Give a year; be part of the solution in Maine

Are you someone who takes the lead? Runs to take on a challenge while others wait for a solution? Do you want to help Maine communities get back up and running after the pandemic? AmeriCorps programs in Maine are looking for the next class of individuals to get things done! Are you ready to accept the challenge?

Hear all about the benefits of serving in AmeriCorps directly from Maine program representatives and alumni during our virtual recruitment fair on Thursday, June 4! It’s your chance to ask questions and learn how each program serves its respective community.

Date: Thursday, June 4, 2020

Time: 2 p.m. (Fair will conclude no later than 3:15 p.m. but may end earlier depending on participation)

Register now: Access Zoom meeting registration page 

(Please note: Closed captioning during live broadcast may not be 100% accurate. A replay version of the info session will correct any errors.)

Questions/clarification: Please email bryan.roche@maine.gov. For more information visit: http://www.maineservicecommission.gov/maine-americorps-virtual-recruitment-fair-2020/

 

COVID-19 has created unique challenges in education as students finish the year with distance learning. The Maine Department of Education, in collaboration of guest presenter Beth Ratway, is pleased to offer two sessions to examine how to look at this “gap”. How do teachers figure out where their students are at and plan for next year?

Minding the Gap: This session will focus on sharing strategies to make the transition to next year manageable and meaningful.  Educators will learn how to clearly identify the non-negotiables for their grade/course, how to build pre-assessments to determine where each student is coming in at connected to the non-negotiables and how to adjust learning plans to ensure all students are engaged in meaningful learning experiences around the non-negotiables.

Session host Beth Ratway is the former Social Studies Specialist for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, and is an associate member of the national Council of State Social Studies Specialist group.

• Minding the Gaps (Elementary Teachers): Identifying Where Your Students are at in Order to Adjust Instruction (Led by Beth Ratway/Senior Consultant at the American Institutes for Research – June 4 (Thurs) at 11:00am ET – Register for this session here
• Minding the Gaps (Secondary Teachers): Identifying Where Your Students are at in Order to Adjust Instruction (Led by Beth Ratway/Senior Consultant at the American Institutes for Research – June 4 (Thurs) at 1:00pm ET – Register for this session here

For more information contact Joe Schmidt, Maine DOE Social Studies Specialist at Joe.Schmidt@maine.gov.

To assist those who are responsible for the important task of reporting district and school organizational data as well as school approval information to the Maine Department of Education, the DOE Data Team will be holding a topical webinar about the Maine Schools and School Approval (Public and Private) process on Tuesday June 2^nd, from 11 am to 12 pm.

Registration URL can be found here, and the Maine Schools NEO Module Instructions can be found here.

To assist those who are responsible for the important task of reporting Special Education Exits to the Maine Department of Education, the DOE Data Team will be holding a topical webinar about the Special Education Exit Report on Wednesday June 3^rd, from 2 pm to 3 pm. We will be covering how to validate the report and will be fielding any questions in regards to the report.

The registration URL found here, and Special Education Exit Report Instructions can be found here.

The Maine Department of Education invites all interested educators, curriculum leaders, and Maine educational community organizations to join us in designing an a-synchronous library of learning modules in a Maine Learning Results-aligned scope and sequence. These project-based modules will be integrated to ensure that learning is synthesized across traditional subject areas and learning experiences are designed to be mutually reinforcing.

Work will take place beginning June 15^th and run throughout the summer with a launch of the website on September 7^th. Each participant will be trained in a-synchronous instructional design by Maine DOE digital learning specialists, as well as supported in their content by Maine DOE content specialists. Participants will be expected to produce at least one learning module, but more may be accepted. Stipends will be provided for modules used in the Maine DOE library.

Participants must be Maine educators, including curriculum leaders and Maine educational community organizations.

To register click here.

For more information please contact Beth Lambert, beth.lambert@maine.gov or Page Nichols, page.nichols@maine.gov.

The Maine Department of Education is requesting applications for the Department’s McKinney-Vento Sub-grant program to support the education of students experiencing homelessness.  Proposals will be accepted from school administrative units (SAUs) seeking to develop, implement, or expand programs that improve the success of students identified as homeless under the McKinney-Vento Act. This grant may be renewable for up to three years. Applications must be received by July 1, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. local time. The application can be found here.

If you have questions about homeless education or the McKinney Vento Sub-grant program, contact Amelia Lyons, McKinney Vento Homeless Education Consultant, at amelia.lyons@maine.gov or 207-557-1787.