More than 50 students from coastal high schools presented their preliminary findings on their winter flounder project to Maine Commissioner of Marine Resources Patrick Keliher last week. Continue reading “Downeast students earn passing grade from Marine Resources Commissioner for winter flounder project”
Category: News & Views
Maine DOE announces preview period for Smarter Balanced digital resources
The Smarter Balanced Digital Library preview launched on June 3.These on-demand materials are aligned to the Smarter Balanced assessment targets and will be an important resource for Maine teachers to understand progress in student learning. Continue reading “Maine DOE announces preview period for Smarter Balanced digital resources”
Nominations open for Maine technology awards
The Association for Computer Technology Educators of Maine (ACTEM) is accepting nominations for the Maine Educator of the Year and the Maine Leader of the Year awards to be announced at their 2014 Conference held in Augusta in October. Continue reading “Nominations open for Maine technology awards”
Maine mathematics educators honored
The Portland Sea Dogs recently recognized the current and several past recipients of the Jacqueline Mitchell Mathematics Educator Award. The award is given to an outstanding mathematics educator who demonstrates a commitment to Maine’s mathematical community through dedicated service.
Since its inception in 1999, 15 Maine educators have received the award given annually by the Association of the Teachers of Mathematics in Maine (ATOMIM). Eight honorees were in attendance at the game along with Jackie Mitchell, the former Maine Mathematics Specialist for whom the award was named. The honorees were celebrated on the field and Marilyn Curtis, a retired mathematics educator and the 2013 recipient of the award, tossed out the first pitch.
Maine music educators hold conference
Maine music teachers and students gathered at the University of Maine in Orono for the Maine Music Educators Association’s (MMEA) In-Service Conference last month. The conference offered performances from chorus, band, strings and jazz, and also provided professional development opportunities on proficiency and student assessment methods specific to each area of instruction. The workshops focused on the value of music education and musicianship and were presented by university and K-12 faculty, conductors, professional musicians and band directors. Continue reading “Maine music educators hold conference”
Youth health survey to be administered next February
The Maine DOE, in collaboration with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, is pleased to announce the fourth administration of the Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey (MIYHS) will be next February. Continue reading “Youth health survey to be administered next February”
Maine FFA student officers receive leadership training
Trainers from the National FFA Organization (formerly known as “Future Farmers of America”) traveled to Aroostook County last week to prepare the new team of Maine FFA State Officers for their responsibilities in overseeing the duties of the student-run leadership organization for secondary and middle school students enrolled in agriculture and natural resource classes. Continue reading “Maine FFA student officers receive leadership training”
New toll-free fax number for MEDMS helpdesk
The Maine DOE is pleased to share that the Maine Education Data Management System (MEDMS) Helpdesk has a new toll-free fax number: 866-219-8344. Please be advised this new number replaces 207-512-1150 and do not send faxes to that number any longer.
MEDMS helpdesk staff are additionally available to provide technical assistance at MEDMS.helpdesk@maine.gov or 207-624-6896.
Maine DOE to implement new school staff survey
Please note that this notification is different from the NEO based HQT data collection requirement discussed in a recent Commissioner’s Update.
Maine school administrative units (SAUs) have been completing the Educator Quality and Effectiveness Survey initiated by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) annually since 2010. The survey data has been collected through the Maine Education Data Management System (MEDMS). Certain data elements of this survey are required for the Department’s annual federal reporting and other elements related to teacher and principal performance evaluation and professional growth (PE/PG) are now being collected by the Department’s educator effectiveness coordinator. As a result and building upon the feedback collected from previous year’s surveys, the Department is implementing a new process for the data collection. Continue reading “Maine DOE to implement new school staff survey”
Extension options ensure proficiency-based diploma done right
There is perhaps no greater opportunity to ensure Maine students graduate college and career ready than the transition to proficiency-based diplomas now underway in our state.
That’s why our Department supported the 2012 law making it mandatory that schools award these diplomas starting in 2018 and why we have worked hard in the two years since to be a resource to districts as they make this significant shift. It is also why earlier this week, the Department previewed the options it was offering Maine school administrative units (SAUs) who need more time in meeting this requirement.
The decision to use the authority I have under a provision in Maine’s Basic School Approval Law to grant school units waivers from the proficiency-based diploma requirement through July 1, 2020 was not one I took lightly.
Continue reading “Extension options ensure proficiency-based diploma done right”
Maine DOE Newsroom 