NE school group receives national education recognition

The following was released today by the New England Secondary School Consortium.

Frank Newman Award honors pioneering five-state partnership

Denver, CO – On July 7, 2011, the Education Commission of the States will honor the New England Secondary School Consortium as the recipient of the prestigious 2011 Frank Newman Award for State Innovation during its 2011 National Forum on Education Policy in Denver. The award recognizes the Consortium’s bold example of state leadership, collaboration, expertise exchange, and resource sharing across states, as well as its commitment to promoting 21^st -century skills, supporting high school innovation, reducing persistent achievement gaps, and graduating every student prepared for success in the colleges, careers, and communities of our global society.

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Maine graduation rate on the rise

National report puts Maine at #16 in the nation

AUGUSTA – Maine’s Class of 2008 had the 16^th highest graduation rate in the nation, according to a report released today by Education Week. Maine’s rate, as calculated by Education Week, was 76.5 percent, compared to a national average of 71.7 percent.

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Awardees recognized for helping students at risk

Commissioner Bowen honors 10 who make a difference in Blaine House ceremony

AUGUSTA – Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen honored 10 people in a Blaine House ceremony Friday for their contributions to meeting the needs of children and youth at risk in their schools and/or communities.

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1,100 plus expected at student laptop conference in Orono

Four students will kick off the day with presentations showing how they’ve put technology to work in innovative, globally relevant ways

It’s been nearly a decade since the launch of the Maine Learning Technology Initiative, which has equipped Maine middle- and high-school students with laptops and made technology an integral part of their learning.

On Thursday, May 26, more than 1,100 students, teachers and parents will overtake the University of Maine campus in Orono for the eighth annual MLTI Student Conference.

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Maine grad rate improves

Still, too many students do not graduate in four years

AUGUSTA – The statewide average graduation rate for publicly funded high schools rose by more than two percentage points from 2009 to 2010. The percentage of students graduating in four years for the 2009-2010 school year was 82.82 percent. Continue reading “Maine grad rate improves” →

Ten improvement schools named

The schools are eligible for School Improvement Grants to improve student achievement.

AUGUSTA – The Maine Department of Education named 10 schools to the School Improvement Grant eligibility list, making them eligible to apply for three-year federal grants to fund locally developed plans aimed at improving student achievement.

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Governor signs rigorous education standards into law

Maine is 42nd state to approve Common Core state standards, allowing schools and teachers to plan their curriculum.

AUGUSTA — Maine became the 42nd state to approve the Common Core state standards when Gov. Paul LePage signed L.D. 12 into law on Friday. The measure passed both the House and Senate unanimously. Adopting the standards means Maine teachers will have a clear set of standards to work with, and will be able to tailor their teaching to the new, rigorous expectations of what students should know and be able to do.
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Education commissioner continues listening tour

Bowen plans six more visits to cover Maine’s nine superintendent regions in first 100 days

AUGUSTA – Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen announced the dates for the remaining six stops of his statewide listening tour, which will take him to Maine’s nine superintendent regions in his first 100 days as education commissioner.

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2012 Teacher of the Year semi-finalists announced

Six teachers move to second stage

AUGUSTA – Six of the 10 teachers nominated for 2012 Maine Teacher of the Year have been named semi-finalists in the statewide competition. A distinguished panel of teachers, principals and business community members made the selections last week.

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Bowen names education deputy

Jim Rier, director of finance and operations at the Department, will take on the number 2 role.

AUGUSTA – Jim Rier, head of finance and operations at the Maine Department of Education since 2003, has assumed the position of deputy commissioner. Commissioner Stephen Bowen announced the move on Wednesday.

“Jim has a depth of experience at the Department, is an expert in school finance, and understands policy and the legislative process like few others in state government,” Bowen said. “I have known Jim since my days in the Legislature. We are lucky to have his experience working for Maine schools.

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