PRIORITY NOTICE: Maine DOE Seeks Comments on Proposed Rule Chapter 134 (regulations for awarding a high school diploma)

The Maine DOE welcomes comments on proposed regulation, Chapter 134 pursuant to 20-A MRS §4722-A (Regulations for Awarding a High School Diploma). A public hearing will be held on August 14^th in room 500 at the Cross State Office Building from 9-11 am. Anyone unable to attend the public hearing may send written comments by 5 pm on September 8, 2017. Written comments may be sent to the attention Diana Doiron at diana.doiron@maine.gov or 23 SHS Station, Augusta, ME 04333.

The development of Chapter 134 has been underway since the summer of 2016 guided by the rule making requirements of the proficiency diploma law. This rule must:

Allow flexibility and innovation at the school and district level for the development of consistent graduation standards,
Identify the manner in which multiple pathways in career and technical education can provide evidence of proficiency in the disciplines of the content areas and Guiding Principles of Maine’s system of learning results, and
Establish criteria for the placement in career and technical education programs while ensuring all students are exposed to all content areas of the system of learning results.

For more information on the diploma based on proficiency, contact Maine Department of Education Proficiency-Based Education Specialist, Diana Doiron at diana.doiron@maine.gov or 624-6823.

Revised certification rules: guidance and clarification (Chapter 115)

The revised Chapter 115 certification rules have arrived and the Maine Department of Education (DOE) is providing the following clarifications:

Part I of Chapter 115 goes into effect August 12th, 2017.
Part II does not go into effect until July 1, 2019, including the revisions to grade spans. For now we will continue to use the K-3, K-8, 7-12 or K-12 grade spans for certification purposes.
For future reference a decision has been made by the Maine Department of Education to allow individuals who have a K-8 certification to continue with that credential, as long as the credential does not lapse.

During the fall, the Maine DOE will be making more recommendations to certification rules to further accommodate the needs of, and feedback from the educational field.

For more information contact the Maine DOE Certification office at 207-624-6603 or cert.doe@maine.gov.

School and workplace violence training hosted by Brewer Police Department

The Brewer Police Department in conjunction with the Penobscot Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is hosting the following two day training from the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA):

“SCHOOL and WORKPLACE VIOLENCE: PREPARATION and RESPONSE”

The training provides a venue for law enforcement to train, plan, and participate alongside of fire, EMS, dispatchers, government officials, school professionals, and business professionals. This course is nationally recognized and past attendees have given it outstanding reviews.

This course is being taught by the National Tactical Officers Association’s (NTOA) subject matter expert, Don Alwes. Don Alwes is a police officer and trainer with more than 36 years of law enforcement experience. He is the current chair of the National Tactical Officers Association Patrol Section, providing instruction in active shooter response and school and workplace violence. Don also serves as an adjunct instructor for the NRA’s Law Enforcement Division and Kentucky’s Department of Criminal Justice Training. Don has also taught courses for the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors. Topics of instruction have included active shooter response, rapid deployment, terrorism, homeland security, school and workplace violence, and vulnerability assessment. Don is a member of the NTOA, the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors, the Police Marksman Association and the International Association for Counter-terrorism and Security Professionals.

Course Information:

NTOA’s “SCHOOL and WORKPLACE VIOLENCE: PREPARATION and RESPONSE”
AUGUST 28-29, 2017 8AM to 5PM
JEFF’S CATERING & EVENT CENTER – 15 Littlefield Way, Brewer, ME 04412
COST: $110 per attendee: includes drinks and snacks and lunch

For more information download (PDF): Training Announcement and Registration Form for 2017 School and Workplace Violence

Synergy training dates and registration for special education and CTE

The Maine DOE is offering Synergy training dates for Special Purpose Private Schools (SPPS) and Regional Programs, and for Career and Technical Education (CTE). Dates and registration information are provided below in two focused half day sessions.

In these sessions, participants will learn how to use Synergy DOE to upload student data required by the State of Maine. In addition, participants will learn how to use Synergy DOE to enter and validate student data that is not included in the upload process.

After completing this session, participants will understand how to perform uploads and will be able to:

* Log in to Synergy and navigate the interface
* Use and understand Synergy concepts and terminology
* Change Focus to view other years/schools
* Create personal Navigation Menus
* View existing student information
* Create upload for concurrent enrollments
* Create upload for program enrollments
* Find a single student or multiple students
* Enter and modify student data
* Upload Quarterly Attendance
* Upload Behavior Information
* Enter Truancy information
* Use a Matrix to print student information or export student information to other desktop programs
* Create student filters
* Create Graph information
* Preview and Print common reports
* Save report settings
* Make corrections/additions on existing records

In addition to the two dates, the session will shared via Zoom so attendants can log in.

***August 14 – For Special Purpose Private Schools (SPPS) and Regional Programs Only***

SPPS Registration

***August 16 – For Career and Technical Education Programs (CTE) Only***

CTE Registration

23 State House Station
Room 103
Augusta, Maine

8:30-12:00

If you have any questions please contact Shannon Bartash, Data Systems Helpdesk Manager for the Maine Department of Education at 207.624.6799 or Shannon.Bartash@maine.gov.

Need Superintendent verification of district staff for new Student Information System

As the State finalizes its plans to move to the new Student Information System (SIS), Synergy, we are seeking information from Superintendents about exactly who needs to have access to the final production model.

Several district staff members have signed up for Maine DOE training sessions to learn the new system. For security purposes, we need to verify which district staff members should have access beyond the training site. Once we are ready to move into production, all training accounts will end. We will systematically be adding an account for each Superintendent and for the person listed in NEO contacts as your data specialist. Access will not be given to additional staff members unless the request comes directly from Superintendents via email.

Superintendents, please email medms.helpdesk@maine.gov with the following information for each person:

Staff member first and last name:
Staff member email address:
Please specify if they should have read only access or update access

Maine DOE will contact each person with their log in credentials. In the future, we will have an access form much like what we have for NEO.

As an update, members attending the trainings will receive access to a training site with their district information. Access to the final product will be available the second week of August.

During the week of August 1 to August 7, districts will not be able to get new student IDs.

If you have any questions, please contact Charlotte Ellis charlotte.ellis@maine.gov or Shannon Bartash shannon.bartash@maine.gov

PRIORITY NOTICE: Guidance on usage of additional state funds from 2017-2018 budget

The Department has received several requests from school administrative units for guidance regarding the interpretation of PL 2017 Chapter 284, Section JJJJJJJ. The Department offers this guidance with the caveats that 1) Differing legal interpretations may be put forth and in those instances, we would recommend consulting your school unit’s legal counsel and 2) this guidance applies to the fiscal year 2017-2018 only; no analysis has yet begun regarding the application of this section of statute to fiscal year 2018-2019.

The Department offers guidance on the following scenarios for fiscal year 2017-2018:

Scenario 1: The school administrative unit has passed a budget through all applicable stages and the budget did not include a warrant article to provide the school board with authority to use any additional state funds received. Under this scenario, Section JJJJJJJ-4 would apply and provide 50% of the increase in subsidy to reduce the school administrative unit’s required local contribution. For combined school administrative units (RSU, SAD or CSD), the Department’s suggested distribution of the 50% subsidy increase, based on the statutory language, is posted at the link below. For combined school units with a Private & Special Law that amends the required local share calculation under 20-A § 15688, the Department suggests utilizing the required local contribution percentages as calculated under that Private & Special Law.

http://www.maine.gov/education/data/eps/fy18/index.html

Scenario 2: The school administrative unit has passed a budget through all applicable stages and the budget did include a warrant article providing the school board with the authority to use any additional state funds received. Under this scenario, Section JJJJJJJ-5 applies and the school administrative unit may utilize the increase in subsidy as permitted under the approved article.

Scenario 3: The school administrative unit has not passed a budget. This school administrative unit would present budget calculations which reflect the required local share and state subsidy amounts as displayed on the ED 279 dated July 12, 2017. Section JJJJJJJ-5 would not apply as tax relief is provided via the reduction of the required mill expectation in the enacted ED 279.

Should you have questions or need additional clarification, please contact tyler.backus@maine.gov paula.b.gravelle@maine.gov or joanne.allen@maine.gov

Upcoming Rulemaking to Support the Implementation of a Diploma Based on Proficiency

The Maine DOE recently submitted to the Secretary of State proposed regulation, Chapter 134, pursuant to 20-A MRS § 4722-A (Regulations for Awarding a High School Diploma). This rule chapter supports the implementation of a diploma based on proficiency, and fosters the culture of learning that makes it possible for each learner to graduate ready for next steps after secondary school.

We anticipate that a formal notice for the rulemaking will be published on July 26 (in the Bangor Daily News, Kennebec Journal, Portland Press Herald, Lewiston Sun-Journal and the Central Maine Morning Sentinel).

A public hearing will be held on August 14^th in room 500 at the Cross State Office Building from 9-11 am with the deadline for public comment closing on September 8^th at 5 pm.

The development of Chapter 134 has been underway since the summer of 2016 guided by the rule making requirements of the proficiency diploma law. This rule must:

Allow flexibility and innovation at the school and district level for the development of consistent graduation standards,
Identify the manner in which multiple pathways in career and technical education can provide evidence of proficiency in the disciplines of the content areas and Guiding Principles of Maine’s system of learning results
Establish criteria for the placement in career and technical education programs while ensuring all students are exposed to all content areas of the system of learning results.

For more information on the diploma based on proficiency, contact Maine Department of Education Proficiency-Based Education Specialist, Diana Doiron at diana.doiron@maine.gov or 624-6823.

Upcoming Rulemaking to Support the Implementation of a Diploma Based on Proficiency

A public hearing will be held on August 14^th in room 500 at the Cross State Office Building from 9-11 am with the deadline for public comment closing on September 8^th at 5 pm.

The development of Chapter 134 has been underway since the summer of 2016 guided by the rule making requirements of the proficiency diploma law. This rule must:

Allow flexibility and innovation at the school and district level for the development of consistent graduation standards,
Identify the manner in which multiple pathways in career and technical education can provide evidence of proficiency in the disciplines of the content areas and Guiding Principles of Maine’s system of learning results
Establish criteria for the placement in career and technical education programs while ensuring all students are exposed to all content areas of the system of learning results.

For more information on the diploma based on proficiency, contact Maine Department of Education Proficiency-Based Education Specialist, Diana Doiron at diana.doiron@maine.gov or 624-6823.

PRIORITY NOTICE: Infinite Campus data entry to close at 12pm 7/13

As a reminder, as part of the planned closure of the Infinite Campus State Edition and transition to the new Synergy System, it is necessary for the Maine Department of Education (DOE) to end the 2016-2017 school year and remove access to update student data and enrollments as of 12:00pm on Thursday July 13, 2017.

In order to prepare for data migration from Infinite Campus State Edition (ICSE) to the new Synergy system and to prepare data for the new student reports in NEO, after 12:00pm on Thursday, July 13, 2017, Infinite Campus State Edition will no longer accept uploads for the 2016-2017 school year.

Users accessing ICSE will still be able to view student and enrollment data, and will be able to upload student personal data in order to get new statestudentids for students new to the Maine school system. For those new to uploading student personal data and getting statestudentids back from ICSE, the Helpdesk will be posting instructions for statestudentids to the following website: http://www.maine.gov/doe/data/helpdesk.html

Maine DOE training for NEO and Synergy will be available during the weeks of July 24 and July 31. It is expected that new statestudentids will be generated from Synergy starting with the week of July 24, and users will receive instruction on those procedures at the trainings.

To register for NEO and Synergy trainings, please visit the following website: http://www.maine.gov/doe/data/training/2017/training_schedule.html

For questions regarding access to ICSE and how to gain statestudentids, please contact MEDMS.Helpdesk@maine.gov, 207-624-6896.

For questions regarding Synergy implementation, please contact charlotte.ellis@maine.gov, 207-624-6696

PRIORITY NOTICE: 2017-18 Enacted ED279 subsidy printouts now available

FY 2017-2018 ED 279 subsidy printouts, based on Public Law 2017 Ch. 284 are now available on the Department’s website: http://www.maine.gov/education/data/eps/epsmenu.htm

The 279 printouts reflect statutory changes to the funding formula as enacted by this legislation. (REMINDER: there will be a scheduled outage of the NEO system, where the 279s are available, from 7/13 – 7/17.)

A comparison of the State Contribution from the Not Yet Enacted Governor’s Recommended Funding Level to the Enacted Funding Level, is available at the following link: http://www.maine.gov/education/data/eps/fy18/index.html

As a reminder, Chapter 284, Part JJJJJJJ of the enacted budget bill contains language regarding required local action on the use of any increase in State subsidy. Please review this statutory language below and consult your school unit’s legal counsel should you need additional guidance. Please note that this section applies for both fiscal years 2017-18 and 2018-19.

Should you have questions regarding the subsidy printout, please contact the School Finance Team: tyler.backus@maine.gov; paula.b.gravelle@maine.gov; ida.batista@maine.gov

Public Law 2017 Ch. 284 PART JJJJJJJ

Sec. JJJJJJJ-4. 20-A MRSA §15690-A is enacted to read:

15690-A. Local action on increase in state share percentage Notwithstanding section 1485, subsection 5, this section applies to school budgets adopted for fiscal years 2017-18 and 2018-19.

Required reduction in local contribution. If the budget of a school administrative unit is based on assumptions that include an increase in state share, pursuant to section 15690, subsection 1, paragraph C, over the amount used in the most recent approved budget as the result of an increase in the state share of the school administrative unit’s total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to grade 12 under this chapter, the increase in state share must be used as follows.
Fifty percent of the increase in state share pursuant to section 15690, subsection 1, paragraph C that is attributable to the increase in the state share over the state share amount used in the most recent approved budget must be used to lower the school administrative unit’s local contribution to the total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to grade 12.
The remaining 50% may be used only to increase expenditures for school purposes in cost center categories approved by the local school board, increase the allocation of finances for a reserve fund or provide an additional amount to lower the required local contribution to the total cost of education.
Warrant. If the budget of the school administrative unit is based on assumptions that include an increase in state share, pursuant to section 15690, subsection 1, paragraph C, over the amount used in the most recent approved budget as the result of an increase in the state share of the school administrative unit’s total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to grade 12 under this chapter, an article in substantially the form in paragraph A must be used to authorize the use of the increase in state share for the expenditures specified in subsection 1, paragraph B after the requirements of subsection 1, paragraph A are met.
“Article…….: To see what sums will be appropriated for the following purposes from the amount of the anticipated increase in state share of the school administrative unit’s total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to grade 12 over the amount used in the most recent approved budget as the result of an increase in the state share of the school administrative unit’s total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to grade 12 under this chapter:

(1) (Amount appropriated) To increase expenditures for school purposes in cost center categories approved by the board (list of amounts by category should be provided);

(2) (Amount appropriated) To increase the allocation of finances in a reserve fund for the purpose of (name of reserve fund); and

(3) (Amount appropriated) To provide a decrease in the local contribution, as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 15690, subsection 1, paragraph A or B, section 15690, subsection 2 or section 15690, subsection 3 for local property taxpayers for funding public education.”

If as a result of a vote on the article specified in paragraph A, subparagraph (3) a school administrative unit does not raise 100% of the required local contribution pursuant to section 15690, subsection 1, the school administrative unit may petition the commissioner to waive the required proration of the state share pursuant to section 15690, subsection 1, paragraph C.
If the article is approved by the voters at the budget meeting, the board of the school administrative unit may increase expenditures for the purposes approved in the article without holding a special budget meeting and budget validation referendum.

Sec. JJJJJJJ-5. Permitted use of additional funding for 2017-18 school budget. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 15690-A, for school budgets for the 2017-18 fiscal year only, articles approved by the voters that earmarked additional state funding contributions for increased expenditures for school purposes in fiscal year 2017-18 are permitted as approved.