On December 10, 2015 President Obama signed into law the Every Student Success Act (ESSA) which reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Maine’s current flexibility waiver will expire on August 1, 2016. However, ESSA is clear that during the transition period priority and focus schools shall implement the interventions as described in State flexibility plans.
Continue reading “More information regarding exit from current school identifications”
A recent dispatch from Maine DOE’s Office of Special Services on parental consent for evaluation informs school administrative units of the rules when a parent does not consent to an initial evaluation of a student. In these cases, the SAU may, but is not required to, request a due process hearing in an effort to obtain the authorization for the evaluation from a hearing officer, but otherwise may not proceed with the evaluation. (Note: an initial evaluation encompasses all types of evaluations that may be administered at the point where a student is being considered for eligibility).
Commissioner Bill Beardsley joined Senator Roger Katz, Hannah Pingree, and Maine Education Association’s John Kosinksi for a taping of the “The Maine Event” airing this Saturday night at 6 p.m. on Maine Public Broadcasting.
Suzan Beaudoin (Cameron) has been appointed Acting Deputy Commissioner of Education at the Maine Department of Education effective Jan. 11, 2016. She previously served as the Department’s director of finance and operations.
Continue reading “Beaudoin appointed Acting Deputy Commissioner of Education”
Educators are invited to the fourth annual winter wellness workshop “Building Partnerships for Wellness Success,” hosted by the Maine DOE Schoolsite Health Promotion Program on Feb. 5 in Waterville.
Continue reading “Educators invited to annual winter wellness workshop”
Although dyslexia is not itself a category of disability under the federal IDEA or Maine’s special education regulations (MUSER), the definition of the disability category Specific Learning Disability (at both the federal and state level) expressly references dyslexia as one example of a disorder in psychological processing involved in understanding or using language which can be the basis for special education eligibility under that category.
Continue reading “Programming for students with dyslexia, dyscalculia or dysgraphia”
Maine DOE is pleased to announce the selection of students for the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP). Maine’s delegates receive a $5,000 scholarship and will join other outstanding high school leaders in Washington, D.C. for an all-expenses paid week-long experience. Principals are encouraged each fall to nominate one student-leader for consideration.
Continue reading “Maine students selected for United States Senate Youth Program”
Teachers from culinary arts, health occupations, and early childhood education programs worked for two days with mathematics and English language arts (ELA) teachers to find points of intersections where students can demonstrate proficiency of Maine student learning standards. Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs have always been proficiency-based as students gain knowledge and skills that leads directly into post-secondary programs and professional licensing. Demonstrating proficiency in CTE programs often involves both an academic approach to gathering information and sharing knowledge, as well as performance assessment that reflects skill with various tools including a variety of technologies and human interaction.
Moving the needle is the objective of the Maine’s Learning Through Technology Team which is partnering with the Thomas College Center for Innovation in Education and Educate Maine for a summit on technology and learning in classrooms on Friday, Jan. 15.
Continue reading “Move the Needle Learning and Technology Summit”
Accurate student lists for this spring’s computer-based Maine Educational Assessment (MEA) for Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy will depend on ongoing collaboration between the Maine DOE and the local school districts.
Continue reading “Student data needed for alternate math and ELA/literacy assessment”
Maine DOE Newsroom 