Category: News & Views

Are You Ready for the Week of the Young Child?

The Week of the Young Child, a national event sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) to celebrate the importance of high-quality early learning, takes place April 1st -7th.  The Maine Department of Education (DOE) and Maine’s Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) are excited to celebrate the event with early childhood educators across the state.

The Week of the Young Child kicks off on Saturday, April 1st, and is followed by opportunities to celebrate using interdisciplinary daily themes throughout the week. How will you celebrate?

Visit the Week of the Young Child resource page on the DOE website for information on the daily themes, scheduled events, and resources for celebrating.  The page includes links to the NAEYC and MAEYC sites, MAEYC’s planning guidebook, and videos that the DOE developed to support early childhood educators in celebrating the daily themes and integrating them into their day-to-day practice.

Let’s work together to spread the word about the importance and value of high-quality early care and learning! Share photos of your celebrations on social media using the hashtags #WOYCMaine and #WOYC2023 to connect with MDOE, OCFS, MAEYC and NAECY.

Email photos along with the name of your program (use WYOC and the daily theme in the subject line) to Nicole Madore at nicole.madore@maine.gov for an opportunity to win a free registration to the Maine Statewide Early Childhood Education Conference which will be held October 27th & 28th at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland.

Youtube logoCheck out the Maine Department of Education’s Week of the Young Child YouTube Playlist from April 3rd -7th to watch videos highlighting Maine early childhood educators in roles related to the WOYC daily themes.  See the amazing work going on in early childhood settings across the state and learn about the variety of roles there are in the field.  Have your ever thought about working with young children?  You might find a role that is just right for you from these inspiring stories.

State House Day Pic

Join us in Augusta on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, for Early Childhood Education State House Day.  Early childhood educators from across the state will work together to celebrate and call attention to the vital work they do.  For more information see the events section of the MAEYC website.

If you would like more information on the Week of the Young Child or careers in the field of early childhood education, please reach out to one of the Early Learning Team members from Maine DOE or to an Early Care and Education team member from OCFS listed below.

Maine DOE Early Learning Team

Maine OCFS Team

 

 

Making Math Meaningful For All: Math4ME is Accepting Applications for Newest Cohort

Math4ME is a free, three-year, whole-school project designed to support all educators (classroom teachers, special educators, ed techs, and interventionists) to strengthen math proficiency for all learners with a specific focus on increased math proficiency for students with math IEP goals.  The project will focus around building positive math school communities and classrooms, mathematical content and pedagogical skills, supporting inclusionary practices through MTSS, and formative assessment including the Early Mathematics Diagnostic Interview (EMDI).

For more details about the Math4ME project check out the informational video.

We are accepting applications for the newest cohort until April 15, 2023.  Math4ME Application

We will hold a virtual informational meeting on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 at 4:00 PM. Register here in advance for this meeting.

For questions or more information contact Susan Hogan, susan.hogan@maine.gov or Jen Robitaille, jennifer.r.robitaille@maine.gov.

Webinar: How to Utilize Local Historical Societies for Your Project or Place-based Learning Units

Are you planning a project or place-based unit and looking for primary sources?  Historical societies throughout the state are available to help you find and utilize these primary sources.  To learn more about this, join Kathleen Flynn Neumann from the Maine Historical Society for a webinar that focuses on finding primary sources and how you can partner with historical societies to create authentic learning experiences for students.  

Who: Appropriate for PK-12 grade educators 

When: April 5th 3:30-4:30pm 

Where: Zoom Registration Link 

For more information, please contact Jaime Beal at jaime.beal@maine.gov 

Supporting All Students: How the PBIS Framework is Inclusive for All

During this presentation hosted by the Maine Department of Education’s Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education (OSSIE), Heather George, PhD will focus on how to support all students with a PBIS  (Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports) framework in schools:

  • PBIS has been shown through research to be effective for a wide range of student outcomes
  • The whole school intervention approach used by PBIS has been shown to establish a safe and predictable environment that increases success for all students including those with disabilities.
  • During the webinar, free resources will be shared to help schools build systems that are inclusive, robust, and supportive of all students.

Date/Time: April 26, 2023 – 3:30-4:30 pm

Audience: General & Special Educators, Administrators, Parents, Caregivers and Community Members Interested in Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) and inclusive classrooms

Cost: FREE Register for Zoom Link Here

Contact Hours: Each attendee will be awarded a certificate for 1 contact hour

About the Presenter: Heather Peshak George, Ph.D. is a Research Professor in the Department of Child & Family Studies at the University of South Florida. She co-directs the National Technical Assistance Center on PBIS, the state-wide Florida PBIS Project, the federally-funded Florida Connect model demonstration grant, and is Past-President of the international Association for Positive Behavioral Support (APBS). ). Over the past two decades, she has secured over $42 million in external funding, published over 30 peer reviewed articles and chapters, including over 100 practice briefs and evaluation reports, and has delivered over 400 invited presentations on PBISShe has extensive experience in providing training and technical assistance in PBIS at the national and international levels and thanks her two teenagers for the daily reminders on the need to bridge the research-to-practice gap. You can learn more about Dr. George at https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/cfs/faculty-staff/peshak-george-h.aspx and follow her on Twitter at @HeatherPGeorge. Shared resources may be available at www.pbis.org and www.flpbis.org.

Get to Know the Maine DOE Team: Meet Selena Brown

(Pictured: Selena Brown and Azura, one of her 3 horses)

Maine DOE team member Selena Brown is being highlighted as part of the Get to Know the Maine DOE Team Campaign. Learn a little more about Selena in the question and answer below.

What are your roles with the Maine DOE?

Office Specialist I for the Certification team. I am responsible for helping educators with Chapter 115, answering calls from educators, and responding to educator and staff questions regarding initial applications, fees, and renewal application requirements. I assist and provide customer service to Maine’s education field, and direct them to additional information.

What do you like best about your job?

The best thing I like about my job is helping educators and staff by providing them with the knowledge they are looking for and providing a positive experience with the Maine Department of Education.

How or why did you decide on this career?

I had not planned on this as a career.  When the opportunity arose, I knew it was a wonderful fit for me to be able to work with an amazing group of people and continue to grow.  Working in the education field prior, I felt this was a perfect way to support education in a positive way.

What do you like to do outside of work for fun?

I absolutely love being with my grandchildren/family and my animals.  I love cooking, being in nature, hiking, camping, gardening or just doing any kind of an adventure.  If it is outside, then I want to be involved.

Seeking Five Distinguished Educators for MLTI Ambassador Positions

Are you passionate about professional growth and technology? Do you want to make a difference in Maine schools? Do you want to join a team of likeminded educators? Are you currently teaching in a Maine public school? This might be the opportunity you’ve been looking for!

The Maine Department of Education is hiring five distinguished educators, known as “MLTI Ambassadors,” to join our team in supporting MLTI professional learning. These are full-time, two-year, contracted, remote positions. The MLTI Ambassador team comprises of both second-year and first-year distinguished educators. They work both collaboratively and individually to provide professional learning offerings and work with MLTI schools and educators to implement the MLTI program.

Ideal candidates will be excited about instructional coaching and innovative technology practices in education, eager to work with other teachers, have outstanding communication skills, and experience with upper elementary, middle, and/or high school pedagogy.

Distinguished educator positions are set up as an exchange agreement between the Department of Education and your local school district. Through the agreement, the Department pays your local school for the duration of your contract as a distinguished educator, allowing your school to temporarily fill your vacant position and continue to pay you your current rate while you work as a distinguished educator. Once the two-year contract is complete, you will be able to return to your position within that district.

Still have questions? Contact either our Digital Learning Specialist Jonathan Graham at jonathan.m.graham@maine.gov or (Acting) Learning Through Technology Team Coordinator Emma-Marie Banks at emma-marie.banks@maine.gov.

Maine Department of Education Defines Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education (SLIFE)

The Office of English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Programs and Bilingual Programs has released a state definition of a Student with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education (SLIFE). This is a student who meets the following criteria:

  1. Is a multilingual learner;
  2. Has an English language proficiency level (as measured by WIDA assessments) of level 2.0 or below for students in grades 2-3 or level 2.5 or below for students in grades 4-12;
  3. Is at least eight years old; and
  4. Has experienced at least one of the following:
    1. No formal schooling
    2. Interruptions in formal schooling (defined as two or more re-enrollments or two years or more less schooling than typical peers)
    3. Consistent but limited formal schooling outside the United States; and/or
    4. Functions at two or more years below expected grade level in native language literacy and/or math skills relative to typical peers

For the past two and a half years, members of the Maine Department of Education (DOE), the Multilingual Learner Advisory Committee (MLAC), Support Ed, and Agora Learning, have been developing this definition to be specific and easily applied and understood.

Support Ed provided four webinars on SLIFE characteristics and general needs, resources and strategies for serving SLIFE, graduation and post-secondary education guidance and opportunities, and a wealth of resources for educators to refer to. Recordings of webinars are archived here: https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/multilinguallearner/p

A padlet of SLIFE resources can be found here: https://padlet.com/diane30/maine-department-of-education-supporting-students-with-limit-a2eouyixynryahtm?utm_source=Padlet.

Agora Learning and Support Ed are continuing their work to develop a SLIFE screener to be used by our Maine school districts. Maine DOE will be developing a SLIFE guidance manual and additional professional learning opportunities that will support districts to identify SLIFE and develop SLIFE programming.

If you have questions regarding the Maine DOE SLIFE definition, please contact:

Rebecca Carey: rebecca.carey@maine.gov

Robin Fleck: robin.fleck@maine.gov

Nutrition & Economic Disadvantaged Data Collection Webinar

Join the Maine Department of Education (DOE) as we discuss alternative methods for collecting economic disadvantage data for the EPS formula that do not involve free and reduced lunch forms.

The Maine DOE’s Data, Nutrition, and Finance teams will be collaborating to provide guidance about Special Provision II procedures and how to collect data to inform the EPS School Funding formula to mark economically disadvantaged students. Special Provision II schools and Community Eligibility Provisions (CEP) require that free and reduced lunch form are not sent out to families, however those forms are used to inform the EPS School funding formula.

Are you a Special Provision School? What does that mean for Child Nutrition and for EPS School Funding? Join Jane McLucas from Child Nutrition, Paula Gravelle from School Finance, and a member from the Data Team as they talk about what changes will be coming, and best practices to have in place to be ready for next year!

Monday, March 20th @ 1:30pm – Register Here
(this webinar will be recorded)

For questions about this webinar or collection of economic disadvantaged data please contact our data quality trainer by email Alexandra.Cookson@maine.gov or call 207-446-3897.

April 1 Enrollment Reporting Webinar Rescheduled for March 21

The Maine Department of Education’s Data Team will be hosting a webinar on Tuesday, March 21st from 10-11am. This webinar will review April 1 Enrollment which collects data used to calculate tuition rates.

Use this link to join the April 1 Enrollment Webinar on March 21st at 10:00 am. Registration is NOT required for this webinar.

Report information:

  • Reporting Period: 4/1
  • Report Opens: 4/1
  • Report Due: 4/15

Required to Report: All school administrative units (SAUs) and private schools with publicly funded students should ensure that their enrollment data is current – this includes Charter Schools and Education in Unorganized Territories.

For questions about this webinar or April 1 Enrollment reporting please contact MEDMS.Helpdesk@maine.gov or call 207-624-6896.

Regional Conversations for McKinney-Vento Liaisons and Organizations

Join the Maine Department of Education for In Person Spring Regional Meetings:

  • Hear updates on federal, state, and local policies and resources for students and families who are homeless or have unstable housing
  • Learn how to increase your school and district’s capacity to support students
  • Hear strategies to improve student engagement and support from Jessa Wyman with New Beginnings
  • Brainstorm solution-oriented strategies affecting youth in your school and community
  • Network with colleagues from other schools and organizations in your region

Dates and Times for Schools and Organizations in Your Region!

York & Cumberland Counties
People’s Choice Bank
23 Industrial Park Road, Saco
Thursday, March 30
9:30 am -12:00 pm

Mid Coast, Kennebec & Somerset Counties
Burton M. Cross Office Building
111 Sewall Street, Augusta
Room 103 A&B
Wednesday, April 5
9:00-11:30 am

Androscoggin, Franklin, & Oxford Counties
Lewiston Central Office, Dingley Conference Room
36 Oak Street, Lewiston
Tuesday, April 11 9:00 – 11:30 am

Penobscot & Piscataquis Counties
Wings for Children and Families, 900 Hammond St, #915, Bangor
Thursday, April 27
8:15– 10:30 am

Washington & Hancock Counties
Department of Labor
53 Prescott Drive, Machias
Thursday, April 27
1:00- 3:20pm

Aroostook County
Department of Labor
66 Spruce Street
Presque Isle
Friday, April 28 9:00-11:30am

No cost to participants ~ Registration is required. REGISTER HERE.

For More Information Contact:

Amelia Lyons at amelia.lyons@maine.gov or Susan Lieberman at susan.lieberman88@gmail.com