Maine Application Receives Final Approval

Major infusion of funds for seven schools

AUGUSTA – The U.S. Department of Education announced Monday that Maine will receive the $13.3 million it was pledged for School Improvement Grants as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Funds will go to seven schools that meet specific federal criteria and have low levels of proficiency in reading and math and a low level of improvement. Any unused funds will be carried over for more schools identified next year.

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Certified Seed Forms for Mainecare

ADMINISTRATIVE LETTER: 2
POLICY CODE: DIC

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Maine Submits Race to the Top Application

State in running for up to $75m in education reform funds

AUGUSTA – The Maine Department of Education’s Race to the Top application arrived at the U.S. Department of Education Tuesday morning.

The application represents months of work collecting data and organizing the Department’s work to demonstrate its vision for education and education reform in Maine. The state hopes to win a share of the $4 billion available through the federal initiative aimed at reform; if Maine wins, it could receive up to $75 million over four years for efforts to improve data systems, improve teaching and learning, turn around low achieving schools, and further improve the state’s already-strong standards and assessments.

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Maine on Track in Education Race

A stakeholder group removes the last barrier in the Race to the Top application

AUGUSTA – A stakeholder group representing teachers, principals and other educators took action on Wednesday making it possible for Maine to complete its application for up to $75 million in federal education reform funds.

Dozens of school districts have already agreed to participate in Maine’s Race to the Top application with more expected by Friday’s deadline. The stakeholder group’s action – approving the first of several teacher and principal evaluation systems – removes the last barrier to Maine’s application. Gov. John Baldacci established the group by executive order to expedite the work.

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Waiver Extension Gives Schools Flexibility

Schools would not have to raise minimum local required share for 2010-11

AUGUSTA – In an effort to give local school systems more flexibility in responding to the anticipated 2010-2011 reduction in state funding, the Maine Department of Education has proposed extending protections for local taxpayers that were in this year’s budget proposal.

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