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.
Continue reading “Schools may apply for QZAB tax credit bonds”
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.
Continue reading “Building leadership capacity to transform our schools”
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”
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.
Continue reading “Education Department supports schools with new improvement webinar series”
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”
When we released the A-F report cards for the state’s schools as part of our new Maine School Performance Grading System, 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”
AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage and First Lady Ann M. LePage are calling on the Maine Legislature to vote not as divided Republicans and Democrats but as united Americans on two bills that ensure the state’s students have opportunity to explore military service.
The two Governor’s bills, go before the full Legislature with divided reports after being rejected on essentially party line votes in the Democrat-controlled Education Committee last month.
The following is a news release from the Governor’s Office.
AUGUSTA – To kick off Maine Clean Water Week, Governor Paul R. LePage, students, and members of the Maine Wastewater Control Association announced this year’s winners of the Maine Clean Water poster contest.
In recognition of Maine Clean Water Week, June 3-7, 2013, the Maine Wastewater Control Association sponsored the poster competition for students in Grade 3-8. The theme of the competition is “What Clean Water Means To Me.”
Continue reading “Governor and students celebrate Clean Water Week”
Dear Schools,
Last week we reached out to you as part of our continued commitment to communicating the latest updates of the Maine Learning Technology Initiative next generation deployment. We’d hoped that Priority Notice would provide the clarity you needed to inform your district decision-making during this busy budgeting time. Continue reading “Estimating MLTI next generation costs”
The federal law on hazardous chemicals and training has changed. Please be aware that all workers must be trained in the new Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) Global Harmonization System (GHS) by Dec. 1, 2013. Continue reading “Free hazardous chemical management training June 3”
Maine DOE Newsroom 