Category: News & Views

Maine DOE Releases Chronic Absenteeism Data in an Effort to Support Student Success

The Maine Department of Education (Department) has collected chronic absenteeism for the 2016/17 school year as a non-academic indicator of school success. Absenteeism for any reason, excused or unexcused, has potential negative consequences on student learning and it is important for schools, districts, and the Department to have this broader measure of student attendance so that we can measure student success. Previously, the Department collected Average Daily Attendance (ADA), and truancy data. ADA measures the average number of students who attend school on any given day. Truancy is a measure of unexcused absences.

Research shows a statistically strong link between school attendance, the development of academic skills, and the likelihood of high school graduation. Research also shows that when a large percentage of students are chronically absent, even the progress their peers, who have better attendance, may suffer.

Below are some additional facts to help answer questions about the shift in chronic absenteeism data collection:

Why is this important?

Chronic absenteeism is a new indicator in Maine’s Accountability system which was designed as part of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Current research shows chronic absenteeism has a clear relationship to negative consequences for students, including lower achievement, disengagement from school, course failure, and increased risk of dropping out.

How is chronic absenteeism defined?

Chronic absenteeism is a measure of how many students miss a defined number of school days for any reason. In Maine, this equates to missing 10% of school days or 18 days (based upon 175 school days). As part of Maine’s accountability system, student information will be compiled into an overall school measure indicating the percentage of students at the school who have missed 10% or more of school days. For further information about how chronic absenteeism data is collected visit http://www.maine.gov/doe/data/student/attendance.html.

Where can I find the data?

The 2016/17 chronic absenteeism data is available here. The percentage of Maine students missing 10% or more school days is higher than anticipated as this is the first year school districts have reported this data to the State.

What can schools and districts expect now?

The Department is already working to develop a system of supports available to newly identified Tier II and Tier III schools, with resources to address challenges of attendance. These supports are part of the differentiated tiered model of support under the new ESSA Accountability model with identifications being made in January 2019.

Chronic absenteeism data will be collected annually through the Maine Department of Education’s Synergy Student Information System at the end of the academic year going forward.

The Department will continue collecting truancy data, as required by Maine statute.

For further information about the Department’s ESSA Accountability Model and needed supports, contact Janette Kirk at Janette.Kirk@maine.gov or (207) 624-6707.

Washington County Title I: School Improvement Initiative

On May 8 and 14, a total of 41 classroom, Title 1, and special education educators completed a 3 -part literacy professional development series on Guided Reading with a focus on differentiation, acceleration, and classroom focus. The two cohorts, are the result of a year-long pilot sponsored by the Maine Department of Education’s ESEA Title I: School Improvement Team.

The professional development was provided by Darlene Bassett, Literacy Coach for the Maine DOE, and was based on Jan Richardson’s nationally recognized book, The Next Step Forward in Guided Reading. Al Pfeiffer, Leadership Coach for the Maine DOE, facilitated the pilot with local schools.

Due to the geographical and economic challenges in Washington County, the Department provided these high-quality professional development sessions right in Machias.

Washington County Title I School Improvement Initiative cohort 1
Cohort 1

As part of this work, the Department’s literacy consultant collaborated with Pembroke Elementary School Principal Deb Jameson and three Pembroke Elementary Teachers, Karin Lingley (grades 3 & 4); Beckery Renaud (grades 5 & 6); and Rosie Griffith (7 & 8) to implement guided reading in their classrooms, and also create a “hub school” at Pembroke that has served as a site for other teachers and administrators in the area to visit and reflect as they implement guided reading.

Due to the interest in the area, and accompanying student assessment data, the Department’s Title I School Improvement Team offered a series of professional development sessions to provide teachers with an understanding of present day research and the classroom practices that are linked to the basis of Richardson’s new Guided Reading Model. This collaboration and involvement has lead to staff development for 14 schools in the area.

The Department’s Title I: School Improvement Team plans to continue this meaningful and targeted work with Washington County educators in the fall. One of the schools in the cohort will be identified as the hub school and will receive on-going services and become a resource for all teachers in the region to observe instruction.

Washington County Title I School Improvement Initiative cohort 2
Cohort 2

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

New and Updated Fact Sheets Highlight Key MIYHS Survey Results

There are 6 new and updated fact sheets available that highlight key survey results from 2017 Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey (MIYHS).  Each topic specific-fact sheet includes, key statistics and data from the 2017 survey, links for “Who Can Help,” and additional resources for schools, community and parents.

New and updated fact sheets include:

  • Health Disparities faced by Transgender Youth in Maine (NEW!! HS Level Data)
  • 2017 Health and Risk Factors among LGBT youth in Maine (NEW!! HS Level Data)
  • What Youth in Maine are Eating (MS and HS Data)
  • Bullying and Harassment in Maine High Schools
  • Daily Activity and Health Behaviors of Youth in Maine (MS and HS data)
  • Mental Health among Maine High School Students

The new fact sheets can be found on the MIYHS webpage.

Over 61,000 students from 300+ schools participated in the 2017 Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey (MIYHS), including about 80 percent of all Maine middle and high schools, and the 2017 data is now publicly available. For the first time, all Geographic Public Health Districts and County level data are reportable. All results can all be found on the MIYHS website

The MIYHS staff would like to extend many thanks to the principals and superintendents who chose to participate in the MIYHS over the years, to the teachers and school staff who supported the effort, and to the community organizations whose help was vital to the success of the survey. Most importantly, we would like to thank the students and parents who took the time and effort to share their experiences with us. The MIYHS will be administered again in 2019.

For questions or more information, Please visit the website or contact Reid Plimpton at reid.plimpton@maine.gov  or Jean Zimmerman at jean.zimmerman@maine.gov

Maine Department of Labor youth employment initiative – Getting to YES

The Maine Department of Labor (MDOL) has launched an initiative called Getting to YES, Youth Employment and the Steps to Success, to promote youth employment coming into the 2018 summer season. The Department is asking for your support in spreading the word about the importance of, and opportunities for, jobs for Maine youth, and in continuing to assist us in streamlining the permitting process.

Important things to know about:

  • The permit application has changed. Please use the most recent version, which is available at this link, http://www.maine.gov/labor/labor_laws/publications/maine_work_permit.pdf
  • Related, we expect the additional focus on youth employment to increase the number of permit requests you will be seeing. Please be sure to have a designee in place in your absence, so that we can continue to move the permit process along efficiently for both the employer and the student applicant.
  • MDOL is conducting workshops across the state for parents and minors (14 & 15 year-olds) to learn about what types of jobs are available, how to get that first job and keep it, and what the permit process is like. Below are the dates, times and locations of workshops near you. You are welcome to attend! FMI or to register, contact Kerri.L.Demerchant@maine.gov, 207-621-5095.
Site Address Date Time pm
Hall-Dale High School 97 Maple St, Farmingdale, ME 04344 4-Jun-18 6:00-7:30
Augusta CareerCenter 45 Commerce Dr., Augusta, ME 5-Jun-18 5:00-6:30
Calais CareerCenter 1 Calais Dr., Calais, ME 5-Jun-18 4:30-6:00
Machias CareerCenter 53 Prescott Dr., Machias, ME 5-Jun-18 4:30-6:00
Rockland CareerCenter 91 Camden St., Rockland, ME 5-Jun-18 6:00-7:30
Waldo County Tech Center 1022 Waterville Rd., Waldo, ME 5-Jun-18 5:00-6:00
Ashland School 180 Presque Isle Rd., Ashland, ME 6-Jun-18 5:30-7:00
Bangor CareerCenter 45 Oak St., Bangor ME 6-Jun-18 5:30-7:00
Fort Kent Adult Education 84 Pleasant St., Fort Kent, ME 6-Jun-18 5:30-7:00
Greater Portland CareerCenter 151 Jetport Blvd., Portland, ME 6-Jun-18 5:00-6:00
Houlton ACAP Office 91 Military St., Houlton, ME 6-Jun-18 5:30-7:00
Madawaska ACAP Office 88 Fox St., Madawaska, ME 6-Jun-18 5:30-7:00
Presque Isle CareerCenter 66 Spruce St., Presque Isle, ME 6-Jun-18 5:30-7:00
University College Bath/Brunswick Rm. 101, Orion Hall, 12 Sewall Street, Brunswick, ME 6-Jun-18 5:30-7:00
Skowhegan CareerCenter 98 North Ave., Skowhegan, ME 7-Jun-18 5:00-6:00
Springvale CareerCenter 9 Bodwell Ct., Springvale, ME 7-Jun-18 5:00-6:00

Why is the MDOL doing this?

Maine is facing a workforce challenge. With unemployment at record lows (under 4% for 29 consecutive months), the Department wants to focus more on what is available within the state. Looking at Maine’s minor population makes sense for many reasons.  First and foremost, Maine has approximately 27,700 14 and 15 year-olds.

Introduction into the workforce at a younger age helps to build confidence, self-reliance and independence, impart the value of money and cultivate soft skills that are transferrable within the young worker’s world. Young workers learn, respect and self control, how to work well with others, good time management and personal responsibility, all important attributes that will serve them well in their personal, educational and professional lives.

“Getting to YES, Youth Employment and the Steps” to professional success seeks to promote these positives in the media and among our stakeholder groups to boost youth employment this summer, and also get youth thinking about their professional future; e.g. pre-apprenticeship, apprenticeship, college, career, etc.

According to the Maine Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of work permits for minors made some gains this past year (4,200 over 3,200 the year before), likely due, in part, to changes to child labor laws in Maine that made work permits easier to obtain and submit.

Goals of this project:

  1. To increase the number of work permits issued in 2018 (by 50%);
  2. Create a narrative that supports, promotes and encourages 14 and 15-year old workers;
  3. Continue to streamline the process of acquiring and processing work permits; and
  4. Get employers interested, onboard and prepared for hiring youth.

Partners:

  • Maine Department of Education
  • Maine Department of Economic & Community Development
  • Jobs for Maine Graduates
  • Maine CareerCenters/Maine Joblink
  • Maine Bureau of Rehabilitation Services
  • Maine Tourism Association
  • Maine Restaurants and Innkeepers Association

Recent Press:

https://www.pressherald.com/2018/05/12/state-pushes-to-loosen-work-rules-for-teens-but-labor-advocates-have-concerns/

Promotion:

Over the coming days and weeks, we will use social media, the DOL website, email, radio and television to get the word out. A formal press conference on May 30th will launch the initiative fully, with all of our partners communicating the message and spreading the word.

If you have questions or ideas about any part of this initiative, please contact Laura Hudson, Laura.J.Hudson@maine.gov or 207-621-5009.

2019 Maine State SAT School Day Administration Dates

The 2019 Maine State SAT School Day Administration Dates will be the following:

  • Maine State SAT School Day Administration – Tuesday, April 9, 2019
  • Makeup Date – Tuesday, April 23, 2019

This announcement is intended to help schools and districts with scheduling and calendar development for the 2018-2019 school year.  Test dates for other Maine Educational Assessments will be announced as soon as they are available.

The Maine State SAT administration is utilized for determining assessment participation rates and used for the achievement indicator within Maine’s accountability system for High School under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act  (ESSA) of 2015.

Released test items will only be available for the SAT administration on April 9th, 2019.  There will be no released items available for the SAT administered on the makeup date.

For questions about the Maine State SAT School Day Administration please contact Nancy Godfrey at Nancy.Godfrey@maine.gov, (207) 624-6775 or Andrew Hudacs at Andrew.Hudacs@maine.gov, (207) 624-6827.

 

School Custodian Award for Excellence Nominations

Each year the Maine Department of Education partners with Educational Plant Maintenance Association of Maine to host the Custodial and Maintenance Conference at Waterville Senior High School.  One highlight of the conference is awarding the A. Burleigh Oxton Award for Excellence for a school custodial maintenance employee.

Please consider honoring a deserving colleague by submitting a nomination for the 2018 the A. Burleigh Oxton Award for Excellence.

The award provides recognition to an individual who demonstrates exemplary job performance, is passionate about maintaining and operating the local school building to ensure clean, safe, and healthy learning and working environment, and serves as a role model for students; a dedicated employee who is known for going the extra mile to help students, staff, and visitors to the facility.

This is an opportunity to showcase your school custodian’s accomplishments and nominate!  The individual selected will receive an award plaque and a $300 college scholarship that will be awarded in their name to a deserving graduate in their district.  The award winner and the three finalists will be invited to attend the 50th Annual Custodial and Maintenance Conference as a special guest.

Applications are being accepted now.  Below you can find the nomination information necessary to begin the this process:

The application due date is June 8, 2018.

For further information contact Maine DOE Transportation and Facilities Administrator, Pat Hinckley at pat.hinckley@maine.gov or (207) 624-6886.

Social Studies Standards Review – Writing Team

The Department of Education is performing a review of the Maine Learning Results for Social Studies and is looking for participants to serve as part of the writing team. The purpose of the writing team is to revise the current standards based on guidance provided from a steering committee. For more information about the standards review process, check the new Maine DOE standards revision website.

The team will serve as a representative sample of Maine K-12 social studies educators covering pK-12 grade levels, geographic locations, and content area strengths across all four of the social studies strands. While specific dates are still to be determined, a majority of the work will take place in July and August and will include at least one face to face meeting in Augusta.

While all interested educators are encouraged to participate, those who work in elementary grades or have background in teaching economics or personal finance are highly encouraged to apply. Also, to help ensure that the geographic diversity of our state is represented, those who teach in the following counties: Hancock, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, or Washington are strongly encouraged to apply.

Participants will receive contact hours for time work, be reimbursed for travel costs, and lunch will be provided for face to face meetings.

If you are interested in participating, please complete this short survey by 4:00pm on Monday, June 4 to be considered. We will reach out to interested participants with more information in the coming weeks.

For further questions, contact Maine DOE Social Studies Specialist Joe Schmidt at (207) 624-6828 or Joe.Schmidt@maine.gov.

 

Reminder: Register now for 2018 Commissioner’s Conference – session highlights available

The 2018 Commissioner’s Conference will be held at the Augusta Civic Center on Wednesday, June 27th and Thursday, June 28, 2018. The Maine DOE has been working closely with Maine School Management Association (MSMA) to ensure that this year’s sessions meet the needs of attendees – see conference highlights below.

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

Register now »

Conference Highlights

Fulfilling the Dream of a Prosperous Maine
Duke Albanese, Commissioner’s Conference Keynote

“Fulfilling the Dream of a Prosperous Maine: Getting There Requires a Focus on Education and Effective Leadership for Learning, Citizenship, and Opportunities for All Maine Students”

Finding widespread prosperity has been difficult for our state. Although Maine presents abundant opportunities to thrive and prosper as individuals and communities, pockets of vibrancy have often been limited even during the best of times. To turn the tide and make our state a great place to live and prosper, high quality education is the key. We have the scale and wherewithal to build a world-class early childhood through higher education system focused on equity and enriching learning opportunities for all students. What we need to achieve this is strong, effective, creative, and resourceful leadership. Can Maine do it? Yes. Who will lead?

Duke Albanese will serve as Commissioner Keynote, in addition to conducting a break-out session.

Cracker-Barrel Session
Commissioner Hasson and Maine DOE staff

Come to this informal session and get a chance to talk one-on-one with Commissioner Hasson and Maine DOE staff, including Department leadership. The Department will also have available some insider updates for superintendents.

Certification: What You Need to Know
Maine DOE staff

This session will provide participants with a review of important changes resulting from recent revisions to certification laws; clarification on common misconceptions about certification requirements and processes; an opportunity to discuss communication strategies for certification; and a question and answer segment on the new online system.

Legislative Update
Maine DOE Staff

The Maine Legislature adjourned its Second Regular Session sine die on May 2, 2018. While education bills remain, including LD 1869 –”An Act To Establish the Total Cost of Education and the State and Local Contributions to Education for Fiscal Year 2018-19 and To Provide That Employees of School Management and Leadership Centers Are Eligible To Participate in the Maine Public Employees Retirement System”—which are preserved to be carried over to any special session of the 128th Legislature, others were passed and became law are either in effect now as emergency legislation, or will become law on Wednesday, August 1. This session will include a summary of enacted educated-related legislation, the status of bills preserved by the joint order, and a progress report on the status of rulemaking.

Open Forum: Addressing the Teacher Shortage
Open Forum lead by DOE staff

What can Maine do to address the teacher shortage while strengthening our educator workforce? In this open forum session, we will discuss barriers to teacher retention and recruitment and what is being done across the state to overcome these obstacles. Together we will collaborate on ways that all stakeholders can work together to build our educator workforce and promote the teaching profession.

Put your Collaborative Project on the Regionalization Map
Maine DOE staff

During this session, participants will learn about the EMBRACE II initiatives, including lessons learned; be introduced to the process of forming a regional service center; learn about the upcoming grant opportunity offered by the Fund for the Efficient Delivery of Educational Services (FEDES); brainstorm possible regionalized services and programs; and have an opportunity for questions and answers.

We Have Formed a Regional Service Center: Now What?
Maine DOE staff

During this session, participants will provide input for the Department as to what regional service centers and executive directors need for support; gain an understanding of the monitoring and reporting requirements for a regional service center; receive legislative updates that directly impact regional service centers and their funding; and have an opportunity for questions and answers.

Panel: Preparing Kids for Maine’s Workforce
Maine DOE staff and panel of industry representatives

What are employers looking for? What are students prepared to offer? What can Career and Technical Education (CTE) provide for industry and students? In this session, a panel of industry representatives will share what they look for in an employee. We will discuss and seek ideas for how Maine’s CTE programs can help create more opportunities for students and meet workforce needs.

PreK with Staying Power!
Maine DOE staff

High quality prek has great potential; but research shows that to truly lessen the achievement gap, certain program elements must be present before kindergarten or the gains will “fade out” in the early elementary grades. What are the goals for a prek program in your district? Are you seeing these goals realized in child outcomes over time? Come hear about the prek programs that include the research-based elements and the end-of-prek outcome data that predicts 5th grade reading, writing, and math scores.

Improving K-3 Literacy Achievement by Building Teacher Knowledge
Maine DOE MoMEntum staff and educators from pilot schools

The Department is implementing an early literacy/technology learning pilot project, MoMEntum K-3 Literacy, in schools located regionally across Maine. This initiative provides high-quality professional learning to build teacher knowledge and skills to impact student learning. This session will provide an overview of the initiative; details about the professional learning, including intentional instruction, opportunities for student practice, technology integration, and assessment that informs ongoing instruction; preliminary findings related to student achievement; and lessons learned so far. During this panel discussion, participants will have the chance to hear from and ask questions of those leading the program as well as participating educators and school leaders.

Closing the Achievement Gap with Early Math Education
Maine DOE staff

Two years of assessing current state data shows an increasing gap in the percent of grade 3-5 students statewide who meet or achieve state expectations in mathematics as compared to ELA/literacy. The Maine Department of Education is embarking on a new initiative called the Numeracy4ME K-4 Mathematics Pilot program, in schools located regionally across Maine. This initiative provides high-quality professional learning to build teacher knowledge and skills to impact student learning of mathematics. This session will provide an overview of the initiative, including details about structure of the professional learning, the focus on numeracy concepts, and implications for PK-4 learning and assessment applicable to all schools.

Work Session: 2018/19 School Approval Requirements & Process
Maine DOE staff

This session will provide guidance on the 2018-19 school/district approval requirements and the new more streamlined process in the Department’s NEO system. Superintendents will have the opportunity to begin completing the approval process at this session – bring your laptops.

Open Forum: Performance Evaluation and Professional Growth
Maine DOE staff

This session will provide district leaders an opportunity to share their PEPG triumphs and tribulations. Do you have a strategy that is working well in your district that you would like to share with others? Do you have a need for greater support in certain areas such as observations and feedback? Is your school or district interested in improving the quality of the Student Learning Objectives? Participation, creative strategies, and a willingness to share is encouraged in this session!

Raising the Bar for Technology in Maine Schools
Jim Moulton, Apple Inc.

How do we help our students learn today and prepare them for a rapidly changing world? A driving force behind this change is technology. It affects the way we communicate, the way we work, the way we live day-to-day. It also empowers every individual—and every learner—to create amazing things and make a difference in the world. But first, we need to raise the bar for what’s expected, and what’s possible, for learning with technology.

Substance Abuse Resources
Maine Center for Disease Control

The presentation will provide an overview of Maine Prevention services, specifically substance and tobacco use prevention including electronic nicotine delivery systems/vaping to school leaders. The information provided will be useful for school administrators as they consider policies, practices and education necessary to protect and optimize the health and safety of students. Materials, resources and a list of community prevention providers who can support school prevention efforts will be available at this presentation.

Elevating Concussion Education: How to Address Everyone
Maine Concussion Management Initiative (MCMI), Colby College

As schools prepare for the start of each year, it’s the perfect time to update concussion education. To ensure that head injury is addressed with each population in the district, MCMI has tailored plans to educate all stakeholders. Everyone in your district will benefit from tailored and current concussion information. Attend this session to learn more about how to get involved.

Other possible sessions:

  • Steve Levesque, and Glenn Cummings – Educating the Workforce Panel
  • Adult Education
  • Budget Methodology of State/Local Funds for ESEA
  • ESSA: School Improvement for All
  • Early Math Education
  • Post-secondary enrollment and credentialing options
  • Truancy
  • Trauma

MEDIA ADVISORY: MLTI Student Conference to be held on May 24th at UMaine

What:
The 15th annual Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) Student Conference is once again bringing Maine students together for hands-on learning with technology.

Who:
Over 1000 Maine middle school and high school students, and their teachers

Where/When:
Thursday, May 24, 2018
University of Maine, Orono Campus
8:40 am –  Opening/Student Keynote (Collins Center for the Arts )
1:10 pm – Closing “Uber” session (Collins Center for the Arts )
Breakout sessions all day (throughout the Campus – Sessions by Location Quick Guide)

Schedule Highlights: 
Between 8 am and 8:45 am, school busses unload hundreds of excited students and adults who grab conference T-shirts and file into the Hutchins Concert Hall, where the Ballroom Thieves and the Maine Youth Rock Orchestra provide a musical welcome.

8:45 am – After Brief Welcome by DOE, UMaine and Apple representatives,
Student Keynote Speaker Nicole Pendleton, an 8th-grader from Camden-Rockport Middle School, takes the stage, followed by a professional reflection by Andrew Johnson, VP of Business Development at Ai2.

2 Blocks of Hands-on Learning Sessions: Visit classrooms where students are demonstrating and learning how to create in a variety of ways – through coding, audio, video, images, text and more.

1:10 pm – “Uber” session in the Hutchins Concert Hall at the Collins Center for the Arts – Over 1000 students and adults participate in a group music project using their laptops and tablets, guided by the Ballroom Thieves and the Maine Youth Rock Orchestra

For more information visit:

Members of the media are welcome to attend. For further questions contact, Maine DOE Director of Communications Rachel Paling at rachel.paling@maine.gov or call 624-6747.

Certification renewal deadline approaching; districts encouraged to complete educator recommendations by May 30

Maine Department of Education is requesting districts’ help in meeting the July 1 deadline for the renewal of Maine educator certifications, and giving all educators and administrators ample time to become familiar with the new online certification system.

The Department 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. Taking this action now will:

  • Allow the Department to open the portal to educators in districts that have completed renewal recommendations
  • Alleviate concerns about meeting the deadline among educators and support teams
  • Ensure that the portal contains accurate information about district staff certification prior to the release of the system to the public

To support the process of setting up district accounts and completing renewal recommendations, the Department has released the district portal of the new online certification system to all districts in Maine; superintendents have been provided with log-in credentials and instructions; and they have received follow up phone calls.

To complete the portal roll-out, district staff must complete the following steps:

Superintendents:

  • Please log-in to the portal at your earliest convenience to set up an account following the directions that were provided. If you need help logging in, contact Maine DOE Data Systems Helpdesk at MEDMS.Helpdesk@maine.gov or 207-624-6896. If you have certification questions, contact the Certification office at (207) 624-6603 or cert.doe@maine.gov.
  • Forward to your certification support chair the specific instructions and log-in information you received. The Department does not have contact information for certification chairs.

Support chairs:

  • If you do not already have them, please request the log-in information and instructions documents from your superintendent.
  • Please log-in at your earliest convenience to complete educator recommendations by May 30.

Once the educator portal has been fully released, the Department will release the public portal which will allow members of the public to search for educators by name and see their current certification credentials.

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.