The funding will allow the Orono-based Maine Autism Institute for Education and Research to improve outcomes for the thousands of children in the state with autism spectrum disorder
AUGUSTA – The Maine Department of Education is committing over $150,000 to continue the work of the state’s first autism institute.
The Maine DOE will continue school site visits into June to provide targeted technical assistance for proficiency-based extension options five and six.
Visits to schools that were granted an extension five or six are providing valuable information about the types of supports needed by districts to sustain the transition to proficiency-based education and reflects the deep commitment of districts to student-centered learning.
The Maine DOE will release information about the 2015 renewal process for extensions soon. Last year’s extension applications provided a clear picture of the status of districts implementation of proficiency-based education to date. District extension applications can be viewed on the Maine DOE website. The Maine DOE anticipates a dramatically streamlined renewal process for spring 2015.
The Maine DOE plans to convene extension option six schools as a group in June to provide targeted supports for the implementation of proficiency-based diplomas. This convening is in lieu of a second site visit. More information about this event will be sent to districts in the coming weeks.
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Nominations are open for the Maine Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (MAHPERD) Teachers of the Year awards. | More
The Association for Computer Technology Educators of Maine (ACTEM) announced their REBOOTED and REIMAGINED awards, open to innovative educators at all grade levels that have a direct impact on student learning. | More
Schools that have been granted schoolwide program status under No Child Left Behind (NCLB) are required to submit a budget showing funding sources for their activities. | More
Under MUSER §IV.4.E(3), the Maine DOE is responsible for the costs of special education services provided to state agency clients and pays those costs directly to the providing agency or person. | More
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Under MUSER §IV.4.E(3), the Maine DOE is responsible for the costs of special education services provided to state agency clients and pays those costs directly to the providing agency or person.
The Maine DOE, however, is not in the best position to assess whether invoices for such services are properly payable, i.e., they request payment for services of a kind and in an amount specified in the student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP).
Beginning July 1 all of the Department’s contracts with agencies and persons providing special education services will stipulate that invoices are to be sent to the school administrative unit (SAU) responsible for the student. The SAU will review those invoices to determine whether they are properly payable as described, and will forward to the Maine DOE any invoice which the SAU finds is properly payable.
The special education administrator will sign each such invoice signifying that the invoice has been reviewed and approved for payment. Invoices should be scanned and emailed to Beth Vieta at beth.vieta@maine.gov.
Any questions concerning an invoice should be resolved by the SAU with the agency or person submitting the invoice.
For more information or if you have questions about this issue, please contact Jonathan Braff at the Maine DOE at jonathan.braff@maine.gov or 624-6671.
Schools that have been granted schoolwide program status under No Child Left Behind (NCLB) are required to submit a budget showing funding sources for their activities. Sometimes schools choose to include IDEA Part B funds. If a school’s NCLB application indicates IDEA Part B funding for a schoolwide program, the 2016 IDEA Part B application will need to include a project and budget.
For more information contact Maine DOE Director of Special Services Jan Breton at janice.breton@maine.gov or 624-6676.
The Association for Computer Technology Educators of Maine (ACTEM) announced their REBOOTED and REIMAGINED awards, open to innovative educators at all grade levels that have a direct impact on student learning. Since educators and leaders roles are increasingly blurred, new ACTEM ACHIEVE awards will not distinguish between the two categories.
Continue reading “New technology awards announced, nominations open through June 1”
Nominations are open for the Maine Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (MAHPERD) Teachers of the Year awards.
Continue reading “Nominations open for MAHPERD Teachers of the Year”
The Maine DOE will continue school site visits into June to provide targeted technical assistance for proficiency-based extension options five and six.
Continue reading “Maine DOE continues site visits to support proficiency-based efforts”
Welcome to the April issue of the Maine DOE Monthly, which provides a recap of some of the month’s most important updates from the Department.
There are incredible things happening in Maine schools, several of which we recently spotlighted as part of our commitment to celebrating the state’s students and educators. For the fifth straight year, our high school graduation rate was up and State and federal data shows Maine is closing achievement gaps as graduation rates among economically disadvantaged students, those with disabilities and some minorities are on the rise and above national averages. This month we also recognized 21 schools for their high performance or progress as measured by our federally required accountability system and honored 14 teen mentors and 21 student artists.
Read on for a roundup of other recent updates from the Department and as always, stay tuned to our Newsroom and weekly Commissioner’s Updates for the latest news you can use from the Maine DOE.
AUGUSTA – Maine’s high school graduation rate has hit an all-time high, as has the percentage of students who are either economically disadvantaged or have a disability and are earning their diploma in four years. | More
Nearly two-thirds of the reward schools have more than 50 percent of their students qualifying for free or reduced price lunch, proving that all students are capable of achieving academic success when schools put in place the appropriate supports and strategies to help them overcome challenges. | More
The Department’s School Improvement Team is continuing to provide support and technical assistance to help raise student achievement at the state’s schools, including those recently identified as priority, focus and monitor under Maine’s federally required accountability system. | More
Governor Paul R. LePage and Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy President and CEO Liza McFadden honored 14 teen mentors with Excellence Awards in leadership and service during a recent recognition ceremony at the Blaine House. | More
Twenty-one student artists will have an audience of more than 70,000 students and educators for their artwork starting this fall. | More
The Maine DOE is accepting recommendations for the 2015 Maine Educator Talent Pool through May 1. | More
The Maine Departments of Education and Health and Human Services have released Maine’s Early Learning and Development Standards (MELDS), which outline what children should know and be able to do by the end of preschool. | More
The Maine DOE has created a new online application form that will make it easier for districts to apply for State approval of new or expanding public preschool programs. | More
The Maine DOE is seeking volunteers to serve as surrogate parents for children with disabilities in educational matters. | More
Maine schools are invited to attend the 30th Annual Maine DOE Schoolsite Health Promotion & Wellness Conference from Wednesday, June 24 through Friday, June 26 at Sugarloaf. | More
The Maine DOE is encouraging educators to attend a May 20 workshop entitled Language and Communication for Young Children with Autism. | More
The Blueberry Harvest School has been named the winner of the Maine Environmental Education Association Excellence in Environmental Education Program Award. | More
Maine’s teachers are invited to apply for part-time work available now through June as a reader/evaluator in the scoring process for students across states who participated in the 2015 Smarter Balanced developed assessment. Continue reading “Maine teachers invited to participate in assessment hand scoring”
The deadline to submit the MEA Alternate Science (PAAP) portfolios electronically is 5 p.m. today, April 30. Continue reading “Alternate assessments closing soon”
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