U.S. Department of Education Acts on School Safety Report Recommendation to Improve Understanding of Student Privacy Law

The U.S. Department of Education released a comprehensive set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) on schools’ and districts’ responsibilities under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) in the context of school safety.

The Federal Commission on School Safety (FCSS) released an in-depth report last December, which observed that “substantial misunderstanding remains at the local level among officials and educators concerning (FERPA), and in particular its application to school-based threats.”

This FAQ document, titled, School Resource Officers, School Law Enforcement Units and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), consolidates previously issued guidance and technical assistance into a single resource to help raise schools’ and districts’ awareness of these provisions.

The document consists of 37 commonly asked questions about schools’ and school districts’ responsibilities under FERPA relating to disclosures of student information to school resource officers (SROs), law enforcement units and others, and seeks to explain and clarify how FERPA protects student privacy while ensuring the health and safety of students and others in the school community.

The FAQ document includes answers to common FERPA questions involving school safety, such as:

Can law enforcement unit officials who are off-duty police officers or SROs be considered school officials under FERPA and, therefore, have access to students’ education records?
Does FERPA permit schools and districts to disclose education records, without consent, to outside law-enforcement officials who serve on a school’s threat assessment team?
When is it permissible for schools or districts to disclose student education records under FERPA’s health or safety emergency exception?
Does FERPA permit school officials to release information that they personally observed or of which they have personal knowledge?

The full FAQ document can be found here.

For additional information on the meetings, field visits, listening sessions, roundtables and other resources used to produce the FCSS report, please visit the U.S. DOE’s school safety website.

Bullying Prevention: Online Professional Development

Through a collaborative effort with Safe Schools, an industry leader in K-12 school safety, the Maine DOE is providing all schools free, equitable access to professional development that addresses Maine’s anti-bullying law. The professional development course, Bullying: Recognition & Response, specifically highlights An Act to Prohibit Bullying and Cyberbullying in Schools and addresses the proper use of Maine DOE’s model bullying policy and procedures, which can be found here.

Bullying: Recognition & Response is an online video that is 67 minutes in length and is divided into 7 sections, with a quiz at the end. The video can be shown to a large group, small groups, or viewed individually. Delivery of the video should be done in a way that best meets the staff’s professional development needs and is responsive to the school district’s efforts to address bullying.

To access this professional development, district or school leadership should contact Justin Moore, justin.moore@vectorsolutions.com, or Allison Byndas, allison.byndas@vectorsolutions.com at Safe Schools.

For more information related to bullying prevention efforts in Maine schools, please contact Sarah Adkins, Student Assistance Coordinator, at sarah.adkins@maine.gov or 624-6685.

School Safety and Security Bulletin: Planning for those with Access and Functional Needs

Throughout the 2018- 2019 school year, the Maine Department of Education, State Fire Marshal’s Office, Department of Health and Human Services, Maine State Police, Maine Sheriffs Association, Maine Chiefs of Police Association, and the Maine Emergency Management Agency will provide tips and resource information to Maine schools to help provide some guidance for identifying signs and preventing school violence.

School Safety and Security Bulletin – February 2019

Planning for those with Access and Functional Needs (PDF)

Further questions and inquiries can be send to Pat Hinckley, Maine DOE Transportation and Facilities Administrator at pat.hinckley@maine.gov.

Rural Maine Attendance Summit to be held April 11

Rural Maine Attendance is hosting small school districts from across the state for a day-long summit held at gather at Jeff’s Catering in Brewer on April 11th, 2019 with experts from across the state to talk about ways to improve chronic absenteeism in rural schools.

This summit will help generate more tools, and allow for the exchanging of ideas regarding the growing issues that are keeping kids from accessing school. Any and all rural Maine school districts with less than 1,000 (or so) students are invited to this conference.

Groups of people (two or more) from districts are welcome to attend and/or staff that deal with attendance issues such as Social Workers, Guidance, Principals, Lead Teachers, etc.

For more information visit the Rural Maine Attendance website.

New Webinar Recording Available for Administrators on the Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Model Policy

The Children’s Safety Partnership is pleased to announce that the Maine’s Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Education Model Policy Overview Webinar is now available online.

You can click here to access the webinar or find the link on www.childrenssafetypartnership.org website under the Trainings button.

This webinar focuses on how to implement the new child sexual abuse prevention law, including the policy, personnel trainings and curriculum lessons. The intended audience includes school administrators and other school personnel overseeing the implementation of the policy. Please feel free to share widely!

If you have any questions, contact Susan Berry at susan.berry@maine.gov or Katie MacDonald at kathryn@mecasa.org.

2019 Winter Wellness Workshop Day: PUTTING WELLNESS CENTER STAGE!

The Maine Schoolsite Health Promotion Program, a program of the Maine Department of Education is offering this professional development opportunity, 2019 Winter Wellness Workshop Day: PUTTING WELLNESS CENTER STAGE!, to support health promotion and wellness for staff and positively impacting school and student health.

This event is Friday, March 1 from 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Senator Inn in Augusta (Directions) for $30 (lunch included) per person.

This workshop will provide a forum for school personnel and supporters of school employee wellness programs to:

learn keys to successful schoolsite health promotion and wellness programs;
gather and share new and true resources, strategies, and ideas to support and promote wellness programs; and
network and share successes with like-minded people regarding school employee wellness programs.

Presentations at this year’s workshop offer insights from school and wellness leaders, key components for successful programs, resources, tools, and engaging opportunities to learn. Past participants have told us the day is… Motivational, Informational, Inspiring and Energizing!

Click here to register now!
(Please note the Maine Dept. of Education now requires credit card payment for all workshops.) Groups can register together. Contact Hours Available. Attendees are requested to bring an electronic device if available.

If you have questions, email susan.berry@maine.gov.

National School Counseling Week 2019 – School Counselors: Providing Lessons for Life

natl school counsel week February 4 – 8, 2019 is National School Counseling Week, please celebrate your school counselor(s)!

The American School Counselor Association has ideas for activities that will bring attention to the great work that your school counselor does to support students. Check out the ASCA website for ideas.

On February 7 from 2:00-4:00 in the Hall of Flags, Maine’s School Counselors will be recognized. Nicole Hatch, President, Maine School Counselor Association, and Kelly O’Brien, 2017-18 Maine School Counselor of the Year, will be amongst the speakers to share what Maine’s school counselors do to help and support all Maine students. All are welcome.

For more information about the role of the school counselor, you may contact Sarah Adkins, Student Assistance Coordinator at sarah.adkins@maine.gov or 207-624-6685

Upcoming Integrated Pest Management (IMP) Workshops

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry’s Maine School IPM Program has announced the Winter/Spring 2019 workshop schedule. Are you new to IPM? Or want a refresher on Maine’s school IPM requirements? Need IPM Continuing Education credits? Does your custodial and maintenance staff need training on how to keep pests out and deal with them when they arrive? Register and attend one of the workshops below.

Date	Time	Program
Feb 20, 2019	8:00am-11:00am	Comprehensive IPM Workshop. Gardiner Area High School. Register Here.
Feb 21, 2019	9am-noon	Comprehensive IPM Workshop. Lincoln Academy Register Here.
Apr 16, 2019	9am-noon	Comprehensive IPM Workshop. Rangeley Lake Regional HS. Register Here.
Apr 17, 2019	9am-noon	Comprehensive IPM Workshop. Noble HS, North Berwick. Register Here.
Apr 18, 2019	9am-noon	Comprehensive IPM Workshop. Elm Street School, East Machias. Register Here.
May 14, 2019	8am-11am	Comprehensive IPM Workshop. Glenburn School. Glenburn. Register Here.
May 15, 2019	10am-1pm	Comprehensive IPM Workshop. Region Two Technical School. Houlton. Register Here.
May 16, 2019	8am-11am	Comprehensive IPM Workshop. VanBuren Schools. Van Buren. Register Here.

Questions? Contact Kathy Murray at kathy.murray@maine.gov or 287-7616.

MEDIA RELEASE: Maine DOE Seeks Community Partners to Help Feed Hungry Children This Summer

With the assistance of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Maine public schools have long offered a nutritious breakfast and lunch meal program to thousands of income eligible children in Maine during the school year. To extend this program, Maine Department of Education Child Nutrition (Maine DOE) is seeking organizations who would like to participate in the federally funded Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), which provides children healthy meals when school is not in session.

“Hunger doesn’t take a summer vacation. More than 46% of Maine’s public school students qualify for free and reduced price meals,” said Maine Department of Education Acting Commissioner A. Pender Makin. “The Maine DOE is pleased to once again partner with community organizations to provide meals for kids this summer.”

In 2018, 123 sponsors participated in the program, serving meals at 450 sites throughout the state. Although the number of sponsors continues to grow in Maine, there is still a long way to go towards feeding all eligible children during the summer. Community partners are working to maximize the number of sponsors utilizing the availability of funds under the SFSP.

SFSP may be offered statewide in areas or at sites where more than 50 percent of the children are eligible for free or reduced meal benefits under the National School Lunch Program or census track data supports the need. Organizations that provide services in rural communities or near migrant farm workers and tribal populations are urged to participate. Eligible sponsoring organizations include schools, nonprofit residential summer camps, government agencies, and tax-exempt organizations including faith-based organizations.

Maine DOE encourages any eligible organization to consider providing this much-needed service to Maine children. The agency will begin accepting applications to participate in February. Approved sponsors will be reimbursed for eligible meals served to children during the long summer break.

Interested organizations should begin planning now for a successful summer. Potential sponsors are required to attend training sessions. For a complete schedule of trainings, please visit https://www.maine.gov/doe/schools/nutrition/resources/calendar. Maine DOE is available to attend meetings or consult by phone and email to answer questions regarding summer meals.

For more information about the Maine DOE’s Summer Food Service Program, contact adriane.ackroyd@maine.gov, call 624-6726 or visit https://www.maine.gov/doe/schools/nutrition/programs/sfsp.

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In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the Agency ere they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, heard of hearing, or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or

(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

The Maine Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, religion, ancestry or national origin.

To file a complaint of discrimination, write Maine Human Rights Commission, 51 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0051. Maine is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

School Health Annual Report Summary for 2017-18

The Department of Education is pleased to announce the release of the School Health Annual Report summary for 2017-18. This report is a combination of the required reporting for Maine and optional data that is being collected as part of the national initiative with the National Association of School Nurses, Every Student Counts™. Collecting school health data informs local, state, and national student health policy and helps to promote best practices in school health services. Creating data driven polices to advocate for the needs of students, we can increase evidence-based school nursing practice and improve youth health outcomes.

To highlight a few points of interest in the report, students seen by a registered nurse in the health office returned back to class 91% of the time, compared to only 85% when seen by a health aide or unlicensed person in the school. There were 41 reports of epinephrine being administered in Maine schools for suspected anaphylaxis. 29% of those were for a peanut allergy and 25% were to people with a previously undiagnosed life threatening allergy.

As a reminder, there will be a change in the way this report is collected starting with the report for 2018-19. In the past, this report has been done by each school. The reporting link will be sent to the superintendent listed in NEO for each district, who will need to select and forward it to one point person to be responsible for compiling and submitting the data from all schools within the SAU.

The following is a list of the data points that are being collected:

Number of students screened for distance acuity, near acuity, and hearing in the required grades and the number of students referred/number of students with completed referral (required reporting per Chapter 45)
Summary of epinephrine administration (required reporting per Chapter 40)
Staffing levels for health services (direct services, supplemental staff, special assignments, supervisory position provided by RN, LPN, and health aides)
Number of students with a diagnosis (from a health care provider) of asthma, type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, seizure disorder, life threatening allergy
Health office visits & disposition (number of students seen face to face by RN, LPN, health aide and resulting disposition: return to class, sent home, or 911 call)

If you have questions about the School Health Annual Report or Every Student Counts™, please contact the School Nurse Consultant, Emily.Poland@Maine.gov or 207-624-6688, or visit the Every Student Counts™ Website.