Department of Education Update Meeting

Commissioner of Education Pender Makin will be hosting a Zoom update on education in Maine during the current pandemic on Tuesday, June 2, from 4:00-5:00.

Please register in advance for this meeting, as there is a 500-person maximum. You can register here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Questions or topics of interest may be submitted in advance by emailing Chief-of -Staff Jessica Nixon at Jessica.nixon@maine.gov by Tuesday at 8:00 am.

The meeting will be recorded and posted on our website.

New Webinar: 2020-2021 NEO Maine Schools and School Approval Process

To assist those who are responsible for the important task of reporting district and school organizational data as well as school approval information to the Maine Department of Education, the DOE Data Team will be holding a topical webinar about the Maine Schools and School Approval (Public and Private) process on Tuesday June 2^nd, from 11 am to 12 pm.

Registration URL can be found here, and the Maine Schools NEO Module Instructions can be found here.

New Webinar: 2020-2021 Special Education Exit Report

To assist those who are responsible for the important task of reporting Special Education Exits to the Maine Department of Education, the DOE Data Team will be holding a topical webinar about the Special Education Exit Report on Wednesday June 3^rd, from 2 pm to 3 pm. We will be covering how to validate the report and will be fielding any questions in regards to the report.

The registration URL found here, and Special Education Exit Report Instructions can be found here.

Innovative Educators Sought for Maine Learning Modules!

The Maine Department of Education invites all interested educators, curriculum leaders, and Maine educational community organizations to join us in designing an a-synchronous library of learning modules in a Maine Learning Results-aligned scope and sequence. These project-based modules will be integrated to ensure that learning is synthesized across traditional subject areas and learning experiences are designed to be mutually reinforcing.

Work will take place beginning June 15^th and run throughout the summer with a launch of the website on September 7^th. Each participant will be trained in a-synchronous instructional design by Maine DOE digital learning specialists, as well as supported in their content by Maine DOE content specialists. Participants will be expected to produce at least one learning module, but more may be accepted. Stipends will be provided for modules used in the Maine DOE library.

Participants must be Maine educators, including curriculum leaders and Maine educational community organizations.

To register click here.

For more information please contact Beth Lambert, beth.lambert@maine.gov or Page Nichols, page.nichols@maine.gov.

FREE TRAINING for Comprehensive Emergency Operations Planning: A Framework for Fall 2020

Maine Department of Education is proud to announce that our Maine School Safety Center Team will be hosting a series for all School Administrative Units (SAUs) and their Collaborative Planning Team members to create or review their Emergency Operations Plans. These plans should serve as the framework for any emergency planning and response effort, and requires a whole community approach. While it is still too early to finalize guidance for schools in Fall of 2020, by participating in this training, SAUs will be optimally positioned to apply forthcoming guidance to their existing frameworks.

This eight week series, beginning June 9 and occurring every Tuesday at 10:00 am, will walk participants through the comprehensive framework, from which all emergency response plans are built, and will include expert presenters for the individual topics and training that was developed by Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS).

Week 1: Overview of the Six Step Planning Process (1 hour)
Week 2: Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) (1 hour)
Week 3: Continuity of Operations Annex (1.5 hours)
Week 4: Recovery Annex (1.5 hours)
Week 5: Infectious Diseases Annex – broad coverage (1 hour)
Week 6: Integrating Disabilities (1.5 hours)
Week 7: Bereavement and Loss Annex (1.5 hours)
Week 8: Understanding Resilience and Developing a Self-Care Plan (1 hour)

Your Collaborative Planning Team should include your school nurse, administrators, educators, and representatives from transportation, food service, local emergency responders, and your local or regional community health experts, and we encourage you to share the registration with them.

When timely guidance for Fall 2020 is provided, additional training that builds upon this framework will be provided by Maine School Safety Center, and will ensure all SAUs have the necessary tools to make sound decisions for the safety and well-being of your school communities.

Please register in advance of the meeting, here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Contact hours will be available at the conclusion of the series.

6th Annual Count ME In Multimedia Contest Promoting School Attendance, Learning and Community

Count ME In is broadening its annual contest to include multimedia submissions that promote learning and being part of a school community. Students age 6 through high school are invited to create a poster, sculpture, song, poem, story or video for the 2020 celebration in September and October 2020. This is an opportunity for students to share their view on why school learning and being part of a school community is important. Students can participate from home, school, or summer program.

The winning submissions will be reproduced, including the artist’s name and distributed throughout Maine. In addition, the winning artists will receive money gift cards. View the contest guidelines.

Please share with student you think might be interested in submitting artwork. The deadline is Friday, July 17, 2020

For more information check out the Count ME In website.

Requests for Applications for McKinney-Vento Sub-Grant Program

The Maine Department of Education is requesting applications for the Department’s McKinney-Vento Sub-grant program to support the education of students experiencing homelessness. Proposals will be accepted from school administrative units (SAUs) seeking to develop, implement, or expand programs that improve the success of students identified as homeless under the McKinney-Vento Act. This grant may be renewable for up to three years. Applications must be received by July 1, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. local time. The application can be found here.

If you have questions about homeless education or the McKinney Vento Sub-grant program, contact Amelia Lyons, McKinney Vento Homeless Education Consultant, at amelia.lyons@maine.gov or 207-557-1787.

U.S. DOE Names Two Maine Students as 2020 U.S. Presidential Scholars

The United States Department of Education (DOE) has announced that 161 high school seniors, including two from Maine, have been named U.S. Presidential Scholars. The recognition honors the students’ accomplishments in academics, the arts, and career and technical education fields.

2020 Maine U.S. Presidential Scholars

Neily Kate Raymond, Hermon – Hermon High School
John Bishop Wahlig III, Falmouth – Falmouth High School

Six Maine High School Seniors were announced U.S. Presidential Scholar semifinalists earlier this spring. A complete list of 2020 U.S. Presidential Scholars follows and is also available at http://www.ed.gov/psp.

The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars selects scholars annually based on their academic success, artistic and technical excellence, essays, school evaluations, and transcripts, as well as evidence of community service, leadership, and demonstrated commitment to high ideals.

Of the 3.6 million students expected to graduate from high school this year, more than 5,300 candidates qualified for the 2020 awards determined by outstanding performance on the College Board SAT or ACT exams or through nominations made by Chief State School Officers, other partner recognition organizations and the National YoungArts Foundation’s nationwide YoungArts™ competition.

As directed by executive order of the President, the 2020 U.S. Presidential Scholars are comprised of one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and U.S. families living abroad, as well as 15 chosen at-large, 20 scholars in the arts and 20 scholars in career and technical education.

The Presidential Scholars Class of 2020 will be recognized for their outstanding achievement this summer as public health circumstances permit.

Data Review for Graduation Reporting Phase One Now Available

Graduation Reporting Phase 1 provides schools the opportunity to review and make any necessary changes to student data. This phase focuses on ensuring accuracy of start and exit statuses for students who are part of the 2020 cohort. The cohort is comprised of any student who entered grade 9 for the first time in the 2016-2017 school year. The emphasis of this phase is on examining the accuracy of the enrollment data, including transfer-in and transfer-out statuses. Validation of these codes assists us in ensuring accurate calculations of four-year graduation rates. Graduation Phase 1 review is requested to be completed by June 15^th.

Graduation Reporting Phase One Instructions:

https://www.maine.gov/doe/data-reporting/collection/helpdesk/resources/data-reporting-instructions

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the Data Helpdesk at 207-624-6896 or MEDMS.Helpdesk@Maine.gov

Nominations Open For 2020 Maine School Maintenance Custodian of the Year A. Burleigh Oxton Award for Excellence

Educational Plant Maintenance Association of Maine (EPMA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering the best practices of educational plant maintenance and custodial workmanship through education and training for school custodians, maintenance teams, and facilities directors, is currently accepting nominations for Maine School Maintenance Custodian of the Year A. Burleigh Oxton Award for Excellence.

The A. Burleigh Oxton Award for Excellence recipient will receive a personalized plaque and a $300.00 college scholarship that will be awarded in their name to a deserving student who is a graduate in their district.

Maine School Maintenance Custodian of the Year A. Burleign Oxton Award for Excellence Selection Criteria:

Serves as a role model for students through actions of a dedicated employee who is known for going the extra mile to help students, staff, and visitors to the facility
Demonstrates passion about maintaining and operating the local school building to ensure clean, safe, and healthy learning and working environment, and
Demonstrates exemplary job performance,

Nominations are accepted from school administration, school staff, parents, students, and/or school groups.

Nominations Due Date June 5, 2020

Please send a nomination letter that:

Describes why the nominee was chosen
Explains outstanding performance that led to the nomination
Tells a written or visual story about the nominee’s community contribution or activities
Includes the name, address, and phone number of three references

The nomination must include: name, address, phone, and title of the nominee; name and address of the nominee’s supervisor; name and address of the School Administrative Unit; and name, address, telephone, and email of the person submitting the nomination. Send your nomination by email to Andrew Madura, President of EPMA, at andy.madura@lakeregionschools.org and please attach your nomination letter as a pdf.

The EPMA Selection Process

June 5, 2020, nominations close at end of day
June 6-11, EPMA Selection Committee reviews nominations and invites nominee to provide additional information
June 12, Nominees will be notified about the status of their nomination
June 14-July 17, the top 4 finalists will be contacted to schedule a conference call or virtual interview with the EPMA A. Burleigh Oxton Award Committee

During the fall of 2020, the recipient of Maine School Maintenance Custodian of the Year A. Burleigh Oxton Award for Excellence will be recognized at an award ceremony that will be coordinated by the recipient’s school and the EPMA A. Burleigh Oxton Award Committee.

Please contact Andrew Madura, President of EPMA, by telephone at 207-693-6467 if you have questions.