MEDIA RELEASE: National Blue Ribbon School Honors for Three Maine Schools

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos today recognized three Maine schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2018. The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.

“I’m pleased to celebrate with you as your school is named a National Blue Ribbon School,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos in a video message to the honorees. “We recognize and honor your important work in preparing students for successful careers and meaningful lives. Congratulations on your students’ accomplishments and for your extraordinary commitment to meeting their unique needs.”

“Congratulations to the students, educators and school leaders at Dr. Levesque Elementary School, Falmouth High School, and Yarmouth Elementary School for their unwaivering commitment to education and student achievement,” said Maine Department of Education Commissioner Robert G. Hasson, Jr.

The coveted National Blue Ribbon Schools award affirms the hard work of educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content.

Now in its 36th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed recognition on more than 8,800 schools. On November 7 and 8, the Secretary and the Department of Education will celebrate with all honorees at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.

All schools are honored in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates:

Exemplary High Performing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s subgroups and all students over the past five years.

Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year. The Department invites National Blue Ribbon School nominations from the top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Department of Defense Education Activity and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by The Council for American Private Education (CAPE).

Photographs and brief descriptions of the 2018 National Blue Ribbon Schools are available at http://www.ed.gov/nationalblueribbonschools.

School Name and City

Dr. Levesque Elementary School, Frenchville
Falmouth High School, Falmouth
Yarmouth Elementary School, Yarmouth

Maine DOE Launching a New Website on Friday, September 28, 2018

The Maine Department of Education will be launching a new website on Friday, September 28, 2018. Over the course of the summer months, Department staff have been working on updating and re-writing website content for a new website that features an improved search function, a user-friendly interface, and a content management system which will allow Department staff to keep content updated and timely.

The new website will replace the current website found at maine.gov/doe. It will have a similar, yet new, look and feel.

It is important to note that those who have bookmarked links to the Department’s current website may need to re-save their bookmarks when the new website is released because there will be some pages that have a different website address.

To ensure that the field and the public can find information on the new website on Friday and going forward, please send all inquiries, comments, concerns, and questions related to the website to doe.webmaster@maine.gov.

For further questions about the launch of the new website, please contact Maine Department of Education Director of Communications, Rachel Paling at rachel.paling@maine.gov.

Implementation of New IEP Form to be Further Postponed

Administrative Letter #17 announced an implementation date of October 1, 2018 for Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) designed to meet requirements for documenting certain services that are both educationally and medically necessary in accordance with both IDEA and Section 65 and Section 28 of the Maine Care Benefits Manual.

The Department of Education has continued to receive a number of questions from the field regarding this change. We are committed to giving the best answers possible and need time to continue the development of answers that are correct and timely. As a result, we will postpone the requirements of Administrative Letters #13 and #17 concerning IEP development to ensure that the field receives adequate support.

In our continuing goals of being responsive to the field, providing technical assistance, and generally supporting the development of quality IEPs regardless of pay sources, we have postponed the implementation of the new IEP form.

Answers to the questions will be published before implementation. The targeted start date is now January 1, 2019.

For further questions, contact the Maine Department of Education Office of Special Services at (207) 624-6713.

Regional PD Opportunities Based on CNAs and Provided Under ESSA #success4ME

Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Maine has developed a differentiated model of school supports that includes statewide professional development targeted to regional needs. Upon review of submitted statewide Comprehensive Needs Assessments/SAU Consolidated Plans, the Maine DOE is providing regional professional development to address the explicit needs outlined in submitted CNAs.

The Department invites district, school, and classroom leaders, and their staff to attend the many regional professional development opportunities being offered by the Department this fall. These sessions are offered at no cost and sessions information is available on the Department’s professional development calendar.

Creating Trauma-Sensitive Schools: Using Relationships to Promote Growth & Learning

Session Description: Schools across the country are adopting a trauma-sensitive approach in order to effectively educate students who have been exposed to adverse experiences. Neurodevelopmental impacts resulting from childhood adversity hinder a student’s ability to engage in the academic setting and manifest as disruptive, and often unsafe, behavior in the classroom. Creating trauma competent schools has become an imperative for educators who work to ensure safety and promote learning for ALL students. The field of social neuroscience draws from vast disciplines to explain how we have evolved in the context of interpersonal relationships through attachment and group cohesion, and how we have subsequently developed the capacity to shape the brains of those with whom interact and connect. This presentation will describe how educators can use our knowledge of interpersonal neurobiology to create classrooms and student relationships that maximize growth and learning. Participants will understand their role in creating trauma-competent systems and be able to employ trauma-sensitive principles, practices, and procedures to address the impact of trauma on learners and increase their students ability to succeed in the school environment.

Facilitator Information: Cassie Yackley, Psy.D., has spent more than 25 years committed to understanding and effectively addressing the impact of traumatic/adverse experiences on children, caregivers/families, and systems. She brings together recent discoveries from developmental neuroscience, attachment, implementation science, and reflective practice to help audiences develop skills of relationship and self-awareness in ways that transform organizations, promote staff professional growth and wellness, and improve outcomes for the consumers they serve.

The three session dates and locations are listed below with a link to each registration. Space is limited so we recommend you register at the earliest possible opportunity. Please register no later than, October 9, 2018 for the session closest to you.

Oct. 16, 2018
Elks Lodge – Brewer
Register now »

Oct. 17, 2018
State Armory – Augusta
Register now »

Oct. 18, 2018
Elks Lodge – Portland
Register now »

Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. with each session running from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with a break for a provided lunch.

If you have any questions or need more information, please contact ESEA Federal Programs and Title I Director, Chelsey Fortin-Trimble at chelsey.a.fortin@maine.gov.

Camden Hills School Nurse Janis Hogan Named 2018-2019 School Nurse of the Year

Janis Logan The Maine School Nurse Association (MASN) recently announce that Janis Hogan from Camden Hills Regional High School is the School Nurse of the Year, 2018-2019. This award acknowledges a member of the Maine School Nurse Association who demonstrates excellence in school nursing practice and leadership in school nursing.

In her role at Camden Hills, Janis’ presence and influence can be noted everywhere. The librarian/technology director who nominated her stated that “Janis is well-informed on issues that affect our students’ health, and is aware of local, state, and national health trends for youth; she uses this to inform her decisions about student care, programming, advocacy, and outreach efforts, and she also shares this information with teachers and administrators at the building and district level.” The pervasiveness of her influence can be grouped into the initiatives that she embraces and leads.

For more information visit the Maine Association of School Nurses Website. Learn more about how to nominate your school nurse.

Free Books for Maine Schools Serving Grades 5-8

Maine’s Libra Foundation, founded by philanthropist Betty Noyce, has partnered with Tumblehome, Inc., an award-winning publisher of science-related books for children, to offer a “library box” of ten free books to every school in Maine that serves students in grades 5-8. Be on the lookout for an online survey coming to your superintendent or librarian. The survey will ask you to select ten science books and to answer a couple of other questions.

The survey is optional, but will help make sure you get the books you want. Among the recommended books are GEOLOGY IS A PIECE OF CAKE by Maine author and sixth grade science teacher Katie Coppens; novels and nonfiction; four winners of National Science Teacher Association/Children’s Book Council awards; and more. To learn more about Tumblehome, see http://www.tumblehomelearning.com.

If you have questions, contact Shari Templeton shari.templeton@maine.gov

Respiratory Illnesses and Schools

Each year, millions of people become ill due to respiratory illnesses. Some of the more common respiratory illnesses in schools may include influenza, pertussis, and the common cold. Varicella (or chickenpox) does not cause a respiratory illness but it does infect individuals by entering through the respiratory tract and conjunctiva. Schools should be aware of these illnesses, how to prevent them, and what to report.

Diseases:

Influenza is a viral illness characterized by a fever with a cough and/or sore throat. Everyone is at risk for influenza, but certain individuals are at higher risk of serious complications.
Pertussis is a bacterial illness characterized by coughing fits and paroxysms which may lead to vomiting or gagging.
Common colds can be caused by many different disease agents, but are usually characterized by cough, runny nose, sneezing, and sore throat.
Varicella is a viral illness that causes a blister-like rash, itching, tiredness, and fever. It is spread in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It can also be spread by touching or breathing in the virus particles that come from the blisters.

What schools can do:

Promote vaccination among students and staff. Influenza, pertussis, and varicella are all vaccine preventable diseases, and high vaccination rates can reduce transmission within schools. Ensure vaccine records are complete and up to date.
Stay home if you are sick. This applies to both students and staff.
- Influenza – individuals should stay home until 24 hours after fever resolves without the use of fever reducing medications.
- Pertussis – individuals should stay home until they have competed 5 days of antibiotics.
- Colds – there is no standardized recommendation for returning during/after a cold. Individuals with colds are typically infectious for 4-7 days after symptoms begin.
- Varicella – individuals should stay home until all their blisters scab over.
Promote good respiratory hygiene. Encourage students and staff to cough into their sleeve, or tissues rather than hands. Dispose of used tissues in wastebaskets. Frequently wash hands with soap and water.
Increase environmental cleaning. Frequently clean high touch surfaces, like door knobs, desks, and light switches.

What to report:

Outbreaks – All outbreaks are reportable in Maine. In a school, an outbreak is defined as ≥15% absenteeism when the majority of individuals out are due to illness. Outbreaks should be reported through NEO.
For NEO dashboard absenteeism reporting form guidance
Pertussis and Varicella should be reported to Maine CDC at 1-800-821-5821, an outbreak will be considered for these two diseases when there are three or more cases within a facility.

For more information:

Maine CDC’s website

Orderable materials

Disease consultation and reporting line: 1-800-821-5821

Non-confidential questions and information can be sent to disease.reporting@maine.gov

PRIORITY NOTICE: Guidance on New High School Diploma Law

Governor LePage signed into law PL 2017, Chapter 466 on July 10, 2018, allowing SAUs to award either proficiency-based or credit-based diplomas. This change will take effect on December 13, 2018. The new diploma law, enacted by the 128th Legislature, removes the mandate that a high school diploma be based on a student’s demonstration of proficiency in Maine’s Learning Results and instead makes a proficiency-based diploma one of two options.

To help inform school districts and the public about the new law, the Department is providing a side-by-side comparison of the two diploma options. While the new law provides opportunities for flexibility and innovation in awarding a high school diploma, it also presents challenges. The Maine DOE believes the comparison chart will help districts navigate their different options to ensure that, whatever the local decision is, students are provided a high quality education.

Side-by-side comparison of the two diploma options (PDF) »

The chart demonstrates that many details must be worked out both at the state and local level. As school leaders consider the uncertainties presented by the new law, the Commissioner wants districts to know that Maine DOE has an unwavering commitment to the quality of education for all Maine students. In this vein, districts should move forward with diploma requirements that serve students with an understanding that further legislation is likely necessary to reduce the inconsistencies between the two options.

The Commissioner is working collaboratively with stakeholders to establish common goals and seek solutions that ensure Maine’s high school diploma requirements provide a challenging, high quality education for every student in Maine. The Maine DOE looks forward to working with districts in this endeavor to prepare our graduates for a bright future.

Resources

Laws Quick Look Up:

Public Law 2017, Chapter 466 Diploma law effective no later than March 2019
Title 20-A §4722-A Proficiency-based diploma standards and transcripts Diploma Law prior to effective date of Public Law 2017, Chapter 466
Title 20-A §4722. High school diploma standards Diploma law effective prior to Public Law 2017, Chapter 466

Maine Learning Results

Guiding Principles of The Maine Learning Results

Understanding the Guiding Principles – a Resource developed by the Maine DOE and epic, Educational Policy Improvement Center.

For further questions, contact Mary Paine, Maine DOE Chief of Planning and Implementation at Mary.paine@maine.gov or (207) 624-6672.

Interactive Three-day Workshop on the Application of School Transportation Software

Transfinder University is coming to Augusta, Maine! Maine public school transportation staff are invited to attend a three-day workshop which will provide participants with information regarding bus routing, map editing, geo-coding, pre-routing, custom reporting, and more to optimize their local district transportation operations. Public school districts using Transfinder are strongly encouraged to participate in this workshop, as it will provide refined knowledge and practice on the routing module used to enhance transportation efficiency, logistics, reporting, and safety.

This computer-based intensive workshop will be taught by Brian Keefer who is a senior educator for Transfinder Corporation. The curriculum includes a combination of educator-led lessons with a hands-on lab where participants’ complete real transportation operations tasks using actual Transfinder system software.

To meet the high demand for this course, this year, we doubled the class capacity. Pre-registration is required. Computers will be provided. Wireless internet and free parking will be available. Attendees are responsible for hotel reservations and meals. Breakfast is included for participants who stay overnight at the Senator Inn. Continuing education units will be available upon request. The Maine Department of Education is sponsoring this course and there is no cost for Maine Public school Transfinder users.

Date: October 2-4, 2018

Time: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Location: Senator Inn, 284 Western Avenue, Augusta, Maine

Registration: Pre-registration is required; the class fills quickly

Register Now – To register for the workshop, call 888-427-2403 ext. 8206 and speak with Angela Vitti, Maine Transfinder Account Executive, or send an email to avitti@transfinder.com .

If you have questions about school transportation, please contact Pat Hinckley, Transportation and Facilities Administrator at pat.hinckley@maine.gov or 204-624-6886.

Professional Development Opportunity for Educators: Integrating Technology in Mathematics Classrooms

Maine Department of Education will be sponsoring a 2-part series, offered in two locations, that will focus on supporting teachers in developing and implementing purposeful integration of technology in the mathematics classroom to effectively impact student engagement, learning, and understanding.

Jennifer Vadnais, a certified Desmos presenter, will be facilitating the sessions with the first part in October and the second part in March. Participants will be expected to implement their learning and return with evidence of implementation for the next in-person meeting. In addition, there will be virtual check-in opportunities in between the sessions to provide support and answer questions.

During these sessions participants will:

Experience the impact of purposeful integration of technology in the mathematics classroom
Explore the Desmos resources
Learn how to navigate and use the teacher account
Understand how using Desmos supports student engagement and learning
Apply these understandings using a developed implementation plan

Participants will be provided 20 contact hours at end of series upon completion of survey in addition to coffee, lunch, and workshop materials.

Cost and participation: these sessions are FREE and open to anyone working with middle and high school math students.

Location

Dates

Grade Span

Jeff’s Catering, Brewer ME

Session 1 – October 11, 2018

Session 2 – March 25, 2019

Grades 6-12

Keeley’s, Portland ME

Session 1 – October 12, 2018

Session 2 – March 26, 2019