State Education Board welcomes new leadership

AUGUSTA – The Maine State Board of Education has new leadership, having elected Peter E. Geiger as chair and Martha J. Harris as vice-chair.

Geiger, of Lewiston, had previously served as vice-chair and replaces outgoing chair Nancy Perkins, who will remain on the board. He is the Executive Vice President of Geiger, the largest family-owned promotional products company in the country headquartered in Lewiston and is additionally editor and publisher of the Farmers’ Almanac.

Continue reading “State Education Board welcomes new leadership” →

Governor LePage announces $11.3 million to support at-risk students

The Governor announced the awards from the Maine Department of Education at the Reiche School in Portland alongside the CEO of LearningWorks, one of 15 grantees who will establish or continue 32 community learning centers that provide students extended learning services

PORTLAND – Governor Paul R. LePage announced today that the Maine Department of Education is giving out $11.3 million over the next five years to support extended learning opportunities for at-risk students.

Continue reading “Governor LePage announces $11.3 million to support at-risk students” →

Charter commission seeks proposals for 2015 school opening

The Maine Charter School Commission is currently soliciting proposals for new public charter schools that would begin serving students in the fall of 2015.

In a request for proposals (RFP) published Wednesday, the Commission seeks detailed applications from capable school developers who are committed to educating their students well in a successful, sustainable, high quality charter school. Continue reading “Charter commission seeks proposals for 2015 school opening” →

Maine Department of Labor offers students summer employment tips

AUGUSTA – As school gets out for the summer, the Maine Department of Labor is reminding students looking for summer jobs that the work-permit application is available online. All minors under the age of 16 must have a work permit before they start a job, whether or not they attend school. Continue reading “Maine Department of Labor offers students summer employment tips” →

State awards South Portland’s Kaler Elementary $1.6 million for school improvement

The funding from the Maine Department of Education will help transform the struggling school and increase student achievement, teacher effectiveness and community engagement

SOUTH PORTLAND – A South Portland elementary school will use $1.6 million awarded today by the Maine Department of Education to raise student proficiency in math and reading by 10 percent annually over the next three years. Continue reading “State awards South Portland’s Kaler Elementary $1.6 million for school improvement” →

State supports proficiency-based diplomas, offers districts implementation flexibility

AUGUSTA – The Maine Department of Education affirmed its commitment to the state’s students being awarded diplomas based on proficiency but announced today it would give school districts more flexibility in meeting a requirement to do so by 2018. Continue reading “State supports proficiency-based diplomas, offers districts implementation flexibility” →

Commissioner to speak at Merrymeeting Adult Ed graduation

TOPSHAM – Maine’s Education Commissioner will celebrate the 57 students who have earned their high school degree at the Merrymeeting Adult Education graduation this Tuesday.

Commissioner Jim Rier, who lives in Topsham where the program is based, will join Class of 2014 student speakers Kylie Patterson and Precene Louis, SAD 75 Superintendent Bradley Smith, Brunswick School District Superintendent Paul Perzanowski and Merrymeeting Adult Education Director Diana McCain in delivering remarks at the ceremony. Continue reading “Commissioner to speak at Merrymeeting Adult Ed graduation” →

Students, educators to celebrate technology as learning tool at annual MLTI conference

Gulf of Maine Research Institute Chief Innovation Officer Alan Lishness will provide a keynote address entitled Why Maine Matters: Managing Change in a Complex World

ORONO – Students from 44 schools will gather at UMaine on Thursday to showcase how technology provided by the Maine Department of Education is transforming their learning and better preparing them for classroom and career success.

Nearly 1,000 students and educators will be on Maine’s largest college campus as part of the Department-sponsored 11^th Annual Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) Student Conference.

Continue reading “Students, educators to celebrate technology as learning tool at annual MLTI conference” →

State releases 2014 report cards, congratulates high performing and high progress schools

The rollout of the report cards at www.maine.gov/doe comes as Education Commissioner Jim Rier completes a statewide tour celebrating the many Maine schools that improved by at least one letter grade

AUGUSTA – The 2014 school report cards are out and certificates of achievement signed by Governor Paul R. LePage and Education Commissioner Jim Rier are in the mail for 121 schools that earned an A or B grade.

Dozens of schools that demonstrated high levels of student growth over the past year will also receive a certificate and a letter recognizing their success in better serving all students.

Continue reading “State releases 2014 report cards, congratulates high performing and high progress schools” →

Commissioner celebrates Washington County school improvements on first day of report card rollout tour

Maine Education Commissioner Jim Rier presents Rose M. Gaffney School Principal Mitchell Look with a certificate of achievement for earning an A on their 2014 school report card. The school received a C last year. — Maine Education Commissioner Jim Rier presents Rose M. Gaffney School Principal Mitchell Look with a certificate of achievement for earning an A on their 2014 school report card while visiting Washington County on Monday. The school received a C last year.

Maine Department of Education Commissioner Jim Rier returned to his native county to present Rose M. Gaffney Elementary School their A grade and Narraguagus High School their C. Both schools have higher rates of low-income students than the state average and spend less on classroom instruction, yet both improved by two letter grades.

MACHIAS – Maine’s Commissioner of Education spent Monday in Washington County, recognizing two schools there for raising their grades on the 2014 school report cards that will be released to the public on Thursday.

Continue reading “Commissioner celebrates Washington County school improvements on first day of report card rollout tour” →