Join the Maine DOE Learning Through Technology Team at the ACTEM Fall Conference!

The Maine Department of Education Office of Teaching and Learning’s Learning Through Technology (LTT) Team hopes to see you at the ACTEM Fall Conference.

The LTT Team will have a booth and playground on the main floor, and we hope attendees stop by to connect, join our mailing list, and check out what resources are available to support technology education in your school.

Maine DOE’s short playground sessions will focus on the Computer Science Mobile Lab technologies (Lego, Sphero, and Merge), Animation, Green Screening, VR with Meta Quest, Bloxels Game Design, and more. Check out the listing and schedule.

The LTT team is presenting eight sessions over the two days of ACTEM, covering a variety of topics in addition to our playground offerings. You can find more information about the sessions below.

The Association of Computer Technology Educators of Maine’s (ACTEM) annual Fall Conference is held at the Augusta Civic Center on October 10-11th. ACTEM’s mission is to influence and enhance education in Maine through the use of technology. Our conference offers workshops, keynotes and exhibitors centered around this mission. The conference is a popular event for Maine educators each fall.

Registration for ACTEM 2024
ACTEM 2024 schedule and sessions (available through Sched)

We hope to see you there!

LTT Team Session Descriptions

AI for Accessibility
with Jeff Ireland, Janice Medenica, and Stephanie McGruder

We will learn and practice using various AI tools to make your general curriculum more accessible for students. AI tools can increase the efficiency with which we generate, level, or translate text and make content more relevant for our students. AI can also help with scaffolding, assessment creation, high-interest content creation, and so much more. Bring some of your content with you and see how you might make your content more accessible for your students.

Bored Class? No, Board Games! Gamification With Tabletopia
with Chris Beckwith and Janice Medenica

Educators have long been in competition with digital entertainment for student attention at school. The tabletop board game simulator, Tabletopia, can be leveraged to engage students and reinforce what they are learning in the classroom. Building on the success of the last MLTI virtual student conference, the Maine Winter Classic, we will introduce this platform and share best practices for implementing the features available via the free version of Tabletopia.

Future Minds: Cultivating a Culture of AI Investigation
with Nicole Karod and Ashley Carroll

This session introduces elementary education to artificial intelligence, emphasizing its enhancement of teaching and productivity. Discover how AI can support differentiated instruction, foster creativity, and streamline administrative tasks. Gain practice strategies for integrating AI, boosting productivity, and inspiring students with future-ready skills.

Future-Proofing Technology Education in the Age of AI and Emerging Technologies
with the Maine DOE’s LTT Team

Join the Learning Through Technology (LTT) team from the Maine DOE for this engaging discussion-based panel on future-proofing education to help prepare students for emerging technologies. In this session, we’ll discuss the importance of foundational skills for success in an increasingly changing, technologically based society. Come to this session to explore these questions and learn more about how the LTT team can support your work.

Integrate Coding to Go Beyond Just the CS
with Allison Braley and AJ Rog

This session will show you how to embrace Scratch as a tool for students to show their knowledge, no matter what class they are in. Scratch can give students a creative outlet to what they are learning in your class. Go beyond Google Slides, Canva, and Google docs as a way to show understanding. Give your students the chance to show their learning by creating games, adventures, interactive stories, and much more.

It’s Elementary, My Dear Miltie: MLTI in Grades 1-5
with Jon Graham, Amy McInerney, Ashley Carroll and Donna Netzer

This year elementary schools have become part of MLTI like never before. The program has been tracking toward more focused support and inclusion of elementary educators, but we can do more. In this session, we will look at some recent elementary successes from our team. We will also look at what the program is planning, but we want to hear from you! If you are an elementary educator, please come, share and advocate how MLTI can best serve you and your students.

License to Drive: Developing Digital Wisdom & Leadership
by Jonathan R. Werner & Gwyneth Maguire

We know that the Digital Native is a myth, yet we often expect our students to navigate tech independently. In this session, we will look at how to support students as they move toward independent navigation of the complexities of their online lives. We’ll also explore ways to support their journey toward gaining greater digital wisdom including media balance and well-being. We will conclude by crowd sourcing strategies to create independent digital leaders.

Tech Integration VS Tech Use: Enhancing Learning
with Donna Netzer

Using technology is fun and engaging for students but it can often be seen as a toy not a tool. Technology integration isn’t just bringing in technology to the classroom, it is incorporating it in a way that enhances learning. We will explore the difference between just using tech with learning and integrating technology in a way that enhances learning in the classroom.

Reports Open in NEO: October 1 Enrollment, Dropout, Quarterly Reports, and Staff Certification

Fall reports are open. All reports require review, validation, and/or certification by superintendents.

Reports Open:

EPS October 1 Student Enrollment (including EF-S-05 Part1) – Currently Open for review, Certification Opens 10/16, Due 10/30
Dropout – Opens 10/2, Due 10/15
Bullying – Due 10/15
Behavior – Due 10/15
Daily Attendance – Due 10/15
Truancy – Due 10/15
Staff Certification (including EF-S-05 Part2) – Due 10/30

Reporting guidance, instructions, and recorded webinars about these reports can be found on the MEDMS Support page. For questions about these reports, please contact MEDMS.Support@maine.gov or call 207-624-6896

Maine DOE Early Learning Team Support and Professional Development Offerings

The Maine Department of Education’s Early Learning Team, in the Office of Teaching and Learning, supports educators (teachers, administrators, and community providers) across the birth through early elementary years, with technical assistance, online tools, and professional learning opportunities.

During the 2024-25 school year, in addition to ongoing technical assistance, the team will be offering online professional development opportunities, a monthly newsletter, and monthly office hours. See below for details:

Challenging Behavior and Early Childhood Environments Learning Modules: Utilizing the IRIS Center Early Childhood Environments and Early Childhood Behavior Management Modules, the Early Learning Team is offering the field a learning opportunity through the Maine Department of Education’s EnGine platform. This 6-week module will take a deeper dive into Early Childhood Environments and Early Childhood Behavior Management: Developing and Teaching Rules offered by the IRIS Center. The sessions will meet in person on 10/29/2024 and again for the final session on 12/10/2024 at 3:30-4:30pm via zoom. There will be weekly asynchronous learning activities in-between the week 1 and week 6 in-person sessions. A limited number of participants will be allowed in each session with hopes of offering the learning opportunity again in Winter 2024. – Register for this opportunity here.

Monthly Virtual Newsletters: Delivered to your inbox each month, the World of Early Learning newsletter will spotlight topics in early childhood education to support your work through a birth to third grade focus. The newsletter highlights communities, schools, and partnerships, and shares an ongoing list of upcoming events and professional development opportunities across our state. Subscribe to the World of Early Learning Newsletter and/or update your Maine DOE subscriptions here.

Early Learning Team Office Hours: Online office hours will be held on the second Thursday of each month. Each monthly topic will correspond to the prior month’s newsletter (see schedule below). Attendees are also encouraged to bring questions and needs for discussion and guidance. Save this zoom link – it will be used each month (Meeting ID: 851 6655 0471).

Office Hour Date 3:30-4:30pm	Topics for Focus	Newsletter
10/10/24	Classroom Environment	September
11/14/2024	Challenging behaviors	October
12/12/2024	Inclusion in Early Learning	November
01/09/2025	Kindergarten Entry Inventory	December
02/13/25	Maine Instructional Programs/Purposeful play	January
03/13/25	Data and Assessment	February
04/10/25	Supporting Allied Arts	March
05/08/25	Transitions through grades	April
06/12/2025	First 10/community schools	May

We are looking forward to supporting the field with these offerings and other future professional development opportunities.

For more information and questions, please reach out to Nicole Madore, Early Childhood Specialist, at nicole.madore@maine.gov or Marcy Whitcomb, Public Pre-K Consultant at marcy.r.whitcomb@maine.gov

REMINDER: Seeking Public Comment on Chapter 115 – the Credentialing of Education Personnel

The Maine State Board of Education is conducting conversations with the public about Rule Chapter 115: The Credentialing of Educational Personnel, from August through December. Resolve 2024, Chapter 137 directed the State Board of Education to amend Rule Chapter 115, with special attention to sections related to the State Board of Education’s report submitted to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs in 2023.

The State Board of Education intends to take the following steps with respect to review of these rules:

Begin speaking with experts in the field
Revise necessary sections of Chapter 115
Invite public feedback on the revisions
File updated rule
Engage with Legislative oversight of the rule

The State Board of Education will hold several regional meetings focused on ideas and goals related to certification regulations in a general sense. These meetings will also focus on specific sections of Chapter 115 and will provide invaluable feedback to the State Board. In addition, the State Board of Education’s Certification and Higher Education Committee will provide time within the established meeting schedule to receive public feedback on Rule Chapter 115.

Remaining dates for these meetings are as follows – for the Zoom link, please email Emily Cummins

October 16, 2024; 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
November 20, 2024: 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
December 18, 2024: 10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Taking into consideration the insights gained from all of these discussions, the State Board of Education will propose updates to Rule Chapter 115 and begin the Maine Administrative Procedures Act (A.P.A.) routine technical rule process pursuant to Title 5 MRS §8052 (public notice of filing, public hearing, open public comment period). Once the proposed rule has been filed, the public will be notified of the scheduled public hearing and comment period.  This will be an opportunity to provide written and oral comments regarding the proposed rules. The State Board of Education will review all comments and respond accordingly.  Updates to the rules will then be submitted for review as to form and legality and legislative oversight before final adoption.   

For more information and updates check the State Board of Education webpage.

For more information about the conceptual conversations for Rule Chapter 115 contact Laura Cyr at laura.cyr@maine.gov.

Common Threads of Maine Partners with Westbrook Adult Ed Program to Expand Workforce Training

When Common Threads of Maine, a nonprofit school specializing in Maine’s textile industry, made the difficult decision to close recently, owner Dory Waxman reached out to the Westbrook Adult Education program to see if they would be interested in taking over their sewing classes as part of their workforce training program.

“We gave a very enthusiastic YES! to that question and they have since moved into Westbrook Regional Vocational Center (WRVC), which is where our adult education office is located,” explained Jen Mull-Brooks, Director of Westbrook Adult Education.

Common Threads of Maine sent several sewing machines of all kinds to support starting the sewing class and former owner Waxman continues to support the transition by mentoring Mull-Brooks through continuing relationships with existing financial support for the class.

In addition to this, Westbrook Adult Ed. received special permission to run the program during school hours to help break down childcare barriers since school-aged children will be in school. Students in the adult education sewing program will be learning alongside WRVC high school students after passing background checks to ensure it is an appropriate and safe fit.

Waxman has introduced the Adult Ed team at Westbrook to Apphia Mpay who taught at Common Threads. Mpay is from the Democratic Republic of Congo and is a fashion designer, from a family of artists. Mpay talks about her love of training others and teaching them hand skills with kindness and patience in her biography on the Common Threads website.

“We have hired Apphia to continue teaching with us, as she comes with an incredible reputation for her teaching, stitching, and design skills. We’re so excited to have her as part of our team!” said Jen Mull-Brooks.

To learn more about the courses offered through Westbrook Adult Education, visit their website. Search the Maine Adult Education Class Search, or look for Adult education programs near you.

This story was submitted by Westbrook Adult Education Program. To share good news from your school, please fill out this form.

Maine DOE to Host Variety of Virtual Office Hours to Support Educators and Administrators for 24/25 School Year

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is hosting a wide variety of office hours this school year to support school and district educators/staff with everything from technical assistance to professional learning, as well as opportunities to connect and share with colleagues across the state.

Please find a selection of virtual office hours hosted by Maine DOE staff below:

Assessment Team Office Hours – Second Wednesday of the month, 12:00 – 1:00 pm
ESEA Federal Programs Fiscal Office Hours – Second Tuesday of the month, 9:00 – 10:00 am
Federal Relief Program Office Hours – First Thursday of the month, 9:00 – 10:00 am
Federal Fiscal Office Hours – Last Thursday of the month, 10:00 – 11:00 am
Federal Relief, No agenda Walk-In Fiscal Office Hour – Tuesdays, 9:00 am through October 1st
Home Instruction Office Hours – Wednesdays, 1:00 – 2:00 pm
Multi-tiered System of Supports Office Hours – First Friday of the month 10:00 am
Early Learning Office Hours – Second Thursday of the month, 3:30 – 4:30 pm
School Finance & Compliance Office Hours – Third Tuesday of the month, 10:00 am
School Safety & Emergency Office Hours – Thursdays, 12:00 – 1:00 pm
School Nurse Office Hours – First Wednesday of the month, 3:30 – 4:30 pm
Wabanaki Studies Office Hours – First Tuesday of the month, 3:00 – 4:00 pm
Special Services Office Hours – Second and fourth Wednesday of the month, 3:00 – 4:00 pm
Integrated Literacy – Every Tuesday and Thursday of the month, 3:30 to 4:30 pm
Multilingual Networking Office Hours – Monthly, 3:30 – 4:30 pm
Innovative Research and Design Office Hours – Third Wednesday of the month, 1:00 -2:00 pm (starting in October)
Engine – Collaborative Platform for Educators Office Hours – First Wednesday of the month, 1:00 – 2:00 pm (starting in November)
Making Connections – HE & PE Community of Practice – Monthly on varying dates, 3:15 – 4:15 pm
Wellness Community of Practice – Fourth Wednesday of the month, 3:15 – 4:15 pm

To find additional information and registration links for any of the opportunities above, search for them in the Maine DOE Events Calendar by date, event type, and/or host topic.

Maine Kicks Off Kindergarten Entry Inventory Project

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) kicked off Maine’s Kindergarten Entry Inventory (KEI) pilot project this summer. The project is a manageable, strength-based, formative tool that aligns with the Pre-K Maine Early Learning Developmental Standards (P MELDS). It is designed to provide educators, families, and caregivers with insights about the whole child’s development to inform instructional planning and decision-making at the beginning of kindergarten.

Kindergarten teachers, administrators, and consultants from the Maine DOE, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Child and Family Services, and the Governor’s Office of Innovation, Policy, and the Future gathered in Augusta during July and August for in-depth overviews of the 3-year project.

Kindergarten Entry Inventory Project kick off - teachers collaborating

This fall, over 30 kindergarten teachers will participate in professional development training to pilot various tasks within their classrooms. Feedback from their experiences will be used to decide the project’s development. Data aggregated from the project will also help strengthen Maine’s early care and education system by identifying areas of steady growth and continuous improvement.

For questions or information, please reach out to Karen Mathieu, Maine DOE Kindergarten Entry Inventory Specialist, at karen.mathieu@maine.gov.

Public Comment for Rule Chapter 132: Learning Results, Parameters for Essential Instruction

During the Second Regular Session of the Maine Legislature, Maine’s Legislative Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs declined to authorize the proposed social studies content standards of the Maine Learning Results. The committee directed the Maine Department of Education (DOE) to reengage in the rulemaking process for the social studies standards. To this end, the Maine DOE reopened the 2024 Steering Committee and writing team conversations for the social studies standards.

On May 3, the Maine DOE convened the 2024 Steering Committee to begin the revision process for Maine’s social studies standards. This committee was composed of various collaborators from the community with a diverse and relevant skill set, including classroom teachers, district administrators, university faculty, and representatives from the Wabanaki nations. Given that the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee did not provide substantive feedback on the 2023 revision when asking the Maine DOE to restart the social studies standards review process, the 2024 Steering Committee determined that, because they did not know what specific issues members of the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs wanted to be amended, they decided to support resubmitting the proposed 2023 Social Studies revised standards in the 132nd legislative session.

The public will have the opportunity to provide public comment during the public comment period of October 1, 2024, through October 31, 2024, at 5 pm.

There will be an opportunity to deliver feedback in person or via Zoom for the revised rule on October 21, 2024 from 1 pm – 3 pm in room 103 A/B of the Cross Office Building located at 11 Sewall Street in Augusta, Maine. As space will be limited, participants are encouraged to attend virtually through Zoom, using this link: Zoom Link for Public Comment on Social Studies
Written comments may be submitted to the Maine DOE Legislative Team member Laura Cyr, State House Station #23, Augusta, Maine 04333; 207-446-8791 or laura.cyr@maine.gov until 5:00 pm on October 31, 2024.

The proposed revised Chapter 132 can be found here:

CONTACT PERSON FOR THIS FILING: Laura Cyr, laura.cyr@maine.gov, 207-446-8791

Professional Development Conference for Rural Maine Educators

Registration is open for the Island Readers & Writers (IRW) for the Dear Teacher 2024 professional development conference, which will be held at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor on October 10 and 11, 2024.

This year’s keynote speaker is Anna Crowley Redding, a children’s book author and Emmy-award-winning journalist. The conference will span two full days and allow participants to register for intensive (three-hour) workshops. Workshop content focuses on three major themes: writing and narrative, arts and humanities, and rural, place-based education.

This conference is designed for educators, principals, support staff, and school librarians working with students in grades pre–K through 8 in rural Maine schools, tiny schools, geographically isolated schools, and schools with multigrade classrooms.

Last year’s debut Dear Teacher conference, held at the Collins Center for the Arts in Orono, ME, was hugely successful, with more than 100 attendees from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, and New Brunswick.

“The Dear Teacher conference is an opportunity to uplift and celebrate educators and librarians in rural communities. We are delighted to bring them together to listen and learn.” —Jan Coates, Island Readers & Writers Executive Director

The Maine Humanities Council and others support the Dear Teacher conference. Visit their website for more information or to register.

Maine Department of Education Releases RFP for Statewide Reading and Mathematics Assessment in Grades 3-8 and High School

The Maine Department of Education is seeking proposals for a statewide reading and mathematics assessment, per State of Maine procurement regulations as outlined in 5 M.R.S.A. § 1825 A-E and Ch. 110 & 120 in 18-554 of the Code of Maine Rules (CMR).

Date	Task
September 24, 2024	RFP Released to the Public
October 3, 2024 – 11:59 pm ET	Deadline for Submission of Questions in Response to RFP
November 14, 2024	Proposal Deadline
November-December 2024	Formal Peer Review of Proposals
February 2025	Grant Award Notifications
July 1, 2025	Grant Award Start Date

The Reading and Mathematics Assessment request for proposals (RFP) can be found on the State of Maine Procurement Services webpage by searching for RFP # 202406122.

The Maine Department of Education’s mission of providing the best learning opportunities for all Maine students will be the driving force of this work. It is the intention of the RFP Committee to engage Maine educational leaders with backgrounds and interest in state assessment as thought partners on the committee to review proposals.

Information about how educators and educational leaders in Maine can apply for the RFP Committee will be forthcoming and shared statewide.