Certificates and Fingerprint Clearance Cards are now paperless

Certificates and Fingerprint Clearance Cards will now be available in a paperless form through the NEO Portal. As part of the streamline process for launching the new online certification system and to promote a more secure environment with less manual process and excess paper, certificates and fingerprint clearance cards will no longer be mailed to applicants.

Applicants and school districts can visit the NEO portal to confirm and check the status of credentials. Additionally, applicants can log in and print their status if necessary.

Here is a direct link to the NEO Portal where status can be checked. This page can also be accessed from the Certification webpage under, “What is my Status”, the “Check Application Status” link on the Certification home page, or on the “Authority, Forms and FAQs” page.

If you have questions regarding this change in process or recent enhancements to the website, please contact Stephanie Fyfe, Education Team Coordinator at stephanie.fyfe@maine.gov

MEA Science and eMPowerME – Large Print and Paper Order Requests Due 1/26/18

If a student cannot take the MEA Mathematics and ELA/Literacy (grades 3-8) assessment online and needs a paper-version (regular size print or large print) due to an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), or special accommodations such as a 504 plan or other specific reasons, requests must be made individually using the following forms:

eMPowerME LP Paper Version Request 2018
eMPowerME regular print Paper Version Request 2018

The MEA Science (grades 5, 8, 3rd year high school) is a regular size print/paper test. If a student requires this assessment in large print due to an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), or special accommodations such as a 504 plan or other specific reasons, requests must be made individually using the following form:

Science LP Paper Version Request 2018

Individual requests for different versions of either assessment are due to DOE by Friday January 26, 2018. Requests must be sent via SECURE EMAIL to Nancy Godfrey nancy.godfrey@maine.gov. Requests are reviewed by the DOE Assessment Team and approved or denied with an email confirmation.

For more information or questions contact Nancy Godfrey, Assessment Coordinator for the Maine Department of Education at Nancy.godfrey@maine.gov or 207-624-6775.

Changes to 2016/17 Graduation, Completers, and Dropouts reporting in NEO

The Maine Department of Education has extended the due date for the Graduation Attending Reports to end of day, February 2, 2018 to allow for extra time for districts to complete the report. This report includes the certification of Superintendents.

In addition to the extension, the responsible district section of graduation reporting will no longer be necessary to complete for the 2016/17 school year. This section will be removed from DC&R.

For questions regarding Graduation, Completers, and Dropouts, contact Travis Wood at travis.wood@maine.gov –207-624-6742 or Leda Cunningham at Leda.M.Cunningham@maine.gov –207-624-6816.

For questions about NEO, contact the Maine DOE Help Desk at MEDMS.Helpdesk@maine.gov — 207-624-689.

Preschool Application for the 2018-2019 School Year

The application for all public preschool new and/or expanding programs is now available on our website http://www.maine.gov/doe/publicpreschool/establishing/index.html

The deadline for completion is April 30, 2018. To view the application in its entirety before filling it out can be done by accessing the PDF copy, also available on the website. Please note, this version appears much longer as it shows every question offered to applicants. Depending on your individual answers, you may or may not be redirected.

For clarification, those that completed the fall survey regarding their desire to open or expand a preschool program must complete this application for approval. No program will be approved without this and the supporting documentation requested.

Chapter 124: Basic Approval Standards: Public Preschool Programs is also available for review at the above link.

Any questions regarding this process should be directed to Nicole Madore at 624-6677 or Nicole.madore@maine.gov

Maine DOE Seeks Proposals for 21st Century Community Learning Center Programs

The Maine Department of Education is pleased to announce the release of a request for proposals (RFP) seeking bids from interested parties to implement comprehensive 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) programs in 2018-2019.

Authorized under Title IV, Part B of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Act of 2015, the 21st CCLC program provides competitive grant funding to support before school, after school, and summer learning programs that focus on improving the academic performance of students in Pre-Kindergarten through grade 12.

The primary purpose of Maine’s 21^st CCLC program is to provide school and community partnerships with funding to establish or expand programs that provide students in high-need, economically-disadvantaged communities with academic enrichment opportunities designed to complement their traditional school day curriculum. In addition, these programs can provide a broad array of additional support services related to overall student health and well-being.

Local 21^st CCLC programs – which can be located in elementary schools, secondary schools or similarly accessible community facilities – provide high quality support services to students during non-school hours. As such, these programs also support working parents and families by providing safe, supportive learning environments for students at times when school is not in session.

The request for proposal (RFP), which includes information regarding eligibility, program requirements, and more, is available here. An informational webinar for this RFP will be posted to the Department’s application website on January 30, 2018. It is strongly encouraged that interested parties review this presentation prior to completing an application for 21^st CCLC program funding.

For more information on the 21st Century Community Learning Center (21^st CCLC) Program, contact Federal Grant Coordinator, Travis Doughty, at travis.w.doughty@maine.gov.

Training schedule for Comprehensive Needs Assessment and SAU Consolidated Plan

The Maine Department of Education continues to provide support regarding the development and completion of a Comprehensive Needs Assessment and SAU Consolidated Plan as required under the recently reauthorized Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Completed SAU Consolidated Plans must be submitted to the Maine Department of Education on or before July 1, 2018. The utilization of the CNA and SAU Consolidated Plan template will ensure all required elements are included.

The Department has developed the following training schedule to support SAU Data Coordinators, SAU and school staff as they complete the Comprehensive Needs Assessment and SAU Consolidated Plan. Registration can be completed through the session title hyperlinks below.

Data Collection
The target audience for this session is SAU Data Coordinators
Tuesday February 13, 2018
9 AM – 12 Noon Augusta, Cross State Office Building, Room 103

Work session
The target audience for this session is SAU and school staff completing the CNA/SAU Consolidated Plan.
Tuesday February 6, 2018
1 pm – 4 PM Augusta, Cross State Office Building, Room 541

Work session
The target audience for this session is SAU and school staff completing the CNA/SAU Consolidated Plan.
Tuesday March 6, 2018
8:30 AM – 12 Noon Augusta, Cross State Office Building, Room 541

Data Dive and Evaluation
The target audience will be central office and plan development team members who will examine the data to determine root cause and next steps. The group will be divided into two groups for a work session: Group 1 – NWEA data, Group 2 – STAR data.
Monday March 19, 2018
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Augusta, Cross State Office Building, Room 103

Available resources to assist SAUs to complete the SAU Consolidated Plan include:

Guidance Document – – This document provides guiding questions for SAUs to ponder and respond to when completing the CNA. The SAU Consolidated Plan will be developed after the CNA is completed.
Question and Answers – This document contains a summary of all questions posed during technical assistance sessions.

In order to register for the upcoming professional development sessions, please click on the hyperlinks included below. By clicking on the appropriate link, you will be brought to a registration form.

For further information please contact Janette Kirk, Deputy Director for the Office of Learning Systems at (207) 624-6707 or Janette.Kirk@maine.gov

Read to ME Challenge Set to Kick-off February 1st

Year 3 of the Read to ME Challenge is scheduled to begin on February 1, 2018. First Lady Ann LePage will launch the campaign by reading to children at a local school. She will follow up her reading by issuing a challenge to participate in the 2018 campaign. This simple but powerful campaign challenges adults to read to children for 15 minutes, to capture that reading episode via a photo and then post it on social media to challenge others to do the same. The Read to ME Challenge will run for the month leading up to Read Across America Day on March 2, 2017.

If your organization is willing and able to promote the Read to ME Challenge, please follow this link to provide us with your contact information: Read to ME Challenge Partner 2018. Read to ME Challenge resources, including a guidance document, public service announcements in a variety of languages, fliers and a list of engaging ways to incorporate the challenge are available on the Read to ME Challenge webpage.

Reading aloud to children is one of the most cost effective and highly beneficial methods of building children’s literate abilities. The simple act of reading aloud to a child 15 minutes a day for five years results in 27,375 minutes of language exposure which can put children on the path to high literacy achievement. Reading aloud exposes children to the world around them, helps them see reading as an enjoyable and valuable activity and often strengthens bonds with trusted adults.

Schools and organizations are invited to join the challenge and to encourage community members to do the same. The collective voice of many key partners, leaders and those in respected positions will send a clear message about the vital importance reading to children plays in the social and economic well-being of Maine. Maine DOE also encourages partners to be creative and to use this opportunity to enhance ongoing literacy education outreach efforts.

Thanks for your consideration of this opportunity, and don’t hesitate to contact leeann.larsen@maine.gov (624-6628) with any questions.

Reminder of Restraint and Seclusion Overview and Awareness Information Course

As mid-school year approaches, this is a reminder of The Restraint and Seclusion Overview and Awareness Information Course that is provided by the Maine DOE to districts at no cost.

In accordance with Chapter 33, “Annually, each covered entity shall provide overview and awareness information to all staff, including contracted providers, regarding the content of this rule and any local policies or procedures related to the use of physical restraint and seclusion” (Chapter 33, Section 4.2).

SafeSchools and Maine DOE collaborated to create this 25 minute, web based course specifically to address Chapter 33.

To register staff for the Restraint and Seclusion Overview and Awareness Information Course, contact Justin Moore at SafeSchools. He can be reached by calling 1-800-434-0154, ext 7028 or emailing at jmoore@safeschools.com.

Maine FFA student officers review Maine agriculture

Maine FFA State Officers meet with grant sponsor Maine Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC). Left to right: Doug Robertson, State FFA Advisor, Maine Department of Education; Maryjane Stafford, Chair, MAITC Association; Willie Sawyer Grenier, Executive Director; Kelsey Fortin, Assistant. In background is Maine Agricultural License Plate, whose revenues support $60,000 in educational grants each year.

Student State Officers of the Maine FFA Association (formerly known as “Future Farmers of America”) enjoyed in depth discussions with representatives of Maine’s agriculture and natural resources community on January 9, 2018 at the Agricultural Trades Show in the Augusta Civic Center.

The Maine FFA Association, devoted to leadership development, represents students in grades 7-12 (as well as collegiate alumni members) enrolled in classes related to agriculture and natural resources. Some of these classes are offered through technical programs (such as horticulture and forestry) at secondary Career & Technical Education schools, while others are offered through middle and secondary classes in subjects such as science that are aligned to agriculture and natural resources. Maine currently has 14 FFA chapters from Sanford to Caribou with over 500 members. FFA members participate in state-level events as well as regional and national competitions, leadership training and other opportunities (such as over $2 million in scholarships) provided by the National FFA Organization.

The annual Agricultural Trades Show is organized by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and features 3 days of presentations, lessons and displays involving representatives of numerous industry, governmental and non-profit organizations.

Maine’s State FFA Officer team came away from this year’s Trades Show with a greater understanding of the state’s agriculture and natural resources, as well as the names of many contacts to include in future partnerships. They also had the opportunity to attend the luncheon hosted by Commissioner Walt Whitcomb of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry at which presentations included Governor Paul LePage and Dr. Barb Glenn, Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.

For more information about Maine FFA and how to start an FFA chapter, please contact: Doug Robertson, Agriculture & Natural Resources Specialist and Maine FFA State Advisor, Maine Department of Education, doug.robertson@maine.gov (207) 624-6744

Maine FFA State Officers (center) – Micayla Driscoll, Secretary-Treasurer; Isabelle Wright, Vice President; Kaley Norsworthy, President – visit with representatives of major sponsor, Farm Credit East – Renee Poulin, Appraiser Trainee, and Jacob Vainio, Credit Representative/Analyst

CDS Committee Recommendations

On December 11, 2017, the Part B 619 Advisory Committee, which discussed the proposed transition of special education and related services for children ages 3 to 5 from Child Development Services to the public schools, held its final meeting. Over the course of the Committee’s six meetings, multiple issues related to the proposed transition were identified and discussed. The final product of the Committee’s work is a list of recommendations, for the Commissioner’s consideration, which focus on funding, staffing, facilities, and regionalization opportunities.

A complete list of the Committee’s recommendations can be found at: http://www.maine.gov/doe/cds/guidance/documents/PartB619AdvisoryCommitteeRecommendations-Final.pdf

Any questions regarding the recommendations may be sent to the Child Development Services State Director, Roy Fowler, at roy.fowler@maine.gov