Author: Maine Department of Education

MEDIA RELEASE: College Board Releases Free Parent Resources for Upcoming AP Exams

The College Board has released the new AP® Exam (Advanced Placement) schedule, which includes optional free, online AP classes and take-at-home AP Exams to support the challenges that students and families are facing because of the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, the Collage Board is also offering the opportunity for families to apply for help securing an internet connection and a device in order to take the exams.

Advanced Placement (AP), a program implemented by the College Board, allows high schoolers to take high school courses that can earn them college credit and/or qualify them for more advanced classes when they begin college. Many of Maine’s high schoolers were amid AP classes when they transitioned to remote learning. In a response to this drastic change in learning, the College Board has released additional resources for families and educators.

It is recommended by the College Board that parents and teachers whose students are planning on taking any of the AP exams take the weeks of April 13 and April 20th to help students work through the remaining course content and/or encourage them to participate in the live online classes and review sessions. Find them here: FREE AP Online Classes and Review Sessions

In addition, the College Board has also asked parents to let students know about the technology they’ll need to take the AP tests and to contact the College Board by April 24 if they need devices or connectivity. Here is where you can find information about getting internet connection and devices for AP exams: Information about getting Internet or a Device for AP Classes and Exams

You can find more information about the AP exams and the College Board’s response to the coronavirus on their website. In addition to the parent resources, College Board is also offering a listing of webinars among other resources for AP educators to help answer questions about the upcoming tests.

Early Child Care and Public Preschool Providers Caring for Children Birth-5 – No Cost Professional Development Training

Maine Resilience Building Network (MRBN) will once again offer free professional learning opportunities focused on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) and resilience building. MRBN offered this training in the fall of 2019 and is now offering 6 more sessions virtually between April 21-June 2, 2020. This learning opportunity is funded through the Preschool Development Grant, a collaboration between Maine Departments of Education and Health and Human Services.  These new sessions are open for Pre-K and child care educators, as well as other staff working with this population, to strengthen their role in supporting children and families.

Strong Kids, Strong Families, Strong Communities: The Impact of ACEs and Resilience Building will bring together childcare and public Pre-K professionals to learn about Adverse Childhood Experiences research, early brain development science, the effects of toxic stress on social emotional learning and protective factors including positive relationships.   This training will provide an understanding of how adverse experiences at a young age can affect a person’s emotional and behavioral development. Participants will also hear suggestions for how to support the individual and family and learn classroom strategies including the practices of mindfulness, compassion and co-regulation.

In the fall of 2019, the training was offered in 12 sites across the state to early childhood educators working with children up through Pre-K. Through the evaluation, participants shared that they learned strategies to build stronger connections and relationships with children and families, to be more compassionate and less judgmental, and to be better prepared for stressful situations.  They felt they had a better understanding and awareness of where children are “coming from” and to think about what happened to the child as opposed to what is wrong with the child.  One participant commented that “All professionals who work with children should attend.”

Registration is required

Date/Time Registration Link
April 23, 2020   6-8pm https://maineresilience.org/event-3790527
April 28, 2020   9-11am https://maineresilience.org/event-3799333
May 4, 2020   2-4pm https://maineresilience.org/event-3799347
May 12, 2020   9-11am https://maineresilience.org/event-3799366
May 21, 2020   6-8pm https://maineresilience.org/event-3799397
June 2, 2020    6-8pm https://maineresilience.org/event-3799412

For more information, contact Karen Bergeron, PDG Director, Maine Department of Education

Karen.j.bergeron@maine.gov  207-446-3754 or Info@maineresilience.org

PRIORITY NOTICE: Virtual Meeting Schedule – Tuesday 4/14

Virtual office hour schedule for Tuesday, April 14, 2020

The Maine Department of Education continues to schedule virtual office hours with Department Specialist to support educators and administrators during extended remote learning. During these meetings, our specialists will be available to provide support and guidance regarding distance learning and school supports, as well as to facilitate networking and resource sharing between educators.

As a reminder, virtual meeting schedules are regularly updated on this web page: https://www.maine.gov/doe/covid-19/contentmeetings. The Department will continue scheduling content specific office hours as needed.

Please note that Department staff hosting the virtual meetings have ramped up security measures to keep out participants that are attempting to join the meetings for reasons other than to participate in education related conversations – this includes password protecting meetings and in some cases requiring registration. Thank you for your patience!

Virtual Office Hours:

(Please note: some meetings have a 100 person max capacity.)

TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2020

FOCUS AREA SPECIALIST TIME MEETING INFO HOST CONTACT INFO
Brain Centered Emotional Support Kellie Bailey/ Bear Shea 8:30 Meeting information available here bear.shea@maine.gov
Pre K for ME- Focus on Thinking & Feedback and Small Groups Nicole Madore 9:00 AM Contact meeting host for meeting link and password nicole.madore@maine.gov
School Counseling: Open Office Hours Bear Shea 10:00 This Meeting Occurs Weekly
Register for this and ALL Future Sessions:
Register here		 w.bear.shea@maine.gov
Special Education: Elementary Special Ed Consultants 10:00 AM Register here roberta.lucas@maine.gov
Elementary Literacy Danielle Saucier 10:00 AM Contact meeting host for meeting link and password danielle.m.saucier@maine.gov
Adult Education ELL Instructor Support Megan Dichter 10:00 AM Contact meeting host for meeting link and password megan.dichter@maine.gov
Pre K Open Office Hours Nicole Madore 10:30 AM Contact meeting host for meeting link and password nicole.madore@maine.gov
Virtual “Hands On History” Joe Schmidt 11:00am Complete this form to register and to receive more information. joe.schmidt@maine.gov
School Nursing Emily Poland (Guest host, Patricia Endsley) 11:00 Contact meeting host for meeting link and password emily.poland@maine.gov
Visual Art, K-12 Office Hour Jason Anderson, Visual and Performing Arts Content Specialist 1:00 Register here jason.anderson@maine.gov
Physical Education Office Hours with Teens To Trails Jean Zimmerman and Susan Berry 1:00 p.m. Register here susan.berry@maine.gov
6-12 Mathematics:  Office Hour Michele Mailhot &  Jen Robitaille 1:00 PM Register here michele.mailhot@maine.gov
SEL/Mindfulness Content For Elementary Educators and Staff Kellie Bailey 2:00 PM Contact meeting host for meeting link and password kellie.bailey@maine.gov
Health Education on Sexuality Education via Distance Learning Susan Berry and Jean Zimmerman 2:30 p.m. Register here susan.berry@maine.gov
ELA 6-12 Learning Goals and Feedback: meaningul learning in the pass/fail format Morgan Dunton 3:00 Contact meeting host for meeting link and password morgan.dunton@maine.gov
Taking a Risk! With Game-Based Learning Joe Schmidt w/ Derek Carroll/SeDoMoCha MS 3:30 Complete this form to register and to receive more information. joe.schmidt@maine.gov
Brain Centered Emotional Support Kellie Bailey/ Bear Shea 3:30 Meeting information available here bear.shea@maine.gov
Google Classroom Support Session (follow-up to using the “classwork” tab) RESCHEDULE FROM LAST FRIDAY Jason Anderson, Visual and Performing Arts Content Specialist 4:30 PM (90-minute session) Register here jason.anderson@maine.gov

Priority Notice: Regarding April Enrollment Count Report and ESEA Demographics Certification Report

The United States Department of Education (USED) has waived assessment and accountability requirements for the 2019-2020 school year, however the requirement for report cards has not been waived.  The following items are still needed on the ESSA data dashboard (report card):

  • Enrollment data, including student groups
  • Teacher data

In addition to these requirements, English Learners have completed their English proficiency assessments for this year, and demographic information is needed for them to load into the Maine Assessment and Accountability Reporting System (MAARS) for local use.

We will use demographics from the April Enrollment Count Report, requiring only one spring data certification that can be used for multiple purposes. Usually, the student demographic data would be verified by schools on ESEA Demographics Certification Report (formerly known as the Accountability Certification).  Because the April Enrollment Count Report does not normally report out demographics, there are some adjustments that need to be made to the report so that data staff can properly validate the student demographics.  We are asking superintendents to hold off on certifying the April Enrollment Count Report until we provide further guidance that the report is now available to serve both purposes.

The Data Team will be providing another April Enrollment Count Report webinar in the near future to explain the changes and the dual purpose of the report.  Please look for that announcement in the coming weeks.  The deadline for this report will be adjusted accordingly.  Thank you for your patience as we work to ensure that federal requirements are met in what we hope to be the least disruptive method as possible.

Maine DOE Update – April 10, 2020

 

From the Maine Department of Education

Reporting Items

| Visit the DC&R Reporting Calendar |

News & Updates

Statement Regarding Recommendations for Extended Remote Learning

On Tuesday evening, April 7, 2020, Commissioner of Education Pender Makin, with the support of Governor Mills, made the recommendation to Maine schools to extend their remote learning plans until the end of the current school year. “School classrooms are closed, but schools are not,” said Commissioner Makin.| More

Rural Aspirations Launches Website to Support Teachers & Families in Community-Based Learning

Rural Aspirations, in collaboration with many other cross-sector organizations, has developed a tool for teachers and families to support and highlight community-based learning opportunities in Maine.| More

Maine DOE Delivers Donated Devices to Piscataquis County Schools

The Maine Department of Education delivered wifi enabled Samsung Tab A’s with a 12 month Verizon service to Piscataquis county schools yesterday afternoon, in a effort that is helping students in the area with their school work while they are engaged in remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of this pilot program, the Maine DOE surveyed building principals across Maine to identify needs, and are working to procure device and hotspots for all students that need them as quickly as possible. | More

Expanded Authority of Reserve Funds

An Act Regarding the Reserve Funds of Certain School Organizational Structures was signed by Governor Mills on March 12, 2020 and will become effective on June 16, 2020.  | More

Commissioner Updates Regarding Covid-19 Response

| See All Recent Covid-19 Updates from Commission Makin |

Maine Schools Sharing Success Stories

| Submit your Maine School Success Story |

Professional Development & Training Opportunities

Virtual Meetings Will be Available Again Next Week

The Maine Department of Education will continue to schedule virtual office hours to support educators and administrators during extended school closures. We are working on further security measures for our virtual meetings and will have an updated schedule ready on Monday. | Check the schedule here next week

| Visit the Professional Development Calendar |

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

View current Maine Department of Education employment opportunities here

 

MEDIA RELEASE: Rural Aspirations Launches Website to Support Teachers & Families in Community-Based Learning

Rural Aspirations, in collaboration with many other cross-sector organizations, has developed a tool for teachers and families to support and highlight community-based learning opportunities in Maine.

This resource is designed to connect teachers and families with the amazing work of educational and social service organizations across the State. With the onset of COVID-19, teaching and learning have entered our homes and virtual platforms in unprecedented ways, and with that comes an expanded opportunity to connect and support students together, utilizing Maine resources to support Maine teachers and families.

Access the website here: www.communitylearningforme.org

The site launched today, April 10, 2020, and will be in a beta phase for the next three weeks. We are asking parents and teachers to engage with the site, participate in sessions, connect students to opportunities and join us in developing the final touches to best meet the needs of teachers, parents, and students.

PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS: Department of Education, Maine Environmental Education Association, Island Readers & Writers, Schoodic Institute, UMaine College of Education & Human Development, Island Institute, and Rural Aspirations

The Maine Department of Education also has an array of continuity of learning resources regularly updated by content experts at the Department:

·  For educators and schools 

·  For parents and families

For more information about Rural Aspirations’ Community Learning Website contact them.

PRIORITY NOTICE (UPDATE): Virtual Meeting Schedule – Friday 4/10

UPDATE: Many of today’s meetings may be canceled due to wide spread power outages across the state. If a session is not available today it is likely because the host does not have power – we apologize for the inconvenience. 

Virtual office hour schedule for Friday, April 10, 2020

The Maine Department of Education continues to schedule virtual office hours with Department Specialist to support educators and administrators during extended remote learning. During these meetings, our specialists will be available to provide support and guidance regarding distance learning and school supports, as well as to facilitate networking and resource sharing between educators.

As a reminder, virtual meeting schedules are regularly updated on this web page: https://www.maine.gov/doe/covid-19/contentmeetings. The Department will continue scheduling content specific office hours as needed.

Please note that Department staff hosting the virtual meetings have ramped up security measures to keep out participants that are attempting to hack into the meetings for reasons other than to participate in education related conversations.

Virtual Office Hours:

(Please note: some meetings have a 100 person max capacity.)

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2020

FOCUS AREA SPECIALIST TIME MEETING INFO CONTACT INFO
Brain Centered Emotional Support Kellie Bailey 8:30 https://zoom.us/j/689251005  kellie.bailey@maine.gov
Pre K for ME- Focus on SWPLN & Math Nicole Madore 9:00 AM https://zoom.us/j/288501942  nicole.madore@maine.gov
Healh Education and Physical Education Susan Berry and Jean Zimmerman 9:00 a.m. https://zoom.us/j/341148318

See email from Susan Berry
for password or request password from Susan

 susan.berry@maine.gov
Social Studies: Sharing No Tech & Interdisciplinary Ideas Joe Schmidt w/ Jenn Lagasse/Ellsworth Elementary School 10:00am Contact Joe Schmidt for meeting link and password joe.schmidt@maine.gov
Special Education: Weekly Wrap Up Special Ed Consultants 10:00 AM https://networkmaine.zoom.us/j/184810547 roberta.lucas@maine.gov
Alternative Education                   *email Heather for zoom password Heather Whitaker (Maine 2020 TOY) 12:00 p.m. https://zoom.us/j/752839765?pwd=akMxTVVXdnZxalpva05pUHZLY0R5UT09 heather.whitaker@gorhamschools.org
PK-12 Science Networking/Office Hours Shari Templeton 12:00 p.m. https://zoom.us/j/412002677 shari.templeton@maine.gov
Google Classroom Support (FOLLOW UP TO using the “classwork” tab) Jason Anderson, VPA Specialist 1:00 p.m. (90 minute session) https://zoom.us/meeting/register/uZ
AkcuChqToudhHjPJfacsntyfWrLEUXjw		 jason.anderson@maine.gov
SEL Content Hour – social distancing vs emotional distancing Kellie Bailey 2:00 https://zoom.us/j/689251005 kellie.bailey@maine.gov
CED and CTE Networking Diana Doiron & Meg Harvey 2:00 PM Contact Diana or Meg for link & password diana.doiron@maine.gov & margaret.harvey@maine.gov
Brain Centered Emotional Support Bear Shea 3:30 https://zoom.us/j/689251005 bear.shea@maine.gov

Maine Students to Speak with NASA Astronauts Aboard Space Station

Students from Maine will have an opportunity next week to talk with NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station who have special ties to the Pine Tree State. The Earth-to-space call will air live at 1:20 p.m. EDT Monday, April 13, on NASA television and the agency’s website.

NASA astronauts Christopher Cassidy and Jessica Meir will respond to questions recorded by students from across the state. Cassidy, who considers York, Maine, his hometown and Meir, who was born in Caribou, Maine, will be on the International Space Station together for eight days, following Cassidy’s arrival at the station on Thursday, April 9, and Meir’s departure on Friday, April 17.

The event is being coordinated by the Challenger Learning Center of Maine and the Maine Space Grant Consortium. The Challenger Center uses space-themed simulated learning to inspire students into STEM. The Challenger Center of Maine is also sending well-wishes from Maine locals to Cassidy regarding his launch to the space station. The Maine Consortium is a member of NASA’s National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, which works to expand opportunities for Americans to understand and participate in NASA’s projects through science and engineering education and research. Special recorded messages from U.S Sens. Collins and King of Maine will be included in the downlink event.

Linking students directly to astronauts aboard the space station provides unique, authentic experiences designed to enhance student learning, performance and interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Bonny Eagle High School Students Council Creates COVID-19 PSA #BEHealthy

Bonny Eagle High School Students Council, Dawna Cyr and School Nurse Jen Dow, RN created this wonderful PSA for COVID-19 called “We are all in this together” with the hashtag #BEHealthy. The PSA talks about what you can do right now to take care of yourself and also provides information about how to access more resources. The group says they are working on more public service announcements.