Seeking Public Comments for a Tydings Amendment Waiver of FY22 ESEA funds and FY23 Carryover of Excess Title I, Part A Funds

Pursuant to the authority granted under section 8401(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the Maine Department of Education (DOE) intends to submit an application for waivers to the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE). As required, the Maine DOE is seeking 15 days of public comment from June 7, 2023 – June 21, 2023, on the request to waive the period of availability for Elementary & Secondary Education Act funds and Title I, Part A carryover limitations.

Requirements from which Maine will be seeking a waiver include:

A Tydings amendment waiver from Section 421(b) of the General Provisions Act to the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE). The Tydings amendment waiver seeks an extension to the availability of Federal Fiscal Year 2021/State Fiscal Year 2022 Elementary and Secondary Education funds. Programs affected by this waiver:

Title I, Part A of the ESEA (Improving Basic Programs Operated by LEAs), including the portions of the SEA’s Title I, Part A award used to carry out section 1003 school improvement, section 1003A direct student services, if applicable, and Title I, Part D, Subpart 2
Title I, Part B of the ESEA (State Assessment Formula Grants)
Title I, Part C of the ESEA (Education of Migratory Children)
Title I, Part D, Subpart 1 of the ESEA (Prevention and Intervention Programs for Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent, or At Risk)
Title II, Part A of the ESEA (Supporting Effective Instruction)
Title III, Part A of the ESEA (English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement)
Title IV, Part A of the ESEA (Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants)
Title IV, Part B of the ESEA (21st Century Community Learning Centers)
Title V, Part B, Subpart 2 of the ESEA (Rural and Low-Income School Program)
McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program

A carryover limitation waiver from Section 1127(a) of the Elementary & Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended for Federal Fiscal Year 2022/State Fiscal Year 2023 Title I, Part A funds. The carryover limitation waiver seeks to waive the requirement that limits the Maine DOE’s ability to grant to its local educational agencies (LEAs) a waiver of the 15 percent Title I, Part A carryover limitation of more than once every three years.

The Maine DOE must solicit and respond to public comment on its waiver request as well as provide evidence of the available comment period.  As the Maine DOE moves forward to provide as much flexibility as possible and continued support for expending ESEA federal funds, comments can be submitted to: Cheryl.Lang@maine.gov.

Celebrating Pride Month. Resources to Support LGBTQ+ Students and Build a Welcoming School Climate

June is LGBTQ Pride Month and the Maine Department of Education (DOE) has a robust collection of resources devoted to supporting LGBTQ+ students in Maine and fostering a positive school climate.

The resources were put together through a collaborative partnership between Maine DOE, OUT Maine, and GLAD (GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders) in an effort to provide meaningful resources and information to schools to give them the tools to support not only their LGBTQ+ students but families and school staff as well. The Maine DOE is committed to ensuring Maine schools are safe and welcoming environments for all students.

The website includes data about Maine’s LGBTQ+ youth, the Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey (MIYHS) data, teaching resources, and other vital tools for Maine schools to ensure equity for LGBTQ+ identifying students and meaningfully celebrate Pride Month. There are also additional resources specifically for students and parents.

The website of resources can be accessed here: LGBTQ+ Resources.

Youth Employment Month: Sharing Workforce Resources for Schools and Students

June is Youth Employment Month! The Maine DOE is excited to share the Maine Department of Labor’s resources to ensure that school staff, counselors, and teachers have what they need to empower their students as they enter the world of work and ensure that students and their families know their rights and available resources.

Employers in Maine and throughout the country are increasingly challenged to find employees and are relying more heavily on younger workers to meet that need. Applications for minor work permits increased by nearly 75% between 2017 and 2022. With this increase in youth hiring, violations of child labor law and workplace injuries have also been on the rise in Maine.

The Maine Department of Labor wants to work with employers and young job seekers to ensure students know their rights and are safe and healthy both in the workplace and in school. School staff can help with this, as well by sharing resources that can help prepare students to navigate the world of work.

A new resource webpage has been created with relevant information for schools, students, and their families: https://www.maine.gov/labor/schoolresources/

The Department of Labor is also happy to come present to school staff or students, on any of these topics. If interested, please contact the Maine Department of Labor at 207-623-7900 or www.maine.gov/labor/contact.

Register for Second Annual Extended Learning Opportunities (ELO) Conference

The Maine Department of Education is proud to partner with Jobs for Maine Grads (JMG) on the Second Annual Extended Learning Opportunities (ELO) Conference. This is a 2-night, 3-day intensive designed to equip educators with the skills and facilitated planning time to build or expand quality ELO programming for Maine students. Come and go as needed.

August 14-16
University of Maine at Orono

Session Leaders from all over Maine and New Hampshire will focus on topics such as:

Maine DOE Listening Session
Supporting ESOL Students
ELOs & Special Education
Apprenticeships
Marketing Strategies
Strategies for Engaging School-Based Colleagues in the Administration of ELOs
Leveraging ELOs to Attain Industry-Recognized Credentials
Various Sessions on Community Partnerships
ELO Data & Building presentations for School Boards
Aligning ELOs to college credit
Administrators and ELO
School Counselors and ELO
Teachers and ELO
Establishing a Program
LMS session: What the LMS can do for you?
Designing a Group ELO
Skill-Builders and Scaffolding
Examples Sessions on Passion Projects, Core Credit ELOs
Statewide Capacity/Structure
Maine DOE: Recognizing Credit-Bearing ELOs
Mini-ELOs: Stackable Learning
Can We? Project
The ELO Approach: Redefining How We Think About Curriculum Delivery
Maine DOE: ELOs & The Whole Student Approach

Learn more and register here.

Download the flyer (PDF)

For more information and contacts visit: https://jmg.org/extended-learning-opportunities

Civil War Cooking in Damariscotta

(Pictured: South Bristol students with the Farms at the Y director, Leslie Wicks)

What do you get when you combine a nutrition program, a historical society, and a middle school ELA/Social Studies class? A four-course Civil War meal of course! In March, a group of middle school students from the South Bristol School came to the Central Lincoln County YMCA to cook a Civil War meal. Volunteers from the Lincoln County Historical Association came to help students chop and cook, as well as share interesting historical facts. This was part of a Civil War unit that teacher Kayla Wright and her students were learning about.

On this particular afternoon, the students huddled around the kitchen island as Leslie Wicks, the FARMS at the Y director, explained the four recipes the students would be working on. The students would be cooking navy bean soup, vegetable hash, fried apples, and gingerbread. Before sending them off, Leslie talked about cooking safety and techniques and the differences between cooking at home and cooking in a commercial kitchen. For example, there would be a lot more hand washing involved. Louise from the historical society explained why these recipes were appropriate for that time. In fact, the gingerbread didn’t have any ginger in it!

In short order, the students were chopping, stirring, and whisking their way to a meal that people during the Civil War might have eaten. Historical society volunteers were there to guide students and to talk to them about what life might have looked like in the mid-1800s. To wrap the class up, the teams set tables and everyone sat down to enjoy their well-cooked meal. Gauging from the empty plates, their fellow students did a great job cooking the meal. The class was an example of the power of interdisciplinary experiences since the students learned about history, literacy, math, career readiness, and health.

The FARMS at the Y program provides nutrition education with a focus on nutrient-dense, Maine-grown vegetables with the aim to broaden program access and reach through expanded collaboration with local public schools and local farmers. They offer hands-on experiences for people of all ages in cooking, gardening, and a passion for healthier living. The hands-on food programs developed by FARMS at the Y have reached students in every grade from childcare to K-8 public & private schools in Lincoln County. Currently, this program serves all 3^rd (and some 4th) graders in the AOS93 district and is free to schools through grant funding. In addition to working with school groups, the FARMS staff also provides professional development workshops for teachers. For more about the FARMS at the Y program, contact Leslie Wicks at lwicks@clcymca.org

The Maine DOE encourages all schools and districts across the State of Maine to learn more about interdisciplinary instruction on our website or by contacting our Interdisciplinary Instruction Team Coordinator at Kathy.bertini@maine.gov

Registration Opens June 5th for Maine’s 2023 Statewide Early Childhood Education Conference

Save the Date for Maine’s 2023 Statewide Early Childhood Education Conference! The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is proud to collaborate with the Maine Association for the Education of Young Children to provide this professional learning opportunity geared to educators working across the birth to grade 3 spans. This year’s conference has an incredible lineup of keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities planned for participants gathering in Portland on October 27 & 28. Keynote speakers will be Denisha Jones, Executive Director of Defending the Early Years, and Angela Hanscom, author, and founder of TimberNook. 

The call for proposals is currently open through May 31st at 5:30pm. Those interested in offering a breakout session can learn more and submit their ideas at https://maineaeyc.org/conference

A link to register will be available on Monday, June 5th

How to Register on June 5th: 

Step 1: Go to https://maineaeyc.org/conference
Step 2: Click the BIG PINK BUTTON at the top of the page that says “REGISTER”
STEP 3: Follow the directions on the registration page

We can’t wait to see you in October! If you have any questions about the conference or registration, please contact MaineAEYC at conference@maineaeyc.org.

End of Year Reports Open

End of school year reports are open for review and certification. All reports must be reviewed by district personnel and superintendents are required to certify all reports. The following reports are open for review and certification.

Maine School Approval – Due: Mid Summer
ESEA Demographics – Due: June 15^th
Bullying – Due: June 30^th
Behavior – Due: June 30^th
Truancy – Due: June 30^th
Daily Attendance – Due: July 15^th
Special Education Exit – Due: July 30^th
Restraint & Seclusion – Opens: June 15^th Due: September 15^th

Resources including reporting instructions, guidelines, and webinars for each report can be found on the Helpdesk Website.

If you experience any issues with these reports or reporting systems, please contact MEDMS.Helpdesk@maine.gov

For training regarding navigation of reporting systems and/or reporting instructions, please contact our Data Quality Trainer – Alexandra.Cookson@maine.gov

Webinar: The Role of Special Educators in School Safety Efforts

The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Safe and Supportive Schools and its Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance (TA) Center will host a Webinar on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET. This Webinar will highlight the role of special educators in school safety, security, emergency management, and preparedness activities, including emergency operations plan (EOP) development.

The objectives of this 60-minute Webinar are to:

Demonstrate the importance of a collaborative planning team, as outlined in Step 1 of the six-step planning process detailed in the Guide for Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operations Plans.
Discuss the role that special educators play in implementing the National Preparedness System mission areas before, during, and after an emergency.
Reinforce how special educators can enhance EOP development and serve as key stewards in the behavioral threat assessments, continuity of operations, recovery, and more.
Share relevant resources to be used by special educators and core planning teams.

Register on the REMS TA Center Website to participate in the Webinar!

Presenters

Maryland Department of Health
- Dr. Toni Beckett, School Administrative Coordinator
REMS TA Center
- Janelle Hughes, Project Director

Questions

Contact the REMS TA Center Help Desk at 1-855-781-REMS [7367] or info@remstacenter.org from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday. Can’t make the live event? This Webinar will be archived on the REMS TA Center’s Website within 7 business days.

Webinar: Special Education Exit Report – June 6, 2023

Join the Maine Department of Education (DOE) Data Team and the Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education (OSSIE) for an interactive webinar about the special education exit report. The Join Live event link below will be active on the date and time of the webinar.

We will be joined by Brandi Giguere and Shawn Collier from the Maine DOE’s OSSIE team to review reporting requirements for this data set. The webinar will be recorded and posted to the Webinars and Presentations page on the Helpdesk Website. It may take a few days to get the recording posted, however, they will be available as soon as possible. If this webinar is canceled, there will be a notice posted on the Helpdesk Website at the top of the page.

Special Education Exit Report Webinar:

June 6th at 10:00 am
Join the Live event here on June 6th – no need to register in advance.

For questions about data reporting webinars please contact Alexandra.Cookson@maine.gov

Career and Technical Education Students of the Year Honored at Annual Awards Ceremony

(Pictured: Student Jiaying (Carmen) Zhong [left] displays an award for CTE Student of the Year for her exemplary work in the Engineering & Architectural Design program at Oxford Hills Tech in Norway. Standing next to her is MACTE Executive Director Dave Keaton [right])

The Maine Association of Career and Technical Education (MACTE) held its annual Career and Technical Education (CTE) Student of the Year Award Ceremony recently at Lewiston’s Regional Technical Center’s The Green Ladle restaurant.

The event featured a keynote address from Shawn Moody, founder and owner of Moody’s Collision Centers in Maine and long-time advocate for career and technical education in Maine. Emceed by Westbrook Regional Vocational Center Director Todd, the event’s main highlight was the recognition of a student from each of Maine’s 27 CTE Schools who were selected and honored for their exemplary work in their respective programs.

Students were in attendance with their friends and family members. They were honored by Executive Director Dave Keaton during the presentation.

The Maine Department of Education joins our partners at MACTE and CTE schools across Maine in congratulating these students and thanking the CTE schools and instructors who provided them the opportunities to strive.

2023 Maine Career and Technical Students of the Year

Alexander Hassell St. John Valley Tech. Automotive Technology	Taylor Mason Hancock County Tech, Ellsworth Hospitality Travel and Tourism	Noah Rousseau Mid Coast Tech, Rockland Outdoor Leadership and Firefighting	Alecssander Freitas Lake Region Tech, Naples Law Enforcement II
Addion Davis Van Buren Tech Business Technology	Andrew Doughty Tri County Tech, Dexter Firefighting/EMT	London Putnam Capital Area Tech, Augusta Culinary Arts	Jocelyn Coombs Region 10, Brunswick Metal Fabrication Welding
Chase Hobbs Caribou Tech Commercial Driver’s License & Large Equipment Maintenance & Operation	Braden Richard St. Croix Tech, Calais Welding	Abigayle Reed Bath Tech, Bath Cosmetology	Emerson Roy PATHS, Portland Careers in Education
Parker Sawyer Presque Isle Tech Industrial & Farm Mechanics	Estrella Paredes-Vazquez Coastal Wash Tech, Machias Health Occupations	Mckella Ford Foster Tech, Farmington Early Childhood Occupations	Joseph A Lopes Westbrook Tech, Westbrook Electrical
Braden White Region Two, Houlton Auto Collision	Kricket Thompson Waldo County Tech, Waldo Culinary Arts	Jiaying (Carmen) Zhong Oxford Hills Tech, Norway Engineering & Architectural Design	Pichrithylen (Sreylen) Thor Biddeford Tech, Biddeford Computer Technology
Esmae Stockley Region Three – Lincoln Registered Medical Assistant	Riley Enright Somerset Tech – Skowhegan Outdoor Leadership	Titus Billings Region 9 – Mexico Outdoor Skills and Leadership & Building Construction	Eli Bartlett Sanford Tech, Sanford Landscape and Horticulture
Maggie Lincoln United Technologies – Bangor Insurance Producer & Business Management	Adam Brann Mid Maine Tech – Waterville Culinary Arts	Hannah Dube Lewiston Tech – Lewiston Medical Science & Certified Nursing Assistant

To learn more about MACTE visit their website: http://mainecte.org/. To learn more about Career and Technical Education in Maine visit: https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/cte