.A.) routine technical rule process pursuant to 5 MRS §8052 (public notice of filing, public hearing, open public comment period).

3.  Once the proposed rule has been filed, the public will be notified of the scheduled public hearing and comment period.  This will be an opportunity to provide written and oral comments regarding the proposed rule.

4.  The Department will review all comments and respond accordingly.  Updates to the rule will then be filed for legal review before final adoption.

For more information about the conceptual conversations for Chapter 124, contact Lee Anne Larsen at leeann.larsen@maine.gov.