Changes in available translated special ed forms

Effective July 31, the Maine DOE will no longer provide non-English translations of the State-required special education forms on its website, including those for: Advance Written Notice, Adverse Effect Form, Documentation for Excusal of IEP/IFSP Team Member whose Curriculum Area is Being Discussed, Documentation of Agreement of Non-Attendance for IEP/IFSP Team Member whose Curriculum Area is Not Being Discussed, IEP, Learning Disability Evaluation Report, Parental Consent for Evaluation, Speech/Language Eligibility Form, Summary of Performance and Written Notice. Continue reading “Changes in available translated special ed forms”

Changes in available translated special ed forms (outdated info)

This information is outdated. Please visit https://www.maine.gov/doe/specialservices for further information and support.

Effective July 31, the Maine DOE will no longer provide non-English translations of the State-required special education forms on its website, including those for: Advance Written Notice, Adverse Effect Form, Documentation for Excusal of IEP/IFSP Team Member whose Curriculum Area is Being Discussed, Documentation of Agreement of Non-Attendance for IEP/IFSP Team Member whose Curriculum Area is Not Being Discussed, IEP, Learning Disability Evaluation Report, Parental Consent for Evaluation, Speech/Language Eligibility Form, Summary of Performance and Written Notice. Continue reading “Changes in available translated special ed forms (outdated info)”

Law provides educator evaluation and support system development guidance in absence of rule

As many of you know, since LD 1858, “An Act To Ensure Effective Teaching and School Leadership,” was enacted in April 2012, the Department has been working to establish rules to guide you in your local development of the now required teacher and principal evaluation and support systems.

It is with great frustration that I report to you that while the 125th Legislature unanimously supported this initiative to implement a fair, meaningful educator evaluation system, legislators this session have failed to reach consensus – specifically around fulfilling the law’s directive that measurements of student learning and growth be a significant factor in the determination of the rating of an educator. As a result, the Department will need to start the process of adopting Chapter 180 over again in the fall in order to submit a provisionally adopted rule to the Legislature in January 2014. Continue reading “Law provides educator evaluation and support system development guidance in absence of rule”

State Education Board Chair honored for Adult Education advocacy

Dr. Steve PoundWATERVILLE – The chair of the State’s Board of Education has been honored for his advocacy on behalf of adult education.

Dr. Steve Pound, of Greenville, was recognized as the 2013 recipient of the Gerald N. Levasseur Award, presented by the Maine Adult Education Association (MAEA) at the Maine Adult Education Conference held at Colby College last week.

Continue reading “State Education Board Chair honored for Adult Education advocacy”

Education Commissioner affirms State commitment to school improvement as alternate grading bill fails

AUGUSTA – Maine’s Education Commissioner says the demise of Democrat-led legislation that would have derailed the new State school report card system allows his Department to keep its focus fully on school improvement.

LD 1540, “An Act To Fix and Improve the System Used to Evaluate or Rate Public Schools in Maine,” was introduced by Democrats as a challenge to the LePage Administration’s new A-F school grades.

Continue reading “Education Commissioner affirms State commitment to school improvement as alternate grading bill fails”

State awards Lewiston’s Montello Elementary $1.8 million for school improvement

The funding from the Maine Department of Education will help transform the struggling school and increase student proficiency, teacher effectiveness and community engagement

LEWISTON – Montello Elementary School will use $1.8 million in new State support to improve student proficiency by double-digit percentages, enhance teacher effectiveness and better engage the community.

The Maine Department of Education announced its award Thursday to the struggling Lewiston school, which joins 10 others across the state – including the Governor James B. Longley School also in Lewiston – that have received significant funding since 2010 through the federal School Improvement Grant program (SIG) to initiate intensive reforms that advance student achievement. 

Continue reading “State awards Lewiston’s Montello Elementary $1.8 million for school improvement”

Enacted FY2013-14 General Purpose Aid for local schools

After months of deliberations, the biennial budget has been enacted following the 126th Legislature’s override of Governor LePage’s veto yesterday afternoon. Based on this enactment, updated school subsidy printouts (ED279s) are now available at: www.maine.gov/doe/eps/.

Some key factors in enacted funding level to note: Continue reading “Enacted FY2013-14 General Purpose Aid for local schools”

We’re serious about our support

Congratulations on completing another successful school year.

I was honored to spend much of the past week connecting with many of Maine’s education leaders at the 102nd Annual Superintendent’s Conference in Northport. For those who attended, I hope the transformational leadership development combined with the transitional support to help your schools move to a proficiency-based diploma energized you as much as it did me. Just as our potential to graduate every student prepared is great, so are the stakes – as was made quite evident by the CEOs who spoke during Sunday’s session about the core competencies the opportunities of Maine’s future will demand.

Continue reading “We’re serious about our support”

Student information system to include question on military families

Schools will see the following new question in the Infinite Campus State Edition student information system this fall: Are one or both of this student’s parents on full-time duty status in the active uniformed service of the United States (including members of the National Guard and Reserve on active duty orders), or within one year of medical discharge or retirement from those uniformed services? Parent is not required to provide this information.

Continue reading “Student information system to include question on military families”