School transportation directors, supervisors, mechanics, bus drivers, and computer technicians from all over Maine will be traveling to Sugarloaf Mountain for the annual intensive training on school transportation.
Continue reading “Safety top focus at school transportation conference”
The Maine DOE reminds district administrators that health care plans developed for students who require services during the school year must be reviewed if those students are attending extended school year (ESY) programming. The plans must be reviewed and revised by the school nurse, parent and primary care provider as needed for these summer learning opportunities. If the students required nursing services during the school year, the same is true for ESY.
The Office of Special Services is responsible for the state’s oversight and support for the delivery of all special education services provided in Maine under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). A new rule adoption, Chapter 101: Maine Unified Special Education Regulation Birth to Age 20, goes into effect on July 19. Continue reading “New rule adoption”
With the legislative enactment of LD 1276 An Act to Improve Educational Assessments of Maine Students, approved by the governor on June 16, now Private and Special Law 2015, Chapter 10, “Directs the Department of Education to terminate the State’s membership in the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium.” The discontinuation of membership in the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium means that we will not be able to use the Smarter Balanced Assessment in future years. It also terminates Maine’s access to the Smarter Balanced Digital Library.
In case you missed the 104th Annual Commissioner’s Conference, here is a recap with valuable links.
Acting Commissioner of Education, Thomas Desjardin opened and closed the conference at Sunday River with timely updates on the ongoing FY16 budget discussions and voting at the State House at the time. He also acknowledged the ever changing educational climate and the hard work and successes of school leaders and Maine DOE’s support through its multi-faceted services.
The Maine DOE will accept applications for funding of school renovation projects through the School Revolving Renovation Fund. The Department will be able to approve approximately $10 million in SRRF loans. A portion of each loan will be considered a grant and will be forgiven, and the remaining portion will be paid back over five or 10 years at zero percent interest.
The Summer Food Services Program kicked off in Bangor and Portland on June 19 and is in full swing throughout the state this month. In Bangor, five sites are open keeping students nourished through a cooperative effort of the Good Shepherd Food Bank, Bangor School District, Bangor Housing Authority, USDA, and Maine DOE’s Child Nutrition Services.
Child Nutrition Programs of the Maine DOE has a new ride and it’s the first in the Northeast.
The Maine DOE now provides requirements checklists for each Certification & Subject Endorsements available for educator certification on the Department’s website here: www.maine.gov/doe/cert/initial/requirements.html.
Continue reading “There is a lot that is “New” in the Certification Office”
This year marked the 12th anniversary of Maine Centers for Women, Work and Community’s free day-long conference, Totally Trades, which encourages girls in grades 8-12 to consider careers in fields traditionally dominated by men.
Maine DOE Newsroom 