Maine signs assessment contract with valued, proven partner

Maine-specific test will take less time away from classroom teaching

AUGUSTA – The Maine Department of Education is pleased to be signing a contract today with Measured Progress, a nonprofit organization from Dover, New Hampshire. This contract is for the development and administration of the 2016 online, state summative assessment in English language arts (ELA)/literacy and mathematics for grades 3-8 and the third-year of high school. Maine has a long-standing history with Measured Progress and the Department is confident this spring’s assessment will take less time away from classroom instruction while adequately measuring students’ knowledge.

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Maine DOE clarifies use of State assessment in PEPG systems

The Department is offering clarification regarding the use of the State assessment as a student growth measure as described in Maine DOE Regulation Chapter 180, section 7 part 6. This rule requires the use of the State assessment for mathematics and English language arts/literacy teachers in grades 4-8 as one measure of student learning and growth in teacher summative effectiveness rating.

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Maine DOE shares expertise at community meeting

Recently, three members of Maine DOE’s Standards and Instructional Support Team presented information to a local chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma (an organization that promotes professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education). The presentations were well received and have led to much discussion within that organization in the days following the meeting.

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NCSC student report portal closes

The National Center and State Collaborative (NCSC) Reporting Portal permanently closes this Friday, Nov. 6 at 5 p.m. All Student Reports for the MEA Alternate Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy must be downloaded by that time. All registered test coordinators are required to make copies for schools, parents and sending districts, if applicable.

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A new way to teach

Maine’s 2015 Teacher of the Year, Jennifer Dorman, offered reflection on her teaching from attending the Maine DOE 2014 Summer Literacy Institute. I wasn’t satisfied with my students’ writing. So I learned a new way to teach it. The article appeared in the October 24-25 edition of the Bangor Daily News.

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2015 Maine Native American history and culture essay contest

Maine DOE is pleased to notify schools of a contest sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of State. In an effort to enhance Maine Native American Studies lessons, the Secretary of State sponsors an essay contest in which middle and high school students explore at least one aspect of Maine Native American history and then write an essay on their findings.

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Maine follows the national trend on the Nation’s Report Card: NAEP

AUGUSTA – Test scores from the 2015 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), in grades 4 and 8, released today show Maine remains above the national average even as mathematics scores slightly declined and reading scores saw no statistical change.

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Maine DOE announces conditional assessment awardee

The following Priority Notice was distributed on Tuesday, Oct. 20 to superintendents regarding the conditional vendor award to Measured Progress, Inc. for the 2015-16 administration of the Maine Educational Assessment (MEA) for Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy.

Dear Educators,

As a result of action during this past Legislative session, Maine will no longer participate in the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium.

We are pleased to announce that the Maine DOE has made a conditional decision, based on a competitive process outlined by the Maine State Division of Purchases, to award Measured Progress, Inc. the contract to develop and deliver our Mathematics and ELA/Literacy assessment in 2015-16. This proposal includes an assessment developed by Measured Progress, Inc. for students in grades 3-8 and the SAT for third year high school students.

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NCSC Student Reports available to Test Coordinators

On Monday, Oct. 12 the National Center for State Collaborative (NCSC), Maine’s 2015 alternate assessment for math and English language arts/literacy, made Student Reports available to all registered Test Coordinators and notifications were sent via email. Test Coordinators are advised to download these student reports and make copies for schools, parents, and sending school districts, if applicable. Access to the reports will remain open until Nov. 6.

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New resources for professional learning in all content areas

The Cross Discipline Literacy Network (CDLN) is a professional learning network that fosters effective literacy practices across content areas. Each year since 2012, Maine educators have recorded webinars that explore instructional strategies, present educator reflections about the use of the strategy, and examine student work that results from use of the strategy.

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