Bowen testimony in support of educator effectiveness bill

The Maine Legislature’s Education Committee held a public hearing March 14 on legislation that takes a number of steps to ensure an effective corps of teachers and school leaders who are well prepared to enter the classroom and receive regular feedback that helps them improve their practice.

Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen delivered the following testimony supporting LD 1858, An Act to Ensure Effective Teaching and School Leadership. Continue reading “Bowen testimony in support of educator effectiveness bill” →

Bill would increase access to career and technical education

AUGUSTA – The Legislature’s Education Committee will take up legislation today that would make it easier for high school students to take courses at Career and Technical Education schools, and to get credit for those courses from their own high schools and community colleges.

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Bill language released for education proposals

Note: This dispatch was updated on March 7 at 4:57 p.m. to update information about public hearings.

Bill language is now available for four pieces of education-related legislation proposed this winter by Gov. Paul LePage.

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Session offers ideas for charter schools

From the Maine State Charter School Commission.

PORTLAND — The Maine State Charter School Commission held the first of three public input sessions on Monday, March 5 in Portland. About 55 members of the public turned out to suggest educational gaps in their regions that charter schools could potentially fill.

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Massabesic’s wellness revolution lets students direct learning

EAST WATERBORO — How do we teach others to make decisions that allow them to live healthier lives?

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Casco Bay class challenges students to turn passion into business

Submitted by Portland Public Schools.

PORTLAND — Margo Arruda, a senior at Casco Bay High School, fell in love with the Harry Potter and “Lord of the Rings” books as a young child. “From the time I was 10,” she says, “I could navigate Middle Earth better than my hometown.”

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Arts assessment initiative going strong

Regional workshops and regular webinars are continuing throughout the state as more arts teachers are trained to make assessment in arts education an integral part of the work they do to deepen student learning.

The work is part of the ongoing Maine Arts Education Assessment Initiative.

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AP4ALL course registration opens March 5

The Maine Department of Education’s AP4ALL program will offer 14 online Advanced Placement classes during the 2012-13 school year. Registration for those courses begins March 5.

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Starting the serious work of crafting a new accountability system

Author icon: Head shot of Commissioner Stephen Bowen When we took to the road in December, we wanted to hear what the public had to say about the system we use to hold our schools accountable. And hear from the public we did. We had more than 1,500 people respond to an online survey; several dozen turned out at public forums in Bangor, Portland and online.