From the Maine Department of Education
In an effort to promote summer reading, the Maine Department of Education is collaborating with the Freemasons of Maine to sponsor the Read to Ride Summer Reading Challenge for students in grades PK-8. The 18,000 Freemasons of Maine are pleased to expand their popular statewide Bikes for Books student reading incentive program to now encourage children to read during the summer. The Bikes for Books program provides over 2,000 bikes to Maine schoolchildren each year to promote literacy. The Maine Freemasons have generously donated 48 bikes with helmets as prizes for the Read to Ride Summer Reading Challenge.
To earn a chance to be entered into the state-level drawing, students must meet the challenge of reading at least 500 minutes during the summer vacation period. Any school with students in grades PK-8 may register to participate. Participating schools will collect documentation of students who have completed the challenge. They will hold school level drawings to select two students (one boy and one girl) whose names will be entered into the state level drawing to be held on Sept.23. Schools are encouraged to participate in this challenge, to coordinate it with any other summer reading challenges/programs they offer and to consider soliciting their own local level prizes for students who complete the challenge.
Notices and Reporting Items
- End-of-Year Special Education Exit Reporting, due June 30
- School Bus Purchase Report (EF-T-20: Quarter 4), due June 30
- Qualified Zone Academy Bond (QZAB), due May 26 (Reminder)
More Notices | Administrative Letters | Reporting Calendar
News & Views
County Teachers of the Year in waiting
Maine is now in its third year of recognizing County Teachers of the Year, a program that includes the selection of 15 awardees this year, leading up to the selection of Maine’s Teacher of the Year. | More
Teachers in celebration
Teacher appreciation week saw celebrations across the state and in our nation’s capital, in particular, for Maine’s 2016 Teacher of the Year. | More
Career & Technical Education students honored
Twenty six Career and Technical Education students were honored last month at the Lewiston Regional Technical Center’s Culinary Arts building. | More
Truancy data reminder for administrators
The Department is reminding school administrators to review student truancy data after the last day of school, but no later than June 30. | More
OSEP memo regarding children residing in nursing homes
On April 26, 2016 the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSEP) issued a “Dear Colleague” letter. | More
Maine DOE helps send kids to summer camp
The Maine Department of Education Morale Team recently created two venues designed to send a child to camp this summer. | More
MEA alternate mathematics and English language arts/literacy (MSAA) closes
The MSAA alternate assessment closes this Friday, May 13. | More
More Dispatches | Press Releases | Priority Notices
LATEST DOE Career/Project Opportunities
- Education Specialist III – School Nurse Consultant (Anticipated Vacancy)
- Senior Planner: National Service Programs and Grants (Anticipated Vacancy/Agency Promotion Only)
- Request for Proposals: Data Analysis and Evaluation Services for 21st CCLC Program
- View current Child Development Services employment opportunities here
Maine DOE Newsroom 