Maine’s testing window for the computer-based English language proficiency assessment ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 is now open with WIDA’s recently added support for iPads. This year’s new and improved online assessment replaces the previous paper-based version for students in grades 1-12. Kindergarten students will continue to take the paper exam.
Continue reading “ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 online testing window opens”
Story by Brenda LaVerdiere, 2015 Franklin County Teacher of the Year and finalist for the Maine Teacher of the Year. Read original article on the Bangor Daily News website here.
Imagine that you are a fourth grade teacher working in an economically deprived school in the foothills of western Maine. You teach in a small town where the factory and farming jobs that used to be the economic engine of your community no longer exist. In this once thriving community, many parents now struggle to find jobs that pay a living wage. Many parents struggle to buy school supplies and clothes for their children.
Continue reading “Franklin County Teacher of the Year’s hope for a student living in poverty”
The Maine Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services Center for Disease Control and Prevention are proposing refinements to joint rule Chapters 126/261.
Maine DOE is reminding administrators and school board members of the approaching deadline for Annual Certification of Employment of Superintendent of Schools and related forms to be completed and submitted to the Department.
Continue reading “Certification of superintendent election or reelection”
Last month, Acting Commissioner Bill Beardsley visited Brittany Kamenos’ four-year old classroom at the Chelsea Elementary School. RSU 12 Superintendent Howard Tuttle, Principal Andrew Doiron, Southern Kennebec Child Development Corporation’s Executive Director Cristina Salois, Program Manager Penny Poolman, and Child Development Services Director Larry Schooley briefed the acting commissioner on the collaboration.
Continue reading “Acting Commissioner Beardsley visits public preschool classroom”
Earlier this month Maine Department of Education’s Roberta Lucas and Pam Partridge were invited to the Blaine House to be formally honored through the Governor’s Employee and Manager of the Year recognition program.
Story courtesy of Karen Donato, former elementary teacher and current ed. tech III at Houlton Elementary School.
Acting Commissioner of Education Bill Beardsley was a guest at Houlton Elementary School this past month learning more about the successful K-to-3 literacy program in RSU 29. Beardsley participated in a round table discussion with a kindergarten teacher; first grade teachers; a literacy specialist; a literacy coach; University of Maine’s literacy coach; the principal, and RSU 29’s superintendent.
Continue reading “Commissioner visits Houlton Elementary School”
Governor Paul R. LePage has nominated Dr. William Beardsley to be Commissioner of the Maine Department of Education. Beardsley has been with Maine DOE since October as acting commissioner.
The 105th Commissioner’s Conference for Superintendents will be held Sunday, June 26 through Tuesday, June 28.
Location, registration information and a detailed agenda will be available in the coming weeks.
In an effort to better meet the needs of children who are in the legal custody of the Department of Health and Human Services, who are placed residentially by that agency in an out-of-state program, and who are receiving special education services, the Maine Department of Education will be assuming responsibility for overseeing the educational programming for those children as the State is responsible for them.
