Category: News & Views

Comments sought on Maine’s IDEA Part B application

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is seeking comments from the public on its annual application for federal funds under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which covers services to children with disabilities, ages 3-20.

The application, which covers Maine fiscal year 2019 (starting July 1, 2018) is posted on the Maine DOE’s webpage at http://www.maine.gov/doe/specialed/idea. The Part B budget is projected on the basis of Maine’s award for the current State fiscal year (2018), pending the State’s receipt of the finalized federal award for the coming year. Both documents will be posted from March 8th, 2018 through May 8th, 2018.

Written comments will be accepted from March 9th, 2018 until 4 p.m. on Friday, April 6th, 2018. Please send comments to Janice Breton at janice.breton@maine.gov or 23 State House Station, Augusta, ME. 04333.

EPS High-Cost Out-of-District Report (EF-S-214) open for reporting on March 1

The EF-S-214 will be open to Maine public schools on March 1 for data entry.  School administrative unit staff responsible for completion of this report should complete the report in NEO as early as possible to allow time for certification by the special service director and the business manager. The Department’s School Finance Team must approve the report by April 15 in order to apply eligible adjustments to the current year subsidy calculation before the end of the fiscal year.

The EF-S-214 report is required to be submitted by all publicly funded school administrative units. Only costs for tuition and board should be included in the report, and only students that have a total cost above $36,229 should be included on the report.  School administrative units should project the costs for the remainder of the fiscal year.  For those school administrative units with no students that will meet that threshold, a “zero” report should be submitted.

Reminder of changes made to the report since the last reporting cycle:

  • The form is to be certified and submitted by the business manger
  • The ability to import out of district placements is now available
  • Students can have multiple lines if they have had more than one placement during the year
  • There is now the option to view a summary sheet which provides a total adjustment amount, if all costs are approved
  • An internal messaging system has been added to communicate questions
  • The form will auto-populate the school administrative unit contact information based on data on file in the Department’s NEO staff module

The EF-S-214 report may be found by logging into NEO at: https://neo.maine.gov/DOE/NEO/Accounts/Account/Login

Please contact Stephanie Clark, Fiscal Review and Compliance Consultant at stephanie.clark@maine.gov

Early Start Maine Earns National Recognition for Infant and Early Childhood Intervention

Early Start Maine, a program funded by federal grants for special education administered through the Maine Department of Education, has received the national 2018 Exemplary Program Award for Infant and Early Childhood Intervention services by the American Council on Rural Special Education, the national organization devoted entirely to special education in rural America.

Early Start Maine is housed at the University of Maine and works throughout the state to support young children with autism and their families. In collaboration with Child Development Services (CDS), Early Start Maine provides training, professional development, and technical assistance to early intervention service providers working with toddlers with autism. The program’s comprehensive early intervention system has positively affected services provided to children with autism and their families.

This national award is granted annually for programs that demonstrate exemplary programs providing service to rural communities, involving the community, and having a significant impact on rural special education.

For more information about this award, see https://umaine.edu/autisminstitute/2018/02/20/maier-early-start-maine-program-receives-national-recognition/

Updated guidance on local approval for regional service centers

The Department is issuing updated guidance on obtaining local approval for a regional service center (RSC).  Previous guidance stated that each school administrative unit (SAU) member of an RSC must hold a referendum on their interlocal agreement; however, a recent review of applicable statutes provides that local practices and each SAU’s structure will determine the approval process for an RSC interlocal agreement. Specifically:

Approval by town meeting

For a regional school unit (RSU), school administrative districts (SAD), community school district (CSD) or municipal school unit that has a town meeting to approve the annual school budget, a referendum is not required to approve an interlocal agreement establishing an RSC. These types of SAUs can obtain local approval of the interlocal agreement establishing an RSC at the annual school budget meeting.

Approval by referendum

There is no change to guidance for cities and charter municipalities that do not approve the annual school budget at an annual budget meeting. For SAUs in this category a referendum vote to approve an interlocal agreement establishing an RSC will be required on the June 12, 2018 statewide election day.

As stated in Regional Service Center Part I Letter and Guidance published in the Maine DOE Newsroom in December 2017, the Department remains committed to the goal that initial regional service centers will be operational by July 1, 2018, and encourages all applicants to pursue this timeframe.

In the event that there are applicants with member SAUs that are unable to ratify interlocal agreements in time for July 1, the Department will consider, on a case by case basis, whether it makes sense to hold the regional center subsidy for a reasonable amount of time to allow local school communities to reach agreement. In such an instance, the Department will proceed as follows:

  • The subsidy adjustment calculated for each participating SAU on the ED 279 will be held by the Department, pending the negotiation of an agreement between the Department and each SAU.
  • In the agreement, the member SAUs will outline the steps that will be taken during the 2018-2019 fiscal year to finalize the regional service center, and laying out milestones that the member SAUs commit to meeting by certain dates to keep the progress on track.

In the event that the milestones are met and ratification of the regional service center occurs by the deadline established in the agreement, the DOE shall make the entire subsidy adjustment available to each member SAU that joins the proposed regional service center and agrees to purchase at least two services from at least two distinct categories.

Reminder regarding student participation in post-secondary enrollment programs

Maine high school students are afforded the opportunity to participate in post-secondary programs under 20-A MRSA, Chapter 208-A.  This statute details student eligibility requirements and proscribes the level of student participation as 6 credit hours per semester, not to exceed 12 credit hours per academic year.

As the second semester began, the Department received invoices from post-secondary institutions for students who had already met the 12 credit hours per academic year threshold. This notice is a reminder of the reasons that limiting the credit hours can be beneficial to students:

  • Completing a high number of college courses while in high school can affect a student’s enrollment status in the first year of college with unintended consequences to federal financial aid, campus housing, academic standing, and scholarship eligibility. Career and technical programs, in a often have tight, sequential requirements in each semester: completing part of a semester of requirements can impact enrollment status (for example there are not enough remaining courses for a student to take to be full-time).
  • Course requirements can differ from program to program and there is no guarantee that a course will transfer to the student’s college of choice. Therefore, a secondary student participating in the post-secondary enrollment program should receive guidance in the selection of post-secondary enrollment courses, giving consideration to the student’s intended program of study/career pathway. Students should choose intentionally and with the combined guidance of school counselors and advisors at the colleges and/or universities.
  • Funds to support students enrolled in this program are limited by legislative appropriation and credit hour limits have been established in an effort to afford participate for as many students as possible within the limits of the appropriation.

As a reminder to Superintendents, Principals and Guidance Counselors, the responsibility to monitor student participation in post-secondary enrollment programs lies with the school administrative unit. Please be sure to verify student credit hours each semester, prior to approving a student to enroll in post-secondary courses.

Should you have questions or need clarification, please contact Stephanie Clark, Fiscal Review and Compliance Consultant for the Maine Department of Education at stephanie.clark@maine.gov

PRIORITY NOTICE: Reminder of public hearings for science and social studies standards; live broadcast links available

As a reminder, the Maine Department of Education has scheduled a series of public hearings this week as part of the scheduled periodic review of the Maine Learning Results. The Department is seeking public comments regarding the current social studies standards and science standards.

Public hearings for each standard have been scheduled back to back in locations throughout the State of Maine. Below is a list of relevant links as well as hearing dates, locations and times including a live links for each event:

Science Standards:

Social Studies Standards:

Anyone unable to attend the public hearing may send written comments by 5 pm on March 16th, 2018. Written comments may be emailed to sis.doe@maine.gov with the subject “Science Standards Review” or “Social Students Standards Review” or mailed to Maine Department of Education, attn: Paul Hambleton, 23 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333.

For further information about the standards review process contact Beth Lambert at Beth.Lambert@maine.gov.

Outstanding educators sought for Maine talent pool

The Maine Department of Education is accepting recommendations through April 27, 2018 for the 2018 Maine Educator Talent Pool. These distinguished educators may be considered for membership on local and state advisory boards and task forces, as well as be candidates for special recognition through the Department.

The Department is currently seeking elementary educators (grades K-5), relatively new to the profession, with five to 18 years of experience, who show unusual instructional ability; inspire their students, colleagues and community members; have strong leadership potential; and are comparable to the nation’s best educators. Candidates are typically certified classroom teachers holding a bachelor’s degree. Previous recognition is not required. Of special interest are educators who are outstanding but have not received other recognition.

Recommendation forms can be accessed here: Talent Pool Recommendation Form.   Please provide confidential, succinct, compelling, and specific information regarding the candidate on the recommendation form. All questions must be answered, preferably typewritten. Your recommendation packet must include a one-page narrative that addresses how the candidate meets the talent pool criteria, a completed recommendation form, and a resume from his or her personnel file.

School districts are strongly urged to take the time to recommend candidates. If necessary, assign the request to an associate. Please note though, this recommendation must remain confidential and not shared with the individual.

For more information, contact Educator Effectiveness Coordinator Emily Gribben at (207) 624-6748 or Emily.gribben@maine.gov.

 

Discretionary medication administration in schools

This memorandum is in response to queries from the field regarding PRN or discretionary medication administration in schools.

Registered nurses working as school nurses are in a unique place. Although they are school employees working under the rules and regulations of the local school board and State of Maine Department of Education, they are also licensed by the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Board of Nursing and therefore must follow the Nurse Practice Act and its rules. The registered nurse coordinates and oversees unlicensed personnel within a school to assign specific health tasks to be done and provides the training. Any unlicensed school staff who will administer medication must be trained by a registered nurse or physician before carrying out this task. It is the position of the Board of Nursing, that any task that requires a nursing assessment or judgment cannot be assigned to unlicensed personnel. When medication is not routine, such as with over-the-counter ibuprofen, for example, and the student’s response to the medication is less predictable, nursing oversight should be carefully considered. When evaluating if medication can be administered by an unlicensed staff, the school nurse should assess the situation and consider the following:

  • The task should not inherently involve ongoing assessment, interpretation, or nursing judgment and decision making
  • The school nurse should have the ability to provide adequate oversight of the unlicensed staff member’s medication administration tasks

It is recommended that schools take time to review their medication policies and procedures to ensure requirements from both the Board of Nursing and the Department of Education are being met. The following are resources that may assist your school in doing this:

Maine Board of Nursing Position Statement for School Nursing http://www.maine.gov/boardofnursing/practice/position-statements/school-nursing.html

Maine State Board of Nursing, Chapter 6 Regulations relating to coordination and oversight of patient care services by unlicensed health care assistive personnel. http://www.maine.gov/boardofnursing/docs/Chapter%206.pdf

Maine Department of Education, Chapter 40 Rule for Medication Administration in Maine schools. http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/rules/05/chaps05.htm

Maine Department of Education, Decision Tree for Nurse Coordination and Oversight. http://www.maine.gov/doe/schoolhealth/manual/documents/nurse_decision_tree.pdf

Maine Department of Education, School Health Manual. Medication Administration in Schools Introduction http://www.maine.gov/doe/schoolhealth/manual/documents/intro_medication_administration_in_schools.pdf

For further information contact Emily Poland, School Nurse Consultant, Maine Department of Education at emily.poland@maine.gov.

PRIORITY NOTICE: Resources to help schools keep students and school staff safe

Maine schools have long taken security seriously, working with local fire, police, and County Emergency Management Agencies to update emergency operations plans and exercise those plans at the local level.

Maine has worked at the State and local levels to strengthen the safety and security of its schools. Efforts have included free day-long security workshops in partnership with the Maine Principals’ Association and Maine School Management Association in addition to extensive tools to inform local planning, training, and preparation.

A 2014 Legislative report on the preparedness and facility security of Maine schools created by national and local experts praised the positive climates in Maine schools.

However, in light of recent high profile national incidents, the Department is reminding districts of resources available to support schools in their ongoing efforts to keep students and school staff safe.

Available on the Maine Department of Education website are, a free school security guide created for Maine DOE by Safe Havens International entitled Twenty Simple Strategies to Safer and More Effective Schools and a similar resource specific to building safety entitled Seven Important Building Design Features to Enhance School Safety and Security.  These guides are evidence-based strategies.

In addition, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has available a cyber security awareness campaign called Stop.Think.Connect. which focuses on raising awareness about how to be safer and more secure online.

After a horrific incident like what happened recently in Florida, people want to take action. The safest response is to slow down, have local conversations about security (schools, fire, police, and county emergency management agencies), and take account of what is in place first before taking action.

For more resources, including training and emergency operations planning, from Maine DOE and its emergency planning partners, visit: http://www.maine.gov/doe/security/ or contact Pat Hinckley at 624-6886 or by email at pat.hinckley@maine.gov .

Governor LePage Recognizes School District Collaboration To Benefit Students

Released on Wednesday, February 14, 2018

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage has issued the following statement recognizing today’s State Board of Education vote to accept the scoring for the finalists for the Integrated, Consolidated 9–16 Educational Facility Pilot Project.

“Communities across Maine are demonstrating that when the state provides them with support and incentives, they will work together to create more opportunities for students in an efficient and effective way,” said Governor LePage. “I commend the local superintendents and school boards for putting the needs of their students first.”

The Governor added, “Enabling Maine students to benefit from regional and collaborative approaches to education is the right thing to do. When these projects are up and running, they will serve as a shining example of what is possible when our communities work together to benefit students.”

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) has implemented the Integrated, Consolidated 9–16 Educational Facility Pilot Project as part of the EMBRACE initiative, providing support and incentives to communities that work together to increase opportunities for students through regional partnerships that enable efficiency and take advantage of scale that the communities could not achieve on their own.

Most recently, Maine DOE announced grant awards of $4.6 million to school districts to pursue more than $10 million in savings through regional projects.