NAEP parents’ brochure, testing dates available

The National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as the “Nation’s Report Card,” has set testing dates for the 2012-13 school year. In Maine, a sample of 2,500 to 3,000 randomly selected students in fourth and eighth grades will participate in mathematics or reading assessments between January 29 and March 9, 2013. NAEP has recently released a new parents’ brochure (PDF) to help families better understand the test. Participating districts may wish to share this brochure with their students’ families.

Continue reading “NAEP parents’ brochure, testing dates available” →

Districts invited to participate in Maine’s TIF 4 grant application

UPDATED: School districts that are interested but do not think they can make the Friday, July 13 deadline should contact Scott Harrison by Friday to give notice of their interest and discuss plans for submission.

As Commissioner Stephen Bowen announced last week at the annual Superintendents’ Conference, and based on the strong indication of interest by superintendents in attendance, the Department will work with school districts to apply for the current Teacher Incentive Fund 4 grant cycle.

Unfortunately, the U.S. Department of Education has placed an extremely short (July 27) deadline on applications. Despite the short window of opportunity, if the response from districts is as strong as it seemed it would be, we will proceed with the application.

Maine DOE encourages interested school districts to notify us by next Friday, July 13.

Continue reading “Districts invited to participate in Maine’s TIF 4 grant application” →

Maine DOE gives updates at Superintendents’ Conference

The Maine Superintendents’ Conference packed a lot of workshops and presentations into two days last week. Superintendents got to hear updates from Maine DOE staff about six projects affecting Maine’s education system.

Continue reading “Maine DOE gives updates at Superintendents’ Conference” →

Superintendents learn strategies for student success

Participants in the 101^st annual Maine Superintendents’ Conference last week attended five of nine possible workshop sessions addressing one overarching topic: strategies to help each individual learner meet proficiency. State educators, Maine DOE staff and outside program leaders conducted sessions on subjects such as student-centered data management and the Maine Schools for Excellence teacher evaluation initiative. Here is a closer look at three of the workshops offered:

Continue reading “Superintendents learn strategies for student success” →

Nonviolent Crisis Intervention training program approved

The Maine Department of Education recently approved CPI’s Nonviolent Crisis Intervention® training program as an option for training regarding the use of restraint and seclusion in Maine. This is the first and, so far, only training program approved.

Continue reading “Nonviolent Crisis Intervention training program approved” →

Urgent: Student exit forms due June 30

Maine DOE will close the 2011-12 school year as of Saturday, June 30. It is imperative that schools properly exit all students who are not expected to return in the 2012-13 school year. This must be done prior to the closing of the 2011-12 school year. Continue reading “Urgent: Student exit forms due June 30” →

Educator Quality and Effectiveness Survey past due

The Friday June 16, 2012, deadline for the completion of the annual Educator Quality Effectiveness Survey has passed. If your school district has not yet completed the survey, please do so without delay to ensure timely collection of this ARRA-required education reform assurance compliance reporting. Continue reading “Educator Quality and Effectiveness Survey past due” →

Date set for 2013 Youth Health Survey

The 2013 Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey will be administered during the weeks of February 4 and 11, 2013. Superintendents will be contacted again in August with further details about the survey.

Continue reading “Date set for 2013 Youth Health Survey” →

MEDMS ARRA data reporting due

The Maine Education Data Management System ARRA data reporting module closes for school year 2012 reporting on Friday, July 6, 2012.

Continue reading “MEDMS ARRA data reporting due” →

Opportunity to attend autism training

UPDATED: The Maine Department of Education will host a three-session autism team training for school districts beginning in November 2012. To be considered for participation in the training sessions, the application must be completed no later than September 1, 2012.

Continue reading “Opportunity to attend autism training” →