Category: Newsroom Articles

Updates on Implementation of New Chapter 115 Regulations

In an effort to keep the education field apprised of implementation progress on Chapter 115 regulations, the Maine DOE certification team wanted to provide the following updates.  Please remember the new regulations begin this Friday, June 10th.

  • Seventy-two different endorsements have already been created and tested and are ready for application submission beginning Friday.  Other endorsements have been created with new regulations and are in the testing phase, while even more are being created.  The plan is to hopefully have all endorsements prepped for application submission for Friday.
  • New PDF support documents that outline requirements for both conditional and professional certifications have been created for every endorsement and are currently undergoing review.  Those will begin being uploaded to the certification website on Thursday, June 9.
  • Enhancements to the website for clarity are currently underway.
  • Communications to the certification office have increased substantially and we have assisted roughly 3,000 educators each of the last two weeks through various channels.  Please be sure to take advantage of the supports we have and are enhancing on the website to help us process applications as quickly as possible.

Retired Bowdoin College Professor Brings Music to Lewiston Adult Education

At Lewiston Adult Education, music is an exciting new aspect of learning. The sounds of bows on strings fill the halls as Mary Hunter, a retired Bowdoin College music professor teaches beginners how to play violin. The program began in March and, after a ten-week course, most of the students can play “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” an impressive accomplishment after such a short amount of time.

This course may have been the first like it, however, Hunter plans to continue the program through next year. Her course is the first regularly scheduled musical program at Lewiston Adult Education, and she hopes students continue to enroll as she continues to advertise. Hunter believes that music is an important element of education, especially for adults. “For people who have never had the opportunity to take music lessons,” she says, “just giving it a try for a few weeks might offer a somewhat new angle on their identity.” She also shared that the concentration that comes with practicing provides a cathartic release and a bit of mindfulness. The sense of achievement that comes with learning a repertoire is important, too, she says, as it opens to the door to collaboration with others.

A big difference between adults and children, Hunter says, is that adults choose to learn. Oftentimes, adults are persistent and determined to succeed because of this choice. A few undaunted students who took her class this spring look to continue learning and will be joining a new group of students who will take Hunter’s course this summer, which will run from mid-June to mid-August. Another diligent student of Hunter’s, who took prior lessons in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is working up to a big performance. They have been working one-on-one together to create a program to perform at the school’s graduation on June 14th. There, they will be playing three songs together to show off their hard work and honor this year’s graduates.

Further, while adults grasp concepts quicker than children, Hunter says they are also physically less adaptable. This presents a bit of a struggle, especially because they need to be treated like grownups, and the material they are presented with needs to be geared towards adults. However, even with these challenges, Hunter looks forward to her students, and the program, progressing past these beginning stages to grow and overcome these obstacles in the future.

Seeking Public Comments for a Tydings Amendment Waiver of FY21 ESEA funds and FY22 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, 2022 – June 21, 2022, 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 2020/State Fiscal Year 2021 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 Programs
  • A carryover limitation waiver from Section 1127(a) of the Elementary & Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended for Federal Fiscal Year 2021/State Fiscal Year 2022 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 Rita Pello at Rita.Pello@maine.gov. 

Apply Today for the 2022 Maine ELO Conference August 15-17

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) and Jobs for Maine Grads (JMG) are partnering to offer a 3-day, 2-night Extended Learning Opportunity (ELO) conference hosted at University of Maine Orono on August 15th through the 17th. All Maine educators focused on expanding access to ELO programming are encouraged to complete the linked interest form.

This conference is designed to equip educators with the skills and facilitated planning time to build or expand quality ELO programming for Maine high school students. ELOs are hands on credit bearing courses outside of the traditional classroom with an emphasis on community-based care.

All conference events, meals, and housing will take place at the University of Maine at Orono.

At the end of the conference, you will:

  • Understand the history and context of ELOs in Maine
  • Be ready to build (or build upon) your ELO programs
  • Understand the various levels of support and training available to you
  • Understand the components of a high-quality ELO program
  • Have connected with a strong network of professionals in the field
  • Be energized by the transformational nature of this work

For more information, please reach out to elo@jmg.org or visit https://jmg.org/models-strategic-initiatives/elos

To apply, please fill out this form.

A Call For Visual, Performing and Literary Arts Educators, Teaching Artists, and Partnering Educators

Join MAEPL for a GREAT opportunity to become part of a dynamic network of arts educators across the state of Maine! This year-long experience begins with a 3-day Summer Institute, held this year as an outdoor destination experience in a natural, idyllic setting sure to jumpstart your leadership journey.

Maine Arts Education Partners in Leadership invites YOU to apply!

If you are selected, you will attend the 2022 Summer Institute, taking place August 1-3! There is no cost to participate in this year-long teacher leadership program, including the 3-day Institute. Afterwards, you will integrate your learning in your classroom, your school community, and share with other educators in your region of Maine and beyond. Full participants will receive documentation of contact hours.

MAEPL program phases

Application Deadline: Thursday, June 9, 2022

For further details on this year-long program: CLICK HERE

Direct link to application: CLICK HERE

For questions and more information, email MAEPLLeadership@gmail.com

Where is the Summer Institute held?

  • Pilgrim Lodge is a camp run by the United Church of Christ of Maine on Lake Cobbosseecontee in West Gardiner, ME.
  • This beautiful venue has cabins with electricity and plumbing, large indoor and outdoor meeting spaces, modern dining facilities, Wi-Fi in main buildings, good general cell reception, and recreation options including swimming, human-powered boating, and trails.

What are the COVID-19 Guidelines?

  • To ensure a safe environment for program participants and overnight visitors to our campus in 2022, Pilgrim Lodge has made the decision to require all staff members, deans, counselors, campers, other volunteers, and hosted retreat participants to be up-to-date for vaccination, if eligible, against COVID-19 prior to arrival at camp. CDC guidance and safety measures are changing frequently. The Summer Institute will follow COVID guidelines set by both Pilgrim Lodge and the Maine DOE.

What is the housing situation like?

  • MAPEL leadership will group attendees into cabins at Pilgrim Lodge. If you prefer not to share sleeping space, please note that in your application. Pilgrim Lodge Staff allows attendees to bring and pitch their own tent if that is preferable, and commuting is also an option for those who live within an hour of West Gardiner.

Can I attend remotely?

  • Yes! The 2022 Summer Institute will be in-person, with remote participation possible. Please note in your application if you would prefer to attend remotely.

What do I need in order to apply?

  • Paragraph of Interest – Selected individuals will be expected to be active leaders in helping to develop and support excellence in teaching and learning in Maine. A full commitment to the Institute timeline is expected as seen in the online information sheet. Please attach a brief overview of your interest and current/past experience (if any) in Leadership. Include your experience collaborating with other arts educators and experiences relevant to the initiative. (Please no more than ~ 500 words, about 1 page.)
  • Resume/CV – If you are a Teaching Artist, please also include websites or documentation of your teaching work.
  • Letter of Reference – Please attach a Letter of Recommendation in which the person includes comments and/or examples reflecting your leadership potential and your ability to work collaboratively. Selected individuals will be responsible for sharing their newly developed expertise and related classroom experiences with other arts educators.
    • CLASSROOM TEACHERS: This letter should be from your administrator.
    • TEACHING ARTISTS: This should be from a school or community organization with whom you have worked.
  • Administrator Name/Contact Information – This is required for classroom teachers only; a person who you would like notified of your acceptance into MAEPL.

What can I expect at the Summer Institute?

  • The MAEPL Program Team is currently putting together the schedule for this year’s Summer Institute. To get an idea of what the three days will be like, take a look at last Summer’s schedule, located HERE. And remember, the Summer Institute is just the first part of the full MAEPL experience. For full details on the year-long MAEPL program, CLICK HERE!

For questions or more information, email Iva Damon at MAEPLLeadership@gmail.com or call 802-695-0198

Maine FFA State Convention Back in Person

The Maine FFA State Convention returned—following two virtual years due to COVID-19, as an in-person event on May 12-13, 2022.  Formerly known as “Future Farmers of America,” FFA is the largest student-led organization in the country.  Attended by over 250 FFA members, judges, guests and family members, this event, normally held at the University of Maine in Orono, was conducted for the first time in Presque Isle.  

The Presque Isle location highlighted numerous agricultural opportunities of that area and relied on the joint hosting of both the University of Maine at Presque Isle and Northern Maine Community College.  The two-day event featured competitions, agricultural and natural resources tours, community service events, a social event at Gentile Hall (the University of Maine at Presque Isle gymnasium and field house), and a chance to recognize the many achievements of middle and high school FFA members from throughout the year as well as at Convention. 

Maine’s FFA State Officer team, Nickie Deschaine (President), Delaney McKeen (Vice President) and Ryder Brewer (Secretary-Treasurer), all originally from Central Aroostook High School, led the program, assisted by Clark Condon (Ashland High School),  Lane McCrum (Central Aroostook High School) and Noah Rooney (Presque Isle Tech Center).  Events were conducted and assisted by staff from the University of Maine at Presque Isle, Northern Maine Community College, the University of Maine, Orono, the University of Maine, Augusta in Bangor, the Maine Department of Education, teachers from local high schools and technical schools, former student FFA Officers, Northern Maine FFA Alumni, State FFA Officers from Connecticut, and representatives from a number of local agricultural and natural resources businesses and organizations.

Student competitions ranged from areas of environment and natural resources management, forestry and horse evaluation to agribusiness, employment skills, agricultural technology and mechanical systems and safe tractor driving.  Students involved in public speaking events gained monetary prizes for their achievements.  Tours included the hosting colleges, the Presque Isle Tech Center farm and greenhouse, the Penobscot McCrum potato plant in Washburn, Columbia Forest Products and Aroostook Truss in Presque Isle and Huber Engineered Woods in Easton.  Community service events included work in the Presque Isle Community Garden, assisting the Presque Isle Recreation Department in yard work and trail work, and working on the University of Maine at Presque Isle community garden and greenhouse.

Jackson Sylvester, National FFA Secretary, Awards Banquet Speaker
Head Table, Maine FFA 2021-2022 State Officers Ryder Brewer (Secretary-Treasurer), Delaney McKeen (Vice President) and Nickie Deschaine (President)
Dan Chuhta, Maine Department of Education, Awards Banquet Speaker
Gentile Hall Social Event – Students on Rock Wall, one of available activities

Students received over $15,000 in awards, prizes and scholarships, with 9 students receiving $1,000 scholarships to attend the 2022 National FFA Washington Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C..  Convention participants gained professional skills related to agriculture and natural resources, practiced team work, and enjoyed the insights shared by their retiring State FFA Officers and by President Raymond Rice of the University of Maine at Presque Isle, President Tim Crowley of Northern Maine Community College, Deputy Commissioner Dan Chuhta of the Maine Department of Education, and National FFA Secretary Jackson Sylvester, from Delaware.  Students left the event energized for the coming FFA year and with many positive memories of their events and the students they got to meet from other schools.  Newly elected officers for the coming year include the re-election of Nickie Deschaine as President and the selection of Lane McCrum as the 2022-2023 Vice President.

For more information on FFA and on establishing a Maine FFA chapter, please contact:  Doug Robertson, FFA State Advisor in the Maine Department of Education, doug.robertson@maine.gov  207-624-6744.

More Cowbell: Augusta Adult and Community Education Celebrates Students’ HiSET Completion

The sound of the cowbell that rings through the halls of Augusta Adult and Community Education (AACE) sends a burst of excitement and a rush of relief through the air along with its music. Here, the cowbell signals another life that has been changed by education.

In fall of 2021, the school’s administrative assistant, Heidi Lynch, wished there was a bell that students could ring when they had completed their HiSET testing. Completing the HiSET and getting a diploma is a huge accomplishment that Director Monique Roy believes should be celebrated in the moment, so she began to look for a bell. Early on in her search, she stumbled across a cowbell, and laughed. However, what started as a chuckle quickly turned into something amazing as her colleagues and students supported the idea of the cowbell and the order was placed.

Now, as soon as students know that they have passed their HiSET, they get to ring the cowbell, letting out the physical rush of joy and relief that comes with completing their tests. “We’ve had students cry and hug teachers and we’ve had students who are just like…woohoo! The bell ringing is their moment,” Roy says. No matter the response, the bell ringing indicates a changed life and an important milestone – one that the team at AACE is happy to play a role in.

Roy and her team are constantly promoting high school completion. They encourage all adults without a high school diploma to complete the HiSET, talking about it wherever they go. They also attend partner programming to ensure they can provide opportunities for high school completion, and are willing to meet everyone where they are, whether they have started their completion journey or not.

As for the bell, the “ritual” as Roy calls it, is here to stay. When students start their programs, they are shown videos of other graduates ringing the bell as a motivator. Roy says that for some, ringing the bell is a goal they look forward to throughout the entirety of their program. This ritual has certainly made a positive impact in the AACE, and the team is excited to see how many other students they can help get their diploma.

To see AACE’s students ringing the cowbell, watch this video.

This article was written by Maine DOE intern Alexa Bryant as part of the Maine DOE’s Maine Schools Sharing Success Campaign and the 2022 #HiSET4ME Campaign. 

Seeking Schools and Educators to Pilot New High School Statistics and Data Science Course

The Maine Department of Education (DOE), in partnership with University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA’s) Teaching and Learning Lab, is seeking educators who are interested in piloting a modern approach to teaching statistics and data science.

Our hope is that this course will be highly engaging for students and produce transferable knowledge that could open new career pathways. It is for everyone interested in how data and computers are being used today across many fields.

This course is rigorous, but because it is taught from the perspective of modern computational methods, it depends less on detailed prior knowledge from earlier mathematics courses. The rigor comes from the challenge of the assignments and the quality of the work expected of students.

All students learn coding in R, a programming language used in college and industry for data science applications. No prior experience with coding is necessary. Most assignments involve writing code which is then executed right within the digital textbook. In-class assignments are organized around Jupyter notebooks, a tool used by data scientists in the real world.

As part of this pilot, educators will:

  • Receive access to interactive, online textbook
  • Receive all accompanying teacher and student materials
  • Take part in a 2-week summer study group (online) to prepare for teaching the course (July 11-22 OR July 25-August 5)
  • Have access to daily office hours throughout the school year for on-going support
  • Participate in a professional learning community with other educators from Maine who are piloting this course

This opportunity is open to any Maine educator, currently employed in a Maine public school, who is interested, and no prior experience is required since you will be provided with all the training and support you need.

We will be holding an information session next week for anyone who is interested in finding out more. Please register at the following links:

Wednesday, June 8th, from 3:30-5pm

To sign up for the pilot, please complete the following short form.

For questions or more information please contact Beth Lambert, Director of Innovative Teaching and Learning, Beth.Lambert@maine.gov

 

 

End of School Year 21’-22’ Checklist for Completing Reports; June 7 Webinar Available

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Educational Data Systems Team will be hosting a webinar to discuss the end of year reporting requirements in this notification on Tuesday June 7th from 10:00am to 12:00pm. To participate, please utilize the “Join Live” link at the time of the webinar.

The following checklist is designed to assist School Administrative Units (SAUs) with publicly funded students in completing required end of year reports.  The dates listed after each report are when the report is open for entry and due for certification, if required.

Synergy:  The following items are available in the Synergy Student Information System. Please visit the Synergy Instructions Helpdesk Page for Synergy codes to be used for the items below.

Enrollments

Update/End ALL Enrollments (done last):

Manual Student Enrollment Exit Instructions

Upload Student Enrollment Exit Instructions

  • DOE will NOT be automatically ending enrollments.
  • Concurrent enrollment MUST be ended before the primary enrollment can be ended.
  • All students will need to be exited on their actual last day of school. This may be verified using “Attending Student Report” in NEO> Student Reports.
  • June 30 should not be automatically populated for the last day of school.
  • Future exit dates that are more than 7 days out are not permitted in the system.
  • Ending a student’s enrollment will end Economic Status and Truancy – to avoid this, update Truancy records prior to ending enrollments.
  • Ending enrollments will prevent you from manually updating Attendance Data. Once an enrollment has been ended, attendance data can only be modified by uploading the data.
  • Please ensure that you exit all your graduates accordingly.
    • Only exit students who have met graduation requirements by the graduation date.
      • For those who are expected to meet graduation requirements over the summer, leave the exit blank for now and there will be an opportunity for you to exit them later in the summer (by August 15)
    • Do NOT graduate students in non-high school grades (Pre-K, Kindergarten, Eighth Grade, etc.).
  • Please remember to exit your enrolled home instruction students back to home instruction at the end of the school year.

New enrollments will need to be uploaded/entered as well as special education information each school year.

Annual End of Year Reports and Certifications:

The following items are Annual Reports for the 2021/2022 school year. Instructions for these reports can be found here. 

The reports listed below are linked directly to its corresponding certification report in NEO:

If you have questions about these reports, (i.e. what should be entered) please contact the subject specialist listed below:

If you have questions about accessing the reports, please call or email the helpdesk, 624-6896 or MEDMS.helpdesk@maine.gov

If you do not have credentials for Synergy or NEO, the district superintendent may grant access using the appropriate webform on the Helpdesk Page: Access Request Form

Leading Early Learning—A Professional Learning Series for Elementary School Administrators

“Participating in the series has helped me to look at the decisions we make about our instructional programming and school community through the lens of early learning and what is developmentally appropriate for our youngest learners.” –  Quote from Cohort 1 participant

As Maine elementary schools have added preschool programming and are promoting whole child approaches across the Pre-K -Grade 3 span, elementary principals have requested professional learning to support their work as educational leaders.  The Maine Department of Education and several Maine educational organizations (listed below) have collaborated to design an exciting professional learning series to address identified needs and support professional growth.  The Leading Early Learning series was piloted with 16 administrators in 2021-22 and we are pleased to announce the second cohort for this series will launch during the 2022-23 school year.

The series will not only provide participants with opportunity to deepen their knowledge of early learning pedagogy and best practices related to supporting students and teachers across Pre-K-3, but it will also provide a professional learning network, opportunity to design a concept for an implementation project, and be supported through facilitated discussions.  Participants will engage in a variety of modes of learning, from asynchronous modules to professional learning communities to attendance at a statewide early learning conference.

If this opportunity interests you, please review the details for the series in the informational guide.  A link to apply for the series is included in the informational guide.  The series will support up to 25 participants.  Applications will be received through July 5, 2022. Once spaces are filled, a waiting list will be generated.

For additional information, please contact Lee Anne Larsen, Director of Early Learning at Maine DOE, leeann.larsen@maine.gov.

Leading Early Learning Partner Organizations

  • Maine Department of Education
  • Maine Roads to Quality Professional Development Network
  • Maine Association for the Education of Young Children
  • UMaine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies