Commissioner’s Update – January 15, 2015

From the Maine Department of Education

The Maine DOE is releasing additional new resources to support the development and implementation of Performance Evaluation and Professional Growth (PEPG) systems. The new resources build upon those released last month and include Leader Evaluation and Professional Growth (LEPG) modules and a presentation specifically for special educators.

Among the previously released resources were educator training modules produced in collaboration with American Institutes of Research and the Department has now additionally added the last three modules in the State LEPG module series. Though each of the modules is aligned with the details of the State PEPG model for teachers or the State PEPG model for principals, they can be adapted by local districts as needed. The modules are located on the State Teacher PEPG and State Principal PEPG pages of the Educator Effectiveness website.

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News & Views

Maine DOE publishes applied learning lesson plans

The Department has published 30 lesson plans that support hands-on, applied learning for Maine’s middle school students. | More

Connecting classroom to math assessment focus of February Department workshops

The Maine DOE is inviting math educators to one of the six workshops the Department will host across the state next month focused on connecting the classroom to the new online Maine Education Assessment developed by Smarter Balanced. | More

EPS Commission releases final report

The Commission to Strengthen the Adequacy and Equity of Certain Cost Components of the School Funding Formula has released its final report. | More

Educators invited to Maine DOE winter wellness workshop

The Maine DOE is hosting a one-day workshop next month focused on supporting the development and implementation of successful school-based health promotion programs. | More

Department webinar to overview new assessment accommodations

The Maine DOE will host a webinar on Jan. 23 to overview the features and accommodations that will be available with the new online Maine Educational Assessment for Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy developed by Smarter Balanced. | More

U.S. Office of Civil Rights releases guidance on the obligations to EL students

The Maine DOE is encouraging review of new guidance released by the U.S. Office of Civil Rights on the obligations to English learner students. | More

Department reminds schools of pest control reporting, upcoming training

The Maine DOE is reminding all schools serving K-12 students that they are required to appoint a staff member to be the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Coordinator. | More

Department reminds district leaders EDFacts Staff Survey past due

The Department is asking districts that have not yet completed their 2013-14 EDFacts Annual Academic Staff Survey to do so before the statewide data is uploaded to the U.S. Department of Education. | More

iOS 8 compatible secure browser for assessment available soon

The Maine DOE is aware that the secure browser application that will be used for the administration of the Maine Educational Assessment for Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy developed by Smarter Balanced is currently not compatible with iOS 8. | More

January is Invite Your Maine Legislator to School Month

Schools are encouraged to invite legislators to visit classrooms and meet with teachers, administrators and students this month. | More

Maine students selected for United States Senate Youth Program

Two Maine students will travel to Washington, D.C. for a week in March to serve as delegates to the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP). | More

Bucksport High School recognized for academic excellence

Bucksport High School has been honored as a National BARR School of Academic Excellence. | More

Nominations due Feb. 1 for Maine’s History Teacher of the Year

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, Preserve America and the History Channel annually recognize outstanding American history teachers at the state and national levels. | More

College For Every Student awards to help underserved students become college, career ready

College For Every Student (CFES) has received funding to provide five low-income middle or high schools with Closing the Gap awards. | More

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LATEST DOE Career/Project Opportunities

Maine DOE releases new educator effectiveness resources

The Maine DOE is releasing additional new resources to support the development and implementation of Performance Evaluation and Professional Growth (PEPG) systems. The new resources build upon those released last month and include Leader Evaluation and Professional Growth (LEPG) modules and a presentation specifically for special educators.

Continue reading “Maine DOE releases new educator effectiveness resources”

Maine DOE publishes applied learning lesson plans

The Department has published 30 lesson plans that support hands-on, applied learning for Maine’s middle school students.

Creation of the lesson plans, which have been delivered in classrooms across the state and are now additionally available on the Department’s website, was led by Jobs for Maine’s Graduates. Each lesson has been aligned with the Maine Career and Technical Education (CTE) Career Clusters to allow for a relevant connection to the applied learning opportunity.

Continue reading “Maine DOE publishes applied learning lesson plans”

Nominations due Feb. 1 for Maine’s History Teacher of the Year

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, Preserve America and the History Channel annually recognize outstanding American history teachers at the state and national levels. Nominees may be any full-time educators of grades K-12 who teach American history (as a separate subject or through social studies, language arts and other subjects). State winners receive a $1,000 prize and an archive of classroom resources. One national winner receives a $10,000 prize. 

Continue reading “Nominations due Feb. 1 for Maine’s History Teacher of the Year”

Department releases new online resources to support spring MEA administration

The Maine DOE continues to support schools as they prepare for a successful spring administration of the new online Maine Educational Assessment for Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy and has recently added new resources to its website.

Continue reading “Department releases new online resources to support spring MEA administration”

Alternate assessment for mathematics and ELA dates set, resources released

User and student registration will open next month for the National Center and State Collaborative Alternate Assessment based on Alternate Standards (NCSC AA-AAS) that will be used to assess mathematics and English language arts.

Continue reading “Alternate assessment for mathematics and ELA dates set, resources released”