More than 200 Maine special educators and representatives of the Maine Departments of Education, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Health and Human Services recently participated in evidence-based professional development for the State Personnel Development Grant (SPDG).
Continue reading “Educators engage in evidence-based professional development”
The Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program seeks experienced and distinguished K-12 educators in fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to serve an 11-month fellowship appointment in a federal agency or U.S. Congressional office.
Continue reading “STEM distinguished educator fellowship program seeks applicants”
The Maine DOE maintains an online collection of frequently asked questions about special education. The Department has added new sets of questions to the Caseload and Adverse Effect Form sections of the FAQs. The Child Development Services section has been removed, and an already-existing question from this section has been added to the IEP Team section.
The Maine DOE Office of Special Services will make an additional $3 million in FY13 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B funding available to school administrative units to help offset financial losses they may have experienced as a result of the federal sequestration. These funds are part of the FY13 amount set aside by the Maine DOE, in accordance with its federally-approved Part B application, for State-level activities.
Continue reading “Additional IDEA, Part B funding for school administrative units”
Organizations are invited to nominate individuals for the 2014 Lewis Hine Awards for Service to Children and Youth. These awards are presented annually by the National Child Labor Committee (NCLC) to 10 recipients – five professionals and five volunteers – for their commitment to the well-being, growth and development of youth through a paid job or volunteering.
Continue reading “Nominate those who serve youth for national award”
In response to several questions from the field, the Department is providing clarity for charter schools regarding funding allocations for students who are newly identified as special education but were not identified as such by their attending school administrative unit (SAU).
Continue reading “Clarity on charter school special education student funding”
The Maine DOE has partnered with Project Tomorrow to preregister all Maine schools for Speak Up 2013, a national research project that collects views and opinions of K-12 students, parents and educators on critical 21st century education and technology issues. Data findings are shared each year with federal, state and local policymakers to inform education programs, policies and funding.
Continue reading “Research project seeks opinions on education and technology issues”
This dispatch clarifies the requirements of LD 843 (Public Law Chapter 244), An Act to Promote the Financial Literacy of High School Students, passed by the Legislature this past session. The legislation further emphasizes the teaching of financial literacy that is already included in the standards for students at the secondary level.
Continue reading “Clarification of act to promote financial literacy”
The daily education rates for special purpose private schools have been set for the 2013-14 school year.
Special purpose private schools may charge less than the established daily rate but cannot charge school administrative units (SAUs) or the Maine DOE more than the rate established below. Daily education rate does not include charges for related services determined per each student’s individualized education program.
Continue reading “Daily education rates set for special purpose private schools”
Dear Superintendents,
I am pleased to introduce myself as the Educator Effectiveness Coordinator for the Maine Department of Education. In my first two weeks with the Department, I have gained a broad sense of the status of performance evaluation and professional growth (PE/PG) systems implementation among school administrative units (SAUs) across the state. I am now seeking to refine my understanding and at the same time develop a mutually-valuable, continuous source of data, information and resources for you. Continue reading “Survey on educator evaluation implementation”
