Category: Newsroom Articles

Free webinar on school mold, moisture control

A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency webinar on mold and moisture control in schools this Wednesday will be headlined by two Mainers.

Alyce Swann, facilities supervisor for RSU 21, and Steven Caulfield, senior vice president for Turner Building Science and Design and president of the Maine Indoor Air Quality Council, will be the featured speakers for the webinar Mold and Moisture Control in Schools: Potential Health Effects and Safe Clean-Up Practices. Jennifer Lemon, of EPA’s Indoor Environments Division, will facilitate the free webinar, which will be held Wednesday, Aug. 7 from 1 to 2:15 p.m. Continue reading “Free webinar on school mold, moisture control” →

New best practice video features Belfast school

Maine DOE’s Center for Best Practice has released a new video, “Everything in the Building is Tied to a Learning Standard,” which focuses on Troy Howard Middle School’s transformation over the past seven years. Continue reading “New best practice video features Belfast school” →

U.S. DOE requests information on Native American English learners

The U.S. Department of Education has re-opened its Request for Information (RFI) on Native American English learners. The purpose of the RFI is to gather information pertaining to the identification and placement of Native American students who are English learners in language instruction educational programs. The U.S. DOE developed this RFI to help State and local educational agencies, schools, tribes and other interested entities identify, share and implement practices for accurately identifying Native American students who are English learners.

Continue reading “U.S. DOE requests information on Native American English learners” →

Change for youth served by Child Development Services

As a recipient of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funds, the State of Maine is required to identify in writing for local educational agencies any special education rule that is a State-imposed requirement and not mandated under federal IDEA requirements. Maine’s yearly application for IDEA, Part B, funding also requires this identification.

Continue reading “Change for youth served by Child Development Services” →

New teacher leaders discuss proficiency in the arts

Visual art teachers Debi Lynne Baker (left) and Jane Snider discuss proficiency and standards at the MAAI summer institute at Maine College of Art.
Visual art teachers Debi Lynne Baker (left) and Jane Snider discuss proficiency and standards at the MAAI summer institute at Maine College of Art.

The Maine DOE’s Maine Arts Assessment Initiative (MAAI) welcomed 14 new teacher leaders during the summer institute held at the Maine College of Art in Portland. More than 50 visual and performing arts teachers have received professional development to become teacher leaders and continue to provide workshops on a variety of topics that include assessment. During the last two years, more than 800 teachers have attended sessions at the regional, mega-regional and statewide levels, and electronically. The teachers represent dance, music, theatre and visual arts from PK-12 grade levels and all regions of the state.

Continue reading “New teacher leaders discuss proficiency in the arts” →

Conference promotes student, staff health and well-being

School districts from across the state attended the 2013 Maine Schoolsite Health Promotion Conference, Celebrating the Seasons of Wellness, last month to gather knowledge, skills, resources, ideas and inspiration to apply to their 2013-14 Health Promotion and Wellness Action Plans.

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Free webinar series supports healthy school environments

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is offering a free webinar series to help school communities take sensible, low- or no-cost steps to create healthier environments in their buildings. Each webinar will feature school district personnel from across the country presenting their real-life examples and solutions.

Continue reading “Free webinar series supports healthy school environments” →

New and revised required special education forms available

Maine DOE has developed a new required special education form titled “Parental Consent to Invite Other Agencies to IEP Meetings – Postsecondary Goals & Transition Services.” The Department has also made significant revisions to the required “Form for the Determination of Adverse Effect (AE) on Educational Performance” and developed a guidance document for the AE form. Continue reading “New and revised required special education forms available” →

Changes in available translated special ed forms (outdated info)

This information is outdated. Please visit https://www.maine.gov/doe/specialservices for further information and support.

Effective July 31, the Maine DOE will no longer provide non-English translations of the State-required special education forms on its website, including those for: Advance Written Notice, Adverse Effect Form, Documentation for Excusal of IEP/IFSP Team Member whose Curriculum Area is Being Discussed, Documentation of Agreement of Non-Attendance for IEP/IFSP Team Member whose Curriculum Area is Not Being Discussed, IEP, Learning Disability Evaluation Report, Parental Consent for Evaluation, Speech/Language Eligibility Form, Summary of Performance and Written Notice. Continue reading “Changes in available translated special ed forms (outdated info)” →