The Maine DOE will continue school site visits into June to provide targeted technical assistance for proficiency-based extension options five and six.
Continue reading “Maine DOE continues site visits to support proficiency-based efforts”
Category: Instruction
Newly released ACCESS for ELLs® score reports a resource for supporting students
The Maine DOE is reminding schools that the ACCESS for ELLs® score reports received earlier this month can be used to determine if individual English learners are meeting expected English language proficiency growth.
Continue reading “Newly released ACCESS for ELLs® score reports a resource for supporting students”
Commissioner’s Update – April 23, 2015
From the Maine Department of Education
The Maine DOE is recognizing 21 schools across the state for their high performance or progress as measured by the State’s federally required accountability system.
As part of Maine’s approved application for flexibility under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA or No Child Left Behind), the State received a waiver to implement its own plan to improve educational outcomes for all students, close achievement gaps and increase the quality of instruction through the implementation of its own tiered statewide system of support. By reviewing annual progress and student proficiency, schools are placed into one of five categories: priority, focus, monitor, progressing and meeting, allowing the Department to most intensively target support to the schools that need it most.
Just as Maine’s system allows the Department to identify schools that most need improvement support, it also recognizes those showing the greatest levels of improvement and performance.
Notices and Reporting
- SPPS Report on Transition to a Proficiency-Based System, due July 1 (Reminder)
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News & Views
Maine DOE specialists support improvement initiatives at newly identified schools
The Department’s School Improvement Team is continuing to provide support and technical assistance to help raise student achievement at the state’s schools, including those recently identified as priority, focus and monitor under Maine’s federally required accountability system. | More
Maine DOE seeks readers for 21st CCLC grant competition
The Maine DOE is seeking qualified grant readers for its upcoming 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) grant application review process. | More
Maine Arts Commission seeks teacher leaders for assessment initiative
The Maine Arts Commission is inviting visual and performing arts teachers to consider being a teacher leader with the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative (MAAI), phase 5. | More
Maine School Nutrition Association dishes out top director, manager awards
The Maine School Nutrition Association (MSNA) has honored RSU 13 Director of School Nutrition Charles Butler as Director of the Year and Portland Public Schools Nutrition Manager Nancy McAdam as Manager of the Year. | More
State releases school-based modules on tick and mosquito diseases and prevention
New modules on tick and mosquito diseases and prevention that were developed by the Maine CDC Division of Infectious Disease with input from the Maine DOE are now available to the state’s schools. | More
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LATEST DOE Career/Project Opportunities
Maine DOE recognizes reward schools
The Maine DOE is recognizing 21 schools across the state for their high performance or progress as measured by the State’s federally required accountability system. Continue reading “Maine DOE recognizes reward schools”
Department releases reporting requirement, resources to help Special Purpose Private Schools support pathways to proficiency
The Maine DOE is providing the state’s Special Purpose Private Schools (SPPS) with new resources so their students are better positioned on the pathway to proficiency.
Commissioner’s Update – April 16, 2015
From the Maine Department of Education
The Maine DOE is encouraging educators to attend the Fostering Financial Education in Maine Schools conference on May 1 at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.
The conference, which is hosted by the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, is intended for educators, administrators and counselors who are interested in improving the financial capability of Maine students. The event will feature free financial education resources for K-12 and college-age students with a variety of workshops presented by classroom teachers and financial literacy experts.
As part of Maine DOE’s ongoing efforts to support financial education, the Department’s Social Studies Specialist Kristie Littlefield will be conducting a session.
Notices and Reporting
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News & Views
Governor LePage supports SEALSfit Program, allocates $16,000 from contingency fund
Governor Paul R. LePage announced this month he is allocating $16,000 to the SEALSfit youth leadership program. | More
SAT irregularity reports due April 17
The College Board is reminding Test Center Supervisors at Maine schools that participated in the April 15 SAT School Day Administration and have their make-up date on April 29, that they must submit any irregularity reports to ETS by Friday, April 17. | More
2015 Educator Talent Pool recommendations due May 1
The Maine DOE is accepting recommendations for the 2015 Maine Educator Talent Pool through May 1. | More
Department announces reporting requirement, resources to help Special Purpose Private Schools support pathways to proficiency
The Maine DOE is providing the state’s Special Purpose Private Schools (SPPS) with new resources so their students are better positioned on the pathway to proficiency. | More
Webinar to overview School Improvement Grant process for eligible schools
The Maine DOE has submitted its federal application for continued School Improvement Grant (SIG) funding. If approved for the sixth straight year, the Department would receive funding to distribute to help the state’s most struggling schools. | More
Maine DOE trains 28 districts in language of science
The Maine DOE ESL/Bilingual Programs recently provided training for 28 school districts in developing and using language effectively to make connections between science language and science concepts. | More
May 20 workshop to focus on supporting young children with autism
The Maine DOE is encouraging educators to attend a May 20 workshop entitled Language and Communication for Young Children with Autism. | More
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2015 Educator Talent Pool recommendations due May 1
The Maine DOE is accepting recommendations for the 2015 Maine Educator Talent Pool through May 1.
Continue reading “2015 Educator Talent Pool recommendations due May 1”
Educators invited to 6th annual financial education conference
The Maine DOE is encouraging educators to attend the Fostering Financial Education in Maine Schools conference on May 1 at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.
Continue reading “Educators invited to 6th annual financial education conference”
Maine DOE trains 28 districts in language of science
The Maine DOE ESL/Bilingual Programs recently provided training for 28 school districts in developing and using language effectively to make connections between science language and science concepts in the science classroom.
Continue reading “Maine DOE trains 28 districts in language of science”
Commissioner’s Update – April 9, 2015
From the Maine Department of Education
AUGUSTA – Maine’s high school graduation rate has hit an all-time high, as has the percentage of students who are either economically disadvantaged or have a disability and are earning their diploma in four years.
According to newly released data from the Maine Department of Education, 86.48 percent of the students who entered the ninth grade in the fall of 2010 graduated on time in 2014. That’s up just slightly from 86.36 percent in 2013 and well above the 80.3 percent graduation rate reached in 2009-2010 when the current calculation method was introduced.
In announcing the rising rate, Maine’s Acting Education Commissioner Tom Desjardin said he is especially encouraged to see the state make such progress in narrowing achievement gaps though he urged more work must be done.
“All children can learn and deserve equal opportunity to do so in our schools,” Desjardin said. “I want to thank Maine’s educators for their hard work in supporting an increasing number of historically academically disadvantaged students find success. Moving forward, we must continue to improve both our graduation rate and the value of the diplomas awarded by our schools so that every student leaves with the foundation they need to achieve their full potential.”
Notices and Reporting
- Qualified Zone Academy Bond (QZAB), due April 17 (Reminder)
More Notices | Administrative Letters | Reporting Calendar
News & Views
Maine student artwork selected for MLTI screensavers
Twenty-one student artists will have an audience of more than 70,000 students and educators for their artwork starting this fall. | More
Maine DOE releases online public preschool application
The Maine DOE has created a new online application form that will make it easier for districts to apply for State approval of new or expanding public preschool programs. | More
Maine DOE seeks surrogate parents to support students with disabilities
The Maine DOE is seeking volunteers to serve as surrogate parents for children with disabilities in educational matters. | More
Maine DOE helps expand internet access in rural Washington County
Maine DOE’s Learning Through Technology Team was in Washington County last week to lend its support for the “Check-out the Internet” event at Cherryfield Free Public Library. | More
Department offers webinars in advance of ELL assessment
The Maine DOE is providing two webinars this spring to assist schools as they prepare for the 2015-16 administration of the computer-based English language proficiency assessment, ACCESS for ELLs 2.0. | More
Migrant Education Program’s Blueberry Harvest School wins state environmental award
The Blueberry Harvest School has been named the winner of the Maine Environmental Education Association Excellence in Environmental Education Program Award. | More
Maine team drives away champions of national bus roadeo
Lisa Gadway and Gregg McGoff from the Fairfield-based MSAD 49 recently earned first place for their performance in the 18th Annual National Special Needs Team Safety Roadeo. | More
April 13 webinar overviews federal student privacy laws
The Maine DOE is encouraging district staff to review the Privacy Technical Assistance Center’s latest guidance document: Protecting Student Privacy While Using Online Educational Services: Model Terms of Service during a webinar on Monday, April 13. | More
Maine DOE provides nutrition equipment assistance
The Department is encouraging schools to apply for their share of the $75,542 that Maine has been awarded in food service equipment assistance. | More
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LATEST DOE Career/Project Opportunities
- Education Specialist II – Office of Special Services
- Public Service Coordinator I – Coordinator of Finance and Data – Special Education
- Request for Proposal: Maine College Transition Services
- Request for Proposal: 21st Century Community Learning Center Program
- View current Child Development Services employment opportunities here
Maine DOE Newsroom 