Members of the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium including Maine have voted to approve initial achievement levels for the mathematics and English language arts/literacy (ELA) assessment that will soon be administered. Continue reading “Consortium sets new assessment achievement levels”
Category: Assessment
Department assesses readiness of schools to administer computer-based MEA
The following Priority Notice was distributed on Tuesday, Nov. 25 announcing a technology readiness survey to assess the preparedness of Maine schools for successfully administering the 2014-15 State assessment. Please note the survey has not been linked to this Newsroom posting but was provided directly to superintendents, principals and technology directors.
Dear Superintendents, Principals and Technology Directors,
The online administration of the new Maine Educational Assessment (MEA) for Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy developed by the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium will better allow students to demonstrate critical and higher-order thinking skills; provide more timely information to inform instruction; and improve teaching, learning, and the college and career readiness of our students. Continue reading “Department assesses readiness of schools to administer computer-based MEA”
WIDA ACCESS for ELLs® English language proficiency testing window opens Dec. 1
The WIDA ACCESS for ELLs® will be a paper-pencil test this year and will be administered to all English learners in grades K-12 during a testing window from Dec. 1 to Jan. 30.
Continue reading “WIDA ACCESS for ELLs® English language proficiency testing window opens Dec. 1”
MEA science testing window extended, will better accommodate AP students
The science portion of the Maine Educational Assessment (MEA) will be a paper-pencil test this year and will be administered to all students in grades five and eight and to those in their third year of high school during a three-week window from May 4 to May 22. This administration window is one week longer than the two-week window in previous years.
Continue reading “MEA science testing window extended, will better accommodate AP students”
Commissioner’s Update – October 30, 2014
From Maine Education Commissioner Jim Rier
Earlier this year, the Department released six options by which districts could apply for extensions to fully implementing systems to support the awarding of proficiency-based diplomas starting in 2018.
I continue to be appreciative of the positive feedback we regularly receive in response to offering that flexibility. Many educators and district leaders have commented that while they had initially been uncertain about the extension application process, it ended up being a valuable opportunity for reflection that helped focus local efforts moving forward to best ensure quality implementation.
But nothing has been more encouraging than seeing the high number of extension applications and confirmations of readiness that the Department received by the Oct. 18 final deadline. To date, 95 applications/confirmations representing 99 high schools have been submitted and we have been contacted by superintendents representing seven other high schools that their applications are forthcoming following local school board approval. This overwhelming response reflects the statewide commitment to better preparing our students for college and career success.
Notices and Reporting
- School Bus Purchase Program Application (NEO Transportation)(EF-T-17), due Nov. 25
- NCLB Title I Comparability, due Nov. 25
More Notices | Administrative Letters | Reporting Calendar
News & Views
Commissioner Rier: Planning for 2014-15 statewide assessment success
Though the March 16 through May 29, 2015 window schools have for administering this new Maine Educational Assessment (MEA) for Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy is months away, there is already significant work underway across the state to ensure staff and students are prepared for success. | More
Maine DOE welcomes new assessment and accountability staff
Charlene Tucker and Nancy Godfrey have joined Maine DOE as members of the assessment and accountability team. | More
Workshops offered for suicide prevention
The Maine Suicide Prevention Program is offering a series of workshops for school personnel to create and strengthen protocols around suicide prevention, intervention and postvention. | More
Maine DOE proposing rules to public preschool programs
The Maine DOE is proposing rules pertaining to public preschool programs. | More
Input sought for teacher shortage areas
The Maine DOE has been notified of the requirement to submit Maine teacher shortage areas by Dec. 11 for designation by the U.S. Department of Education (U.S. DOE) for the 2015-2016 school year. | More
RFP issued for education-related services for homeless children and youth
The Maine DOE has reissued a request for proposals (RFP) seeking bids to develop and implement programs providing educational and related services under the McKinney-Vento Act. | More
School food service employees recognized for years of service
The Maine DOE and Maine School Nutrition Association recently honored several local school food service staff members for their 20 years or more of service at their fall conference. | More
Hyde School to host Maine Youth Leadership Day, students invited
Hyde School in Bath will be hosting its second annual Maine Youth Leadership Day on Nov. 6. | More
Portland Public Schools publish learning guides for families
A series of new learning guides for families that outline what students in kindergarten through grade five are expected to know and be able to master in mathematics and English language arts has been developed by Portland Public Schools. | More
More Dispatches | Press Releases | From the Commissioner
LATEST DOE Career/Project Opportunities
Maine DOE welcomes new assessment and accountability staff
Charlene Tucker and Nancy Godfrey have joined Maine DOE as members of the assessment and accountability team.
Continue reading “Maine DOE welcomes new assessment and accountability staff”
Planning for success: 2014-15 State assessment
The following Priority Notice was distributed on Tuesday, Oct. 28 regarding Maine’s plans for a successful administration of the 2014-15 State assessment.
Dear Maine Educators, Students and Families,
This October marks the first in recent memory during which Maine students in Grades 3-8 are not taking their State assessment. Instead, next spring students in those grades or in their third year of high school will take the Smarter Balanced aligned assessment that Maine will now use for State and federal accountability purposes. Continue reading “Planning for success: 2014-15 State assessment”
All students, all standards but different demonstrations of proficiency
As Maine moves toward a proficiency-based education system that will ensure students graduate from our high schools having mastered State learning standards, I am often asked what this expectation means for our nearly 30,000 students with disabilities.
Continue reading “All students, all standards but different demonstrations of proficiency”
Smarter Balanced Digital Library surpasses 2K item mark, workshops offered
The Maine DOE is pleased to announce the Smarter Balanced Digital Library, a collection of vetted instructional, assessment and professional development resources, currently contains more than 2,000 resources, including each grade level, K-12, in the content areas of mathematics and English language arts.
Continue reading “Smarter Balanced Digital Library surpasses 2K item mark, workshops offered”
Fourth cohort of Maine Governor’s STEM Academy graduates
The 23 Academy Fellows who graduated from the Governor’s Academy for STEM Education Leadership program this summer were provided with professional development opportunities designed to build leadership qualities with a focus on STEM integration.
Continue reading “Fourth cohort of Maine Governor’s STEM Academy graduates”
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