On April 6, 2016 the Maine Department of Education received a letter from the US Department of Education, Office of Special Education which reflected the impact of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B application. ESSA reactivated an IDEA statutory provision which requires that special education teachers be fully certified. The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) is requiring that Maine amend the Chapter 115 regulations by June 30, 2017 to come into compliance with the reactivated IDEA statutory provision. As Department staff began to address the OSEP concerns it became evident that there were components of Chapter 115 that need to be revised for all educators. The State Board of Education voted unanimously at its Oct. 12 meeting to initiate the joint rulemaking process with the Department.
Category: News & Views
Skowhegan Area Middle School Reading Interventionist named Maine’s 2017 Teacher of the Year
In a surprise assembly at MSAD 54’s Skowhegan Area Middle School (SAMS) on Thursday, Oct. 13, Maine State Board of Education Chair Martha Harris announced Tammy Ranger had been chosen from a field of 300 nominees as Maine’s 2017 Teacher of the Year.
Major Capital School Construction application now available
Maine public schools invited to participate in new application cycle
Augusta – Maine public schools wishing to participate in the new application cycle for major capital construction projects can now download the application from the Maine Department of Education’s website.
The direct link to the application is: http://www.maine.gov/doe/facilities/documents/application2017-18.docx.
The application will be due to the Department by April 14, 2017.
A new application cycle enables Maine public schools to apply for state support in order to undertake a major renovation or addition project, or to build a new facility.
If a school applied during the last cycle in 2010-2011, they will need to reapply if they wish to be included in this application cycle.
The Department will review completed applications and create a “needs-based” initial priority list, to be followed by the creation of a final priority list and an approved projects list. The entire application and review process is expected to take about two years and is governed by Chapter 61 of Department of Education and State Board of Education joint rules.
Questions about the application should be directed to Scott Brown, Maine DOE’s Director of School Construction, at scott.brown@maine.gov. Questions and answers that are applicable to the process will be posted online at: http://www.maine.gov/doe/facilities/construction/ in an effort to provide all schools the same information.
Media inquiries should be directed to Jamie Logan, Maine DOE’s Communications Director, at jamie.e.logan@maine.gov or at 624-6747.
Maine DOE Update – October 13, 2016
From the Maine Department of Education
Blue Ribbon Commission To Meet Monday, October 17
Augusta – The next meeting of the Commission to Reform Public Education Funding and Improve Student Performance in Maine will be held on Monday, Oct. 17 at 9:00 a.m. at the Lewiston Regional Technical Center. The Lewiston Regional Technical Center is located at 156 East Avenue in Lewiston. A copy of the meeting agenda and documents relating to the Commission’s work will be posted here as they are made available.
Additionally, members of the public who wish to submit comments or ideas about public education issues for consideration by the Commission may do so here. Comments submitted through the website will be distributed to members of the Commission.
The Commission to Reform Public Education Funding and Improve Student Performance in Maine was created by LD 1641 which allocated an additional $15 million in education funding for local schools. Based on the Commission’s work, a report to the Governor and the Legislature will be submitted by Jan. 10, 2017 that includes findings and recommendations for action to reform public education funding and improve student performance in the state.
Notices and Reporting Items
- Local Entitlement Report of Final Expenditures for FY15, due Oct. 30
- Local Entitlement Year End Report for FY16, due Oct. 30
- Private School Oct 1 Enrollment Reporting (EF-M-13), due Oct. 31
- Report of Services to Students with Disabilities Part I (EF-S-05), due Oct. 31
- EPS October 1 Enrollment Reporting, due Oct. 31
- Report of Services to Students with Disabilities Part II (EF-S-05), due Oct. 31
- Staff Data Reporting 2016-17, due Oct. 31
- Graduation Reporting, due Oct. 31
More Notices | Administrative Letters | Reporting Calendar
News & Views
Maine DOE opens window for SAUs to complete 2016 progress report on proficiency-based diploma implementation
Public school superintendents and public charter school directors received a live link this week to the 2016 Progress Report: Implementing Proficiency-Based Learning and Proficiency-based Diplomas. | More
Students, Parents, and Schools Celebrate School Bus Driver Appreciation Week Oct. 17-21
A school bus driver’s career is about safely delivering the world’s most precious cargo – our students. | More
Invitation to participate in NECAP science inquiry task field test
The Maine Department of Education has agreed to recruit schools to serve as field testing sites to administer Measured Progress’ NECAP Science Inquiry Tasks in grades 5, 8, and 11. | More
Water conservation resources
As many areas of Maine continue to experience drought conditions, teachers may find this resource from the Maine Emergency Management Agency helpful for discussing water conservation. | More
More Dispatches | Press Releases | Priority Notices
LATEST DOE Career/Project Opportunities
Students, Parents, and Schools Celebrate School Bus Driver Appreciation Week Oct. 17-21
A school bus driver’s career is about safely delivering the world’s most precious cargo – our students. Making a positive difference in the life of a child is what motivates school bus drivers.
Maine DOE opens window for SAUs to complete 2016 progress report on proficiency-based diploma implementation
Public school superintendents and public charter school directors received a live link this week to the 2016 Progress Report: Implementing Proficiency-Based Learning and Proficiency-based Diplomas. A printable version of this progress report is available here.
Water conservation resources
As many areas of Maine continue to experience drought conditions, teachers may find this resource from the Maine Emergency Management Agency helpful for discussing water conservation and getting students thinking about what they can do in their everyday lives to help conserve water at school and at home.
Invitation to participate in NECAP science inquiry task field test
The Maine Department of Education has agreed to recruit schools to serve as field testing sites to administer Measured Progress’ NECAP Science Inquiry Tasks in grades 5, 8, and 11. The field tests will occur between November 1 and November 18, 2016 and are in paper-pencil format. A monetary stipend is available to schools who participate.
Continue reading “Invitation to participate in NECAP science inquiry task field test”
Blue Ribbon Commission To Meet Monday, October 17
Augusta – The next meeting of the Commission to Reform Public Education Funding and Improve Student Performance in Maine will be held on Monday, Oct. 17 at 9:00 a.m. at the Lewiston Regional Technical Center. The Lewiston Regional Technical Center is located at 156 East Avenue in Lewiston. A copy of the meeting agenda and documents relating to the Commission’s work will be posted here as they are made available.
Continue reading “Blue Ribbon Commission To Meet Monday, October 17”
Maine DOE 2016 Survey for SAUs to report proficiency-based implementation progress
The following Priority Notice was sent on October 11, 2016
During the period of transition to proficiency-based learning and proficiency-based diplomas, SAUs are asked to report implementation progress annually. The window for completing this year’s progress report is from October 11, 2016 through November 30, 2016. To preview this progress report, click here for a printable version of the 2015-2016 Progress Report: Implementing Proficiency-Based Learning and Proficiency-Based Diplomas. The online version of this progress report is available for SAUs to complete.
The Department’s goal is 100 percent participation on this survey. The information collected helps the Department chart progress toward implementation of proficiency-based diplomas and informs the development of additional resources and supports for districts. The aggregate of the information is shared with lawmakers and with the public
The 2016 progress report reflects the recently adopted timeline for phasing-in the proficiency-based diploma requirements and is a way for Maine districts to report vital data to the Maine DOE regarding the progress made from July 1, 2015-July 31, 2016. As such, this report generates a brief but important source of data for both districts and the State.
For more information please contact the Department’s Proficiency-Based Education Specialist, Diana Doiron at diana.doiron@maine.gov or 624-6823.
Maine DOE Newsroom 