MEDIA RELEASE: Statement Regarding Recommendations for Extended Remote Learning

On Tuesday evening, April 7, 2020, Commissioner of Education Pender Makin, with the support of Governor Mills, made the recommendation to Maine schools to extend their remote learning plans until the end of the current school year.

“School classrooms are closed, but schools are not,” said Commissioner Makin. “The dedicated educators and staff are still providing educational continuity, nutrition services, and even emotional support and counseling services through remote/distance learning and teleservices. During this state of emergency, many familiar systems and supports in our society have been upended, leaving people feeling disoriented. Maine’s schools are providing deeply necessary connections, reliable services, and are – in fact – holding the fabric of our communities together.”

Commissioner Makin acknowledged closing school buildings was a difficult decision made only after consultation with the experts, including guidance from the national and local CDC. She confirmed that the Maine Department of Education has been in daily consultation with Maine CDC and with Dr. Shah regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are looking forward to the eventual development of a process for determining when it might be safe to resume in-person classroom instruction. Because we continue to see double-digit increases each day in the number of new cases in our state, the metrics for determining this have not yet been developed,” Makin said.

Commissioner Makin said she announced her recommendation now in order to give families and schools time to plan and provide alternative ways to celebrate and conduct end-of-year events.

“School administrators, staff, students, and communities deserve as accurate a picture as we can provide with respect to this evolving situation, and it will require a longer term continuation of remote instruction,” she said.

Makin said Maine has joined the other states who have either mandated or recommended schools not return to in-class instruction for the year. “This is difficult on everyone, but necessary to protect the health and safety of students, school staff, and community members,” she said.

MEDIA RELEASE: Maine DOE Delivers Donated Devices to Piscataquis County Schools

The Maine Department of Education delivered wifi enabled Samsung Tab A’s with a 12 month Verizon service to Piscataquis county schools yesterday afternoon, in a effort that is helping students in the area with their school work while they are engaged in remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 500 devices were procured through a collection of donations, and are being offered in Piscataquis County first because data shows they have the highest percentage of students without connectivity. Yesterday’s deployment will cover all of the need for students in the county, and remaining devices will be quickly deployed to the county/school district with the next highest percentage of students without internet.

“We are so grateful to the Department of Education for the research they did and realizing that Piscataquis county has the least connectivity of any county,” said RSU 68 Superintendent Stacy Shorey. “These devices will allow all of our students to connect not only with their teachers but with each other.”

As part of this pilot program, the Maine DOE surveyed building principals across Maine to identify needs, and are working to procure device and hotspots for all students that need them as quickly as possible. Maine DOE Coordinator of Secondary Education and Integrated Instruction Beth Lambert, who delivered the devices yesterday, has been working with Maine DOE Chief Innovation Officer Page Nichols and a team at the DOE to research, procure, and deploy the devices.

Jessica Dunton, SAD 4 Assistant Principal and Tech Director and Matthew Larrabee, IT Director for SeDoMoCha were both on hand to receive the devices yesterday at two drop off locations. From there, arrangements will be made to get the devices into the hands of students who need them.

“My favorite moment during this remote learning experience was being in Mr. Miller’s 4th grade classroom the first time they participated in a Google Meet last week. He had scheduled 30 minutes and was experienced enough to realize that they needed 26 minutes just to say hi to each other. He used his last four minutes to clearly articlulate three things he wanted his students to know,” added Shorey. “We are so excited here at SeDoMoCha to now be able to give all of our students this common experience.”

For further information about this pilot program Beth Lambert can be reached at beth.lambert@maine.gov and Page Nichols can be reached at page.nichols@maine.gov.

PRIORITY NOTICE: Virtual Meeting Schedule – Tuesday 4/7

Virtual office hour schedule for Tuesday, April 7, 2020

The Maine Department of Education continues to schedule virtual office hours with Department Specialist to support educators and administrators during extended remote learning. During these meetings, our specialists will be available to provide support and guidance regarding distance learning and school supports, as well as to facilitate networking and resource sharing between educators.

As a reminder, virtual meeting schedules are regularly updated on this web page: https://www.maine.gov/doe/covid-19/contentmeetings. The Department will continue scheduling content specific office hours as needed.

Please note that Department staff hosting the virtual meetings have ramped up security measures to keep out participants that are attempting to hack into the meetings for reasons other than to participate in education related conversations.

Virtual Office Hours:

(Please note: some meetings have a 100 person max capacity.)

TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020

FOCUS AREA	SPECIALIST	TIME	MEETING INFO	CONTACT INFO
Brain Centered Emotional Support	Kellie Bailey	8:30	https://zoom.us/j/689251005	kellie.bailey@maine.gov
Health Education	Susan Berry and Jean Zimmerman	8:30	https://zoom.us/j/387550607 See email from Susan Berry for password or request password from Susan	susan.berry@maine.gov
A Teacher Perspective on Teaching About Maine Native Americans	Joe Schmidt w/ Melanie Brown/Ellsworth MS	9:00	Contact Joe Schmidt for meeting link and password	joe.schmidt@maine.gov
VISUAL ART K-12 Office Hour	Jason Anderson	10:00	Links and passwords are emailed nightly through the VPA Listserv	jason.anderson@maine.gov
School Counseling: Open Office Hours	Bear Shea	10:00	https://zoom.us/j/598318140	w.bear.shea@maine.gov
Special Education: Updates/K-12	Special Ed Consultants	10:00	https://networkmaine.zoom.us/j/961272533	roberta.lucas@maine.gov
Adult Education Office Hours	Megan Dichter	10:00	https://zoom.us/j/475000964	megan.dichter@maine.gov
Elementary Literacy	Danielle Saucier	10:00	Please email Danielle (Dee) for a link and passcode.	danielle.m.saucier@maine.gov
SPPS/SAC	Mary Adley	10:00	https://networkmaine.zoom.us/j/461510694	tracy.w.whitlock@maine.gov
MUSIC, 9-12 Office Hour	Jason Anderson	11:00	Links and passwords are emailed nightly through the VPA Listserv	jason.anderson@maine.gov
Meet & Learn with the Maine Secretary of State	Joe Schmidt/ w/ Secretary Dunlap	11:00	Contact Joe Schmidt for meeting link and password	joe.schmidt@maine.gov
Digital Learning – Best Practices Around Video Conferencing	Jon Graham & Emma Banks	11:00	https://zoom.us/j/830817204	jonathan.m.graham@maine.gov
School Nursing	Emily Poland	11:00	https://networkmaine.zoom.us/j/615139238 Password required, please email Emily.	emily.poland@maine.gov
Resources for Teaching Personal Finance & Economics	Joe Schmidt w/ Mary Dyer/FAME & Maine Jump$tart	1:00	Contact Joe Schmidt for meeting link and password	joe.schmidt@maine.gov
Google Classroom Support (using the “classwork” tab)	Jason Anderson, VPA Specialist	1:00 (90 minute session)	https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEtduqvpz4rbLb0OxW-SFPygzCp4FWgBw	jason.anderson@maine.gov
PK-12 Social Studies Office Hour	Joe Schmidt	2:00	Contact Joe Schmidt for meeting link and password	joe.schmidt@maine.gov
Physical Education	Jean Zimmerman and Susan Berry	2:30	https://zoom.us/j/411897271 See email from Susan Berry for password or request password from Susan	susan.berry@maine.gov
Brain Centered Emotional Support	Bear Shea	3:30	https://zoom.us/j/689251005	bear.shea@maine.gov
Google Classroom Support (using the “classwork” tab)	Jason Anderson, VPA Specialist	3:00 (90 minute session)	https://zoom.us/meeting/register/v5UsfumsrjwriKFIpB-H1v3uJDMCzSUDkA	jason.anderson@maine.gov
Digital Learning – Best Practices in Video Tutorials and Self-Recording	Jon Graham & Emma Banks	3:00	https://zoom.us/j/830817204	jonathan.m.graham@maine.gov
Grades 6-12 ELA Professional Learning: Text-Based Questions and Feedback	Morgan Dunton	3:00	Contact Morgan for link and password	morgan.dunton@maine.gov

MEDIA RELEASE: Maine DOE Increases Flexibility to School Meal Programs Feeding Children in Need

Maine –With the approval of yet another waiver to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and additional bulk packaging options, the Maine Department of Education has been able to add significant flexibility to its school food service programs, enabling schools to provide meals to students all over Maine, increasing the potential to reach even more hungry children in a more meaningful way.

The first waiver obtained by the Maine DOE expanded the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) allowing school districts and community partners to provide meals to students during extended remote learning due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Today Maine DOE received approval for a waiver to the requirement that National School Lunch Program participants must have a population of at least 50% who receive free or reduced- meals. Maine DOE requested flexibility to locate meal distribution sites in areas that do not meet the 50% criteria to ensure that any child can receive the meals they normally would on a regular school day during unanticipated school closures related to COVID-19. To maintain children’s access to meals, and to support families experiencing financial hardship, Maine DOE requested to waive the area eligibility requirements under 7 CFR 225.6(c)(2)(i)(G). This was approved by the federal Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).

The Maine DOE has also been granted flexibility to the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), Summer Food Service Program, and the Child and Adult Care Food Program, allowing schools and community partners to prepare meals in bulk – multiple meals for several days in one package for children up to the age of 18.

Advanced planning of bulk meals is required to ensure that the meal pattern is met, and food will be stored and prepared in a safe manner. Bulk provisions would be provided for in home meal preparation.

Schools and community partners can now request approval from the Maine Child Nutrition team at the Maine Department of Education. For more information or to submit a request for an approval. Child.nutrition@maine.gov

###

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 (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard 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 complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, 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.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

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.

Complaints of discrimination must be filed at the office of the Maine Human Rights Commission, 51 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0051. If you wish to file a discrimination complaint electronically, visit the Human Rights Commission website at https://www.maine.gov/mhrc/file/instructions and complete an intake questionnaire. Maine is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

MEDIA RELEASE: Gorham High School Students Create Social Distancing PSA

In collaboration with the Maine Department of Education, Gorham High School students have created a Public Service Announcement (PSA) for at their peers, encouraging them to adhere to the Governor’s guidance to stay home during the COVID-19 emergency and help prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

The students worked virtually to create the video, which is now available on the Gorham School Department’s Facebook page and the Maine Department of Education’s YouTube Channel with closed captioning: GSH Student Social Distancing PSA (https://youtu.be/XY1fA6uRN8Q). A special thank you to GHS teacher Adam Parvanta, Maine’s 2019 Milken Award winner, for his help with this effort.

News media outlets can download the videos for distribution as public service announcements by using the following two links:

Maine Schools Providing Meals to Students During Extended Remote Learning; Interactive Map Now Available

Through a waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Maine Department of Education is able to extend the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) allowing school districts and community partners to provide meals to students during extended remote learning due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Through the SFSP, 160 district and community partners are preparing and providing meals and food for children. School districts and communities statewide are implementing many different methods to ensure every child (ages 0 – 18) in need of food is nourished during the current suspension of classroom-based instruction. These include approved locations for meal pick-up, utilizing bus routes to deliver meals, and providing baskets of food to families.

“Maine schools are going above and beyond to make sure that their students have access to food while schools are utilizing remote learning,” said Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin. “District and school leaders, teachers, and staff have collaboratively worked to meet the needs of students during this difficult and uncertain time, and we are so impressed with how quickly and efficiently it has all come together.”

The Department’s child nutrition team is processing SFSP applications on an ongoing basis. All school districts that are approved or in progress are serving meals. Many school districts that are ineligible (do not meet the 50% or more students receiving free or reduced lunch threshold) to participate in a SFSP have successfully partnered with regional school districts and community organizations to serve food to children. The interactive map will be updated daily. The interactive map of schools providing meals can be viewed here.

Districts interested in applying for the SFSP can do so by contacting the Maine DOE’s Child Nutrition Team.

“It doesn’t stop there. Many, if not most of our schools are distributing continued learning materials, educational packets, and other learning opportunities that keep students engaged while they are at home,” added Makin.

The Maine DOE has been scheduling and hosting daily content and topic specific virtual meetings with educators all week to provide support and guidance regarding distance learning and school supports, and to help facilitate networking and resource sharing between educators. Sessions are updated regularly on this webpage.

For details, regarding which meal option(s) is/are available in your community, please reach out to your local school district.

###

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

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.

MEDIA RELEASE: USDA Approves Waiver from Maine DOE to Allow Schools Flexibility in Meal Services During School Closures

The Maine Department of Education’s Child Nutrition Team today received approval for a waiver from United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Services. The waiver will allow schools the ability to provide meals offsite to students, if the school or community currently has, or qualifies for, a USDA Summer Food Service Program(SFSP). The Department of Education applied for the waiver as they continue to assist Maine schools in the proactive planning for a disruption to schools in the face of the concerns of COVID-19.

“Our schools are often a critical partner of Maine families to ensure that our children receive nutritious and consistent meals” said Department of Education Commissioner Pender Makin. “I am grateful for the advocacy of the Child Nutrition Team and for the response from USDA, allowing our schools to continue with this important work, regardless of any interruption that may occur due to school closings.”

The following information was included in the USDA’s notification approving the waiver:

These USDA supported meals are available at no cost to low-income children, and under the waiver granted today are not required to be served in a group setting (called congregate feeding), to ensure kids receive nutritious meals in the event schools are temporarily closed. Approved meal sponsors can then allow meals to be taken away from the site and consumed elsewhere, thereby allowing for social distancing.

In summary, the statewide waiver is to the National School Lunch Act congregate feeding requirement, it is effective immediately, and will continue through June 30, 2020 or upon expiration of the federally declared public health emergency, whichever is earlier.

Through the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program, Maine schools and communities provide children with access to nutritious meals and snacks at approved off-site locations when school is not in session, typically during the summer months. The waiver will extend those services to allow schools to make food available so that children can eat provided meals at home, increasing social distancing and improving general prevention strategies.

The waiver will provide schools with further flexibility in continuity of educational services to students, in the event they need to close their facilities or opt for remote school days.

Following approval of the waiver, the Maine DOE is working on further guidance to schools and will make that information available as soon as possible.

###

MEDIA ADVISORY: Maine DOE to Host Maine Visual and Performing Arts Education Showcase

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is pleased to invite the media to attend a celebration of the Maine Visual and Performing Arts Education Showcase, where the selected artwork of student visual artists and musicians from Mattanawcook Junior High School (RSU #67) will be recognized. Starting this month (February), these students’ works will be on exhibit throughout the Maine DOE, where they will remain until June. RSU #67 teachers, administrators, and families will be in attendance as artists are formally acknowledged by DOE staff, including Deputy Commissioner of Education Daniel Chuhta, and Maine State Board of Education Chairman Wilson Hess.

WHEN:
Friday, February 28, 2020 from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M.

WHERE:
Hall of Flags, Maine State House, 210 State Street, Augusta, Maine 04330

AGENDA:

Welcome: Jason Anderson, Visual & Performing Arts Specialist, Maine DOE
Musical Performance: Mattanawcook Junior High School Grade 4 Chorus
Remarks – Dan Chuhta, Deputy Commissioner of Education, Maine DOE
Musical Performance: Mattanawcook Junior High School Grade 4 Chorus
Recognition of Artists: Wilson Hess, Chair of the Maine State Board of Education; Daniel Chuhta, Deputy Commissioner of Education, Maine DOE; Jason Anderson, Visual & Performing Arts Specialist, Maine DOE
Closing and Group Photo
Guided Tour of Artwork

CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jason Anderson, Visual & Performing Arts Specialist, Maine Department of Education
Jason.anderson@maine.gov; 207.624.6824

MEDIA RELEASE: Maine DOE Launches #LoveTeaching Campaign on Valentine’s Day

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) today kicked off the national #LoveTeaching campaign in Maine. Running February 14th through February 21st, the #LoveTeaching Campaign is observed by educators around the country as an opportunity to celebrate teaching, leading, and learning in a way that unites and invigorates educators and those they inspire all around the world.

Every year, Valentine’s Day marks the beginning of a week-long conversation that aims to illuminate why teachers enter and remain in the field of education, offering a mindset shift from the seemingly singular focus on the challenges of the profession.

Starting today, we encourage educators across Maine to participate by using the #LoveTeaching hashtag on social media to share why they love teaching, either through a story, a moment, a memory, a picture, a quote, a phrase, or a simple explanation. Tag the Maine DOE at @mdoenews on Twitter and at @MaineDepartmentofEducation1 on Facebook so that we can share your teaching inspiration around our state!

To help get the conversation going, we are releasing this two and a half minute video, developed by the Maine Department of Education, starring 20 educators from across the State of Maine who explain why they teach:

In collaboration with the Maine Education Association, the Department is looking forward to hosting educators in Augusta next week to celebrate their profession and engage in meaningful conversations about teaching in Maine.

For further information about the #LoveTeaching campaign, please visit weloveteaching.org. Follow the conversation on Maine DOE’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

MEDIA RELEASE: Maine Launches Innovative Bicentennial Curriculum Initiative; An Opportunity 200 Years in the Making

The Maine Department of Education (DOE), in collaboration with the Maine Bicentennial Commission (maine200.org) and the Maine Historical Society has launched an online resource designed to help Maine teachers integrate Maine’s Bicentennial into their classrooms. The Bicentennial Curriculum Initiative enables educators to share their own lesson plans, download lesson plans created by other Maine teachers, and access new curriculum resources and primary documents related to Maine, its history, and culture.
This Initiative is supported by funding from Jane’s Trust and the Maine Bicentennial Commission.

Available through the Maine Memory Network, the statewide digital museum created by the Maine Historical Society features historical items, online exhibits, and stories contributed by 270 organizations across Maine, the Bicentennial Curriculum Initiative is a resource designed to encourage and support Maine’s pre-k through adult educators in sharing ideas and best practices for implementing engaging and effective lessons to commemorate Maine’s Bicentennial with Maine students. Educators are invited to visit the Bicentennial Education Initiative web page to search by grade level, topic, content area, standard, and other fields for incredible ideas on how to commemorate our State’s Bicentennial with students of all ages.

Today’s launch of the Bicentennial Curriculum Initiative opens the site for your contributions. Please consider uploading a lesson plan, browse the initial lesson plans that have been added to the site, and explore extensive Maine history content. Check back frequently: the site will grow throughout the year and become a permanent resource for teachers.

To submit a lesson plan, educators can visit mainememory.net/lessons/submit to complete a simple submission template, and then upload additional resources. Once uploaded, lesson submissions will be reviewed for completeness and then placed on the Bicentennial Curriculum Initiative web page, where other educators from across the state can access them.

Educators who participate by sharing resources will have their names entered into a random monthly drawing (February 2020 – December 2020) for $400 in cash for use in their classrooms. Participants for this program are intended to be public and private school educators for grades pre-k to 12, Career and Technical Educators, Adult Education Instructors, and Post-Secondary Instructors.

By participating in this unique collaboration, not only are you are setting the stage for present and future Mainers to learn more about our great state, you can also share and learn from the collective brain of educators around Maine.

For more information or to ask questions about the process, please contact Kathleen Neumann kneumann@mainehistory.org.