Deadline extended: Seeking educators to contribute to SBAC digital library

Maine is extending the deadline for applications from educators who want to vet resources for the Smarter Balanced Digital Library – an online, interactive clearinghouse with resources, tools and professional learning opportunities to help educators use data from a comprehensive assessment system to tailor instruction to best meet student needs. The library is seen as an important tool in the growing body of resources for teachers and administrators in an integrated system of rigorous standards and high quality assessments that work together to prepare students to leave high school ready for college and career.

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Business leaders support Common Core standards

Recently, the Business Roundtable – a group of more than 200 chief executives from across the country – wrote in support of the continued implementation of Common Core State Standards. These leaders are the latest to come forward from the education and business communities to advocate for these higher standards that will position students to be successful after high school, and economies like Maine’s to benefit from that. Continue reading “Business leaders support Common Core standards” →

CTE instructors become authorized trainers for OSHA

The Maine Department of Education Career and Technical Education (CTE) team helped provide CTE instructors with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) professional development, which gives instructors the ability to issue OSHA cards to CTE students.

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Report annual use of restraint and seclusion

Schools and other educational entities covered by Department of Education Rule Chapter 33 are required to report annually on the use of restraint and seclusion of students. This reporting requirement took effect on July 1, 2012, as part of the comprehensive revision of Rule Chapter 33.

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Schools may apply for QZAB tax credit bonds

The Maine Department of Education will accept applications for the Federal Qualified Zone Academy Bond (QZAB) Program through Aug. 16. The Department currently has $4,367,000 of QZAB-issuing authority to distribute to qualifying schools units.

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Building leadership capacity to transform our schools

Today marks the launch of Maine DOE’s new School Improvement Webinar Series. It’s one of the many resources we’re making available to support the school improvement work initiated by our Maine School Performance Grading System.

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Smarter Balanced practice tests now available

Teachers interested in an interactive look at the Smarter Balanced assessment can now take a practice test. The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) made practice tests available starting last week for teachers, students, parents and the public in advance of the test’s full deployment in Maine schools starting in 2015. Continue reading “Smarter Balanced practice tests now available” →

Education Department supports schools with new improvement webinar series

AUGUSTA – As educators look to better support student success following the release of the state’s new letter grades, the Maine Department of Education is offering a series of school improvement webinars.

The one-hour webinars begin this Thursday and are free for educators.

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Biddeford and MSAD 54 bring coaches to the classroom

Biddeford Middle School student Breneg Howard listens as math lab coach Heidi Miller shows students how to measure the rebound of a bouncy ball.
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Last week I visited Biddeford Middle School as well as elementary schools in MSAD 54, where administrators and teachers are taking hands-on, customized learning to the next level with math labs, academic coaches and workshop-model classrooms.

These districts were the last stops on my Promising Practices Tour, which has taken me to all nine superintendent regions to see innovative practices schools are implementing that show promise and support the Maine DOE’s vision of an evolving education system.

While touring Biddeford Middle School, I was struck by the school’s highly effective use of a full-time math coach. Students attend Coach Heidi Miller’s math lab once a month with their core math teachers, receiving dual instruction as they solve experiential problems. Continue reading “Biddeford and MSAD 54 bring coaches to the classroom” →

Announcing our School Improvement Webinar Series

When we released the A-F report cards for the state’s schools as part of our new Maine School Performance Grading Syste m, we wanted to engage educators and the public in a positive, productive conversation about how we can work together to improve our schools.

That conversation is well under way. Continue reading “Announcing our School Improvement Webinar Series” →