MaineCare Seed Adjustments to be Made; Review Q318 Reports by June 29, 2018

The recovery of Q318 MaineCare Seed will occur in the July 2018 subsidy payment and the Maine DOE is asking districts to review their reports by June 29, 2018 to ensure accurate adjustments to subsidy. District staff must review student by student claims on both the public and private MaineCare reports for Q318 by June 29, 2018.

To access the MaineCare Seed reports, please follow the instructions below.

Log into NEO: https://neo.maine.gov/DOE/neo/Dashboard
- Anyone who currently has Special Education Director permissions to the Special Education module, will automatically have permissions to access MaineCare reports.
- As in the past, if a new staff member needs permission to access this module, a request from the Superintendent to the Maine DOE helpdesk will be necessary. The helpdesk contact information is medms.helpdesk@maine.gov or 207-624-6896.
Click on the Student Data tab
Click on the Student Report tab
Select MaineCare in the Reporting Area drop-down
Choose the quarterly Seed report and the report type (private/public)
Click view report button
Once the report appears on the screen, choose the export button. You may export the reports to Excel but, please be aware that there may be multiple worksheet tabs within the workbook. Save the file to your computer.

If you disagree that a particular student or time period should be on the report, please provide the reason that you disagree along with the following to Denise.towers@maine.gov.

Identify the type of report (public or private) and the quarter in which the claims are located.
State Student ID
Service provided dates (to and from)
Total amount of Seed being disputed

Summer services: Students must be enrolled for the time period they are receiving educational services. This means that students that are receiving extended school year services in district or extended school year services in an out of district placement must have a primary enrollment for that time period in order for the MDOE to have the most accurate enrollment data to determine SAU responsibility for MaineCare Seed.

For more information or technical assistance related to MaineCare Seed, please contact Denise.towers@maine.gov.

Seeking School Highlights for ESEA Report Cards

The Maine Department of Education is requesting the assistance of school principals in the development of the new 2017-2018 ESEA Report Cards. A “School Highlights” section will be included on the Report Cards to provide the opportunity for schools to emphasize elements of which they are especially proud. The highlights will appear as part of a two-page graphical snapshot which may be viewed online or printed as a PDF for distribution.

The Maine Department of Education will be reaching out to principals via email asking them to submit their school highlights in an online survey. The data collection survey tool provides a list of categories with examples of possible responses. Schools may choose to create their own categories in the provided “Other” selection. Up to four categories will be available for submission. School highlights will be due to the Department by June 30, 2018. Please share this information with the principals in your district.

As a reminder, superintendents who attend the 2018 Commissioner’s Conference will get a chance to view the ESRA Report Card dashboard and ask further questions about the process.

For further questions and information contact Maine DOE Assessment and Accountability Data Coordinator Penny Henry at Penny.L.Henry@maine.gov.

New ESEA Report Cards & STEM Technology Showcase to be Featured at 2018 Commissioner’s Conference; Register Now

As a reminder, registration for the 2018 Commissioner’s Conference is now open. The conference features an array of sessions catered toward superintendents. This year’s sessions include opportunities to:

Get a sneak peak at the new ESEA Report Card dashboard
Ask questions and talk about ESSA, and School Improvement
Learn more about the budgeting process for Title I/ESEA funds
Learn more about supports and resources available on topics like Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS), trauma, attendance, concussion management, and substance abuse
Learn more about Certification, including updates about the new online system
Learn more about Department initiatives and goals including: pilot programs for early math and literacy, CTE programing and funding, and regionalization opportunities
Participate in open forums on the teacher shortage, and on educator effectiveness
Listen to panels about workforce development, and about workforce needs and CTE
Get hands on experience with current STEM technology at a showcase brought to you by the Maine State Library

See a draft agenda, including session descriptions.

In addition to this year’s breakout sessions, Commissioner’s Conference participants also have the opportunity to enjoy the following celebrations:

The Annual Reception Hosted by Apple, Inc
An Evening Banquet Dinner
Maine School Management Association’s Annual Awards Ceremony

The conference takes place at the Augusta Civic Center on June 27^th and 28^th.

Find additional resources and information including pricing, the draft agenda, lodging options, further details about registration including guest registration, and more on the Maine DOE Commissioner’s Conference webpage.

Register now »

Maine DOE to Host June 12 Webinar to Discuss Chronic Absenteeism Data Collection

The Maine Department of Education is hosting a webinar for districts and schools to discuss the recently released 2016/17 chronic absenteeism data including collection process and resources available to help with 2017-2018 reporting.

During the webinar, district staff, including staff that manage data and reporting, will have the chance to ask questions and seek further guidance on the collection process.

Chronic Absenteeism Data webinar
Tuesday, June 12, 2018 1:00 PM
Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4892409320166524419

After registering, a confirmation email will be sent containing further information about joining the webinar.

This webinar will be conducted using GoToWebinar® software and will be will be recorded to be viewed at a later date.

For further questions contact Charlotte Ellis, Data Manager at Charlotte.Ellis@maine.gov.

Updates to Rule Chapter 180: Performance Evaluation and Professional Growth Systems (Effective June 3, 2018)

As part of the Maine Department of Education’s efforts to ensure that new and conditionally certified teachers have access to high quality peer support, some changes were made to Chapter 180: Performance Evaluation and Professional Growth Systems.

These changes are contained in a new Section (11) of Chapter 180: Peer Support and Mentoring, and accomplish the following:

Retain a level of peer support and feedback for all teachers and principals.
Establish a mentor/coach component for all newly hired and conditionally certified teachers.
Differentiate peer support requirements to provide greater support for new and conditionally certified teachers.
Provide greater, more structured support for conditionally certified special education teachers.
Provide the SAU with flexibility in establishing mentor and coach qualifications as well as assigning mentors and coaches to better target educator needs.
Sharpen the line between peer support components and evaluation components

The revised Chapter 180, with an effective date of June 3, 2018 can be found here.

A resource outlining the parameters can be found by visiting the Educator Effectiveness website or by clicking here.

The Maine DOE guidance encourages districts to have documentation of a peer support and mentoring component by the PEPG Steering Committee. Districts should have a plan for peer support and mentoring in place as close as possible to the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year. Either this sample document or a more detailed document created by the PEPG Steering Committee should stay on file with the district. It does not need to be submitted to the DOE at this time.

For additional information please contact Emily Gribben at Emily.gribben@maine.gov, or call 624-6748.

Maine Department of Education Honors the 2017 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching State Finalists

On Friday evening, May 11^th, Maine DOE honored the six state finalists for the 2017 Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics and Science (PAEMST) with a dinner held at the Maple Hill Farm Inn located in Hallowell. Shari Templeton, Maine DOE Science and Technology Specialist, and Michele Mailhot, Maine DOE Mathematics Specialist, planned the evening event honoring Priya Natarajan (Casco Bay High School), secondary mathematics finalist, Ellen Payne (Nokomis Regional High School), secondary mathematics finalist, Sharon Gallant (Gardiner Area High School), secondary science finalist, Sara McQuarrie (Hodgdon Middle/High School), secondary science finalist, Bill McWeeny (Adams School), secondary science finalist, Alyson Saunders (Dexter Regional High School), secondary science finalist.

The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) are the nation’s highest honors for teachers of mathematics and science. Awardees serve as models for their colleagues, inspiration to their communities, and leaders in the improvement of mathematics and science education.

The evening began with a social networking event where past awardees had an opportunity to meet the six state finalists. This was followed by dinner, official congratulations from Suzan Beaudoin, Deputy Commissioner, Maine Department of Education, and Martha Harris, Chair, Maine State Board of Education. The keynote address was delivered by Sandra MacArthur, Director of Educational Outreach for the University of Maine Farmington, and Shannon Larsen, Assistant Professor of Elementary Education at the University of Maine Farmington.

The main event of the evening was the introduction of the six state finalists. Todd Nelson, retired principal and author, spoke on behalf of Bill McWeeny, Mary Whitten, science teacher, Gardiner Area High School, spoke on behalf of Sharon Gallant, Mary Harbison, principal, Hodgdon Middle/High School, spoke on behalf of Sara McQuarrie, Steven Bell, principal, Dexter Regional High School, spoke on behalf of Alyson Saunders, Scott Shibles, Dean of Student Life at Casco Bay High School, spoke on behalf of Priya Natarajan, and Mary Nadeau, principal, Nokomis Regional High School, spoke on behalf of Ellen Payne. All six state finalists were presented with certificates from the PAEMST program by Shari Templeton (Maine DOE) and Michele Mailhot (Maine DOE).

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Online Formative Assessment Opportunity for Primary Grade Educators

The Maine Department of Education will be supporting a cohort of public primary grade (K-2) teachers for the 2018-19 school year in using an online Formative Assessment Platform. This tool utilizes observation and documentation of student work during ongoing instruction. Teachers selected to participate will:

Be required to attend one 2-day training on August 1 and August 2, 2018, held in Augusta.
Receive iPad minis to collect and document child observations for the online platform.
Receive a one-time $300 training stipend.

Those interested in participating should complete and submit this application no later than end of business on Friday, June 15, 2018.

Due to the limited number of student portfolios that can be supported, this opportunity is available on a first come, first served basis – per the date and time on the submitted application. Once the cohort has been set, a Memoranda of Understanding will be sent to each participating teacher for signature. Notification via email will be sent to those teachers who were not selected.

For further questions please contact Nicole Madore at Nicole.madore@maine.gov or (207) 624-6677.

New Certification System Will Open to Educators Soon; Districts Encouraged to Complete Recommendations by May 30

The Maine Department of Education strongly encourages those superintendents and support team chairs who have not done so already to take the steps to set up accounts in the new online certification system and make recommendations for your educator renewals.

Currently, 6,375 educators have been recommended in the new system; however, there are many districts that still have a tremendous number of recommendations to complete.

The Department would like to thank the districts that have embraced the new system and have prepared educators for the renewal process with their recommendations. We would like to recognize the following districts who have submitted more than 150 recommendations each:

Gorham Public Schools
Bangor Public Schools
Lewiston Public Schools
RSU14
RSU21
MSAD11
RSU13
RSU54
RSU60
Sanford Public Schools

Educators – We are working to finalize the Educator Portal and there are a few important items to note:

Educators working in a district will only be able to renew if they have been recommended by their district.
The July 1st deadline is a deadline for submission of applications. If the application is complete, the certificate effective date will be the date the application was received.
If an educator has received a recommendation for the same type of certificate, contact hours and/or credit hours do not need to be uploaded.
Uploads must be in PDF format.

Further communications and updates are available on the Maine Department of Education Certification Webpage, Maine DOE’s official Facebook and Twitter pages, and the DOE newsroom.

Maine’s Alternative Certification and Mentoring Program (MACM) for Special Educators

Beginning in the fall of 2018, conditionally certified special educators that are in their first year of teaching are required to participate in Maine’s Alternative Certification and Mentoring program (MACM), a Maine Department of Education program developed in partnership with the University of Maine.

This program is an alternative pathway to certification to support Maine’s need for highly qualified special educators. MACM offers intensive, focused support and mentoring during the special educator’s critical first year of practice.

Newly conditionally certified special educators will be paired with a MACM mentor who is an experienced special educator, and will be required to enroll in and complete two semester-long seminar courses entitled, Special Education Mentorship.

School Administrative Units (SAUs) may use federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funds to support the cost of the professional development courses if an appropriate professional development project is written in the application.

MACM Procedures for School Districts

Maine’s Alternative Certification and Mentoring program (MACM) will provide a trained special education mentor and an intensive year-long seminar designed to support conditionally certified special educators during their first year of practice.

Per Chapter 115 rules that go into effect July 1, 2018, qualified conditionally certified special educators special educators must successfully complete 9 semester hours of special education coursework by August 31, 2018 to qualify for conditional certification. The teacher applicant provides the Maine DOE Certification Office with a complete application for conditional certification.

The MACM coordinator will identify first year conditionally certified special educators and will contact the new teacher with information about participation in the program, including how and by when to enroll in the appropriate section of Special Education Mentorship. The new conditionally certified teacher is expected to work with the SAU to cover the course tuition. This enrollment process must be completed by the first week of September 2018.

For more information about MACM, please visit its website: https://umaine.edu/edhd/outreach/macm/ or contact Valerie Smith at Valerie.smith@maine.edu, or by calling 581-2419. Please continue to monitor the Maine DOE website for updates to Chapters 115 and 180.

Yarmouth Wins Maine DOE 2018 Farm to School Cook-off

Congratulations to the school food service teams that participated in the 2018 Farm to School Cook-off: RSU 54, RSU 3, Cherryfield, Falmouth, Yarmouth, and Lewiston. Teams competed in different locations on April 5th, 9th and May 14th.

The annual cook-off is a voluntary, skills-based competition offered to school food service staff from all school districts across the State of Maine. The goal of the program is to recognize school nutrition staff for their skills and creativity while producing high-quality meals that can be replicated in a school kitchen. Read more about the events.

Below are some images captured during the final cook-off.

Caleb Pratt, 7th grade student from Skowhegan Area Middle School making the crepes for breakfast

Yarmouth lunch meal- homemade fish sticks w/tzatziki sauce and Mediterranean millet salad

Nikki Pilavakis-Davoren, nutrition worker from Frank H. Harrison Middle School tasting the millet

Yarmouth team with their winning plaque. Pictured left to right: Nikki Pilavakis-Davoren, Bobby Cole and Blair Currier, School Nutrition Director for Yarmouth Public Schools.