The Standardized Assessment Task Force and a few hundred stakeholders and educators all weighed in as the Maine DOE crafted a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking a new vendor for the 2015-16 administration of the MEA for math and ELA/literacy. The comments and feedback were crucial to the process and helped inform the writing of the document that is in its final stages. The finalized RFP goes to the Maine State Bureau of Purchases and Sales for approval, which includes securing the Governor’s approval. After that, Maine DOE will make the RFP publicly available.
Category: News & Views
Deadline is nearing to report proficiency-based implementation progress
The following priority notice was sent today to district administrators as a reminder to complete the 2014-15 proficiency-based learning implementation survey.
The month-long window for completing the 2014-2015 Progress Report: Implementing Proficiency-Based Learning and Proficiency-Based Diplomas is closing on August 27. This 38 question survey released on July 27 provides Maine districts a way to report vital data to the Maine DOE regarding the progress made from July 1, 2014 to July 31, 2015. Many districts say the survey has served as a reflective tool as they set goals and metrics to measure progress.
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Mentoring workshops offered for educators of gifted and talented
New and experienced gifted and talented educators will have an opportunity to learn new skills and practices at upcoming mentoring workshops in Augusta and Bangor sponsored by the Maine DOE.
The workshop will consist of two strands: a full-day strand for new educators and an advanced strand for experienced teachers and administrators in the afternoon only.
The new educator strand will consist of a question-and-answer workshop designed for teachers and administrators who have been working in the field of gifted and talented education for only one or two years, or for those in a newly restructured district. Teachers and administrators are encouraged to come with questions and to share resources. The workshop topics will include identification tools; curriculum options; organizing and managing G/T programs; evaluating program effectiveness; and reviewing the application and budget forms new this year. Patti Drapeau, educational consultant in gifted education for the Maine DOE, will be the facilitator for this strand. For more information, contact her at ptdrapeau@aol.com.
The advanced strand will be meeting concurrently with the new educator strand in the afternoon only. It will address particular questions, concerns and challenges that the participants bring to the workshop. The topics should be far-reaching given that experienced attendees will be coming from rural and urban communities, small and large schools, and new or established programs. Examples of topics include dual exceptionalities, K-2 programming, consultation and changing the focus of an established program. Lee Worcester, consultant in gifted education for the Maine DOE, will be the facilitator for this strand. For more information or to suggest a topic for discussion (by Sept. 14), contact her at lee.worcester@yahoo.com or 943-8804 by Sept. 14.
The one-day mentoring workshops will be held on Sept. 24 and 28, free of charge. The same information will be presented on both workshop days. Choose one of the following events:
- Thursday, Sept. 24, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. New educator strand 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Advanced strand 1 – 3 p.m. ONLY Burton Cross Office Building 111 Sewall Street Augusta
- Monday, Sept. 28, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. New educator strand 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Advanced strand 1 – 3 p.m. ONLY United Technologies Center 200 Hogan Road Bangor (morning coffee provided)
To register by the Sept. 17 deadline, please complete this online form. Lunch will not be provided at either workshop.
Resources
- Online Registration
- Please forward registration questions to gt.doe@maine.gov.
- Maine DOE Gifted and Talented
Conference focuses on effective teaching with an emphasis on tech and social media
On August 6 and 7, a conference entitled “ECET2 Maine Teacher Leadership Summit” (Elevating and Celebrating Effective Teaching and Teachers) was held at Colby College in Waterville. It was organized by the Maine Teacher of the Year Association, and Maine DOE’s Learning Through Technology Team (LTTT) joined in offering support with social media.
Blue Hill teacher receives week-long learning in nation’s capital
A local history teacher’s passion for the Civil War and his collaboration with his school librarian and local historical society, led him to a week of learning this summer at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC.
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Reporting of 2015 math and ELA/literacy results
Results from the spring 2015 Maine Educational Assessment (MEA) for mathematics and English language arts/literacy are being carefully rolled out. The steps in that process include:
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No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Report Cards now available
The 2014-15 NCLB Report Cards, showing levels of performance at Maine schools for the 2013-14 school year, are now available through the Maine DOE Data Warehouse.
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Funds to support proficiency-based diploma transition
Maine school administrative units (SAUs), that operate public schools, will receive targeted funds to support the transition to a proficiency-based diploma again this year.
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Maine DOE accomplishments for the first half of the year
The first six months of 2015 saw great success for the Maine DOE including these highlights:
- Successful passage of legislation supporting Maine schools;
- recognition for the State’s success in the transition to a computer-based assessment aligned with Maine’s updated college and career readiness standards;
- the opportunity for Maine students to earn college credits while in high school; and
- a steady increase in graduation rates, and more.
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Reminder to districts: protocol for reviewing invoices for special education services
A reminder, as of July 1, 2015, all of Maine DOE’s contracts with agencies and persons providing special education services to state agency clients stipulate that invoices for those services be sent to the school administrative unit (SAU) responsible for the student. The SAU is responsible for reviewing those invoices to determine whether they are properly payable as described, and will then forward to the Maine DOE any invoice which the SAU found to be properly payable.
Maine DOE Newsroom 