Due to recent questions regarding offering school lunch on half days, the Maine DOE’s Office of Child Nutrition is clarifying the National School Lunch Program Agreement to Participate.
Category: News & Views
Maine DOE’s Literacy for ME launches summer reading resources
As the school year comes to an end, many of us are thinking about long hot days and fair weather fun. We may not be thinking about how much literacy learning our children gained during the school year or how much could be lost during the break from school. This loss is often called the “summer slide” and can be avoided with a little planning and support from the Maine DOE and Maine Public Libraries.
Continue reading “Maine DOE’s Literacy for ME launches summer reading resources”
Maine DOE provides special services eligibility guidance for English learners
The Maine DOE recognizes that, due to their limited English language proficiency, determining eligibility for special education services for English learners (ELs) may be challenging. These challenges, however, should not result in ELs failing to be properly evaluated for eligibility for special education and related services. Maine DOE recommends that school administrative units (SAUs) with EL populations review the proportion of ELs in their unit identified for special education in comparison to the SAU’s overall special education identification rate.
Continue reading “Maine DOE provides special services eligibility guidance for English learners”
2016 Maine Teacher of the Year semi-finalists announced
The Maine DOE, in partnership with Educate Maine, recently named eight teachers as semi-finalists for Maine’s 2016 Teacher of the Year. They were chosen from this year’s 16 County Teachers of the Year who were named in May at a celebration at the State House Hall of Flags.
Continue reading “2016 Maine Teacher of the Year semi-finalists announced”
Letter from USDA to districts regarding summer meals
The following letter was received by the Maine DOE from the United States Department of Agriculture on June 3.
Dear Colleague:
Ensuring that America’s children have the proper nutrition to grow up healthy, learn, and reach their full potential is critical for delivering on the American promise of equal opportunity for all. Our nation has a long and impressive history of ensuring that those in need — especially children — have the food they need to thrive. Your leadership is needed to help ensure that children do not go hungry in your community this summer.
Continue reading “Letter from USDA to districts regarding summer meals”
Maine DOE offers facilities conference for school staff
The Maine DOE and the Educational Plant Maintenance Association of Maine invite superintendents, facilities directors, business managers, maintenance teams and custodial staff to the 47th Annual School Facilities Conference at Colby College on June 23-25. Registration to the conference is free for public school staff.
Continue reading “Maine DOE offers facilities conference for school staff”
Maine DOE supports SAUs in reporting PEPG pilot plan with brief survey
The following Priority Notice was sent on Monday, June 8.
As part of the implementation of Performance Evaluation and Professional Growth (PEPG) systems, Rule Chapter 180 and Maine Revised Statute Title 20-A, Chapter 508 require that School Administrative Units (SAUs) test-run or pilot their PEPG systems for principals and teachers during the 2015-16 school year. In order to ensure that districts are on track for a pilot next year, the law requires each SAU to submit a “plan describing the intentions of its pilot project” by July 15.
Continue reading “Maine DOE supports SAUs in reporting PEPG pilot plan with brief survey”
Commissioner’s Update – June 4, 2015
From the Maine Department of Education
Maine’s top Career & Technical Education students were honored as students of the year recently at a ceremony at the Lewiston Regional Technical Center.
It was a great night to celebrate the best CTE students in Maine. Twenty six centers were represented. State School Board Chair, Peter Geiger, indicated that it was the best celebration for students he has seen. Senator Brian Langley, Education Committee Chair, was also impressed and gave the audience a superb presentation with his remarks aligned to CTE in Maine.
Each of the 26 students was presented with an award certificate and two received scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each at the event sponsored by the Maine Administrators of Career & Technical Education (MACTE).
Notices and Reporting
- End-of-Year Student Enrollment Responsibilites, due June 30
- End-of-Year Behavior Reporting, due June 30
- End-of-Year Special Education Exit Reporting, due June 30
- End-of-Year Truancy Incident Reporting, due June 30
- Aggregate Daily Attendance / Membership Reporting, due June 30
- End-of-Year MEDMS Staff Data, due June 30
More Notices | Administrative Letters | Reporting Calendar
News & Views
FFA students celebrate accomplishments at 85th annual state convention
Secondary and middle school students in the Maine FFA Association (formerly known as “Future Farmers of America”) celebrated numerous accomplishments during the annual state convention held on May 14-15 at the University of Maine. | More
Data training sessions announced
There are many changes coming in the 2015-16 school year. In order that accurate student and staff data is reported to the Maine DOE, it is important that the appropriate staff attend one (or more) of these training sessions. | More
Learning Disability Report (LDR) form guidance
In a letter dated February 23, 2015, the United States Department of Education Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services directed the Maine DOE to issue guidance clarifying the use of the Learning Disability Report (LDR) form. | More
Office of Special Services notice of changes in special education forms
The Maine DOE Office of Special Services has revised the forms listed below. Revised forms are to be used effective August 1, 2015. | More
Maine DOE provides assistance for Civil Rights Data Collection to districts
The Maine DOE is offering some assistance to local districts who are working to comply with the U.S. Department of Education’s Civil Rights Data Collection. | More
Fact sheet highlights academic performance and student health risk
A newly available one-page fact sheet on the relationship between Academic Performance and Student Health Risks is available. | More
School and workplace violence training Aug 19-20
The National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) and the Brewer Police Department will host a two-day training event on school and workplace violence on Aug 19-20 in Brewer. | More
More Dispatches | Press Releases | From the Commissioner
LATEST DOE Career/Project Opportunities
Committee votes to increase subsidy; cuts elsewhere
The following Priority Notice from Maine DOE Acting Commissioner Tom Desjardin was sent to schools on Tuesday, June 2.
Dear Educators,
In the midst of budget discussions in the legislature a lot of information and numbers are flying around and knowing you are in the midst of making your own local budgets, I wanted to give you this update which is current as of Tuesday, June 2 at noon.
Continue reading “Committee votes to increase subsidy; cuts elsewhere”
Office of Special Services notice of changes in special education forms
The Maine DOE Office of Special Services has revised the forms listed below. Revised forms are to be used effective August 1, 2015.
Continue reading “Office of Special Services notice of changes in special education forms”
Maine DOE Newsroom 