Governor’s Conference on Education leads to positive discussions about student-focused reform

Headshot of Florida Education Commissioner Tony Bennet.
Florida Education Commissioner Tony Bennett gave the keynote address at the first Governor’s Conference on Education.

The following is a news release from the Governor’s Office.

Everyone agrees putting students first is most important

AUGUSTA – Invited to Maine by Gov. Paul R. LePage, education policy leaders from around the country shared practices, models and innovative reforms with more than 200 legislators, business leaders, educators and others at Cony High School Friday at the Governor’s Conference on Education: Putting Students First.

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LePage brings education reform to forefront with student-focused conference

The following is a news release from the Governor’s Office.

Governor’s Conference on Education: Putting Students First

AUGUSTA – On Friday, Governor Paul R. LePage will hold his first education conference at Cony High School in Augusta featuring best practices and innovative reforms with education leaders from across the country.

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Register for Maine schoolsite wellness conference

Note: The application due date for the Maine Schoolsite Health Promotion Program (Wellness) Conference has been extended to Thursday, May 9, 2013. The late fee has been reduced to only $205 per participant. This conference is a fabulous professional development opportunity that is the foundation for a year-long schoolsite health promotion program for school staff, students and communities.

The Maine Department of Education invites all Maine school personnel and community participants to attend the 2013 Maine Schoolsite Health Promotion Program “Wellness” Conference. The event will be held Monday, June 24, through Wednesday, June 26. The cost is $195 per person for three full days of the conference.

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Meeting offered for parents of children with autism spectrum disorders

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders are invited to attend the Critical Decisions: The Journey to Adulthood for Your Son/Daughter with ASD meeting, sponsored by the Maine DOE and the University of Maine College of Education and Human Development. This meeting will be held Monday, April 8, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the University of Maine, Orono in the Union.

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USED announces Equitable Services Implementation Plan

The U.S. Department of Education recently announced a plan for improving the implementation of equitable services requirements under applicable programs authorized by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The plan, which aligns with current statutory and regulatory requirements, demonstrates the U.S. DOE’s commitment to ensure effective implementation of these equitable services provisions. Continue reading “USED announces Equitable Services Implementation Plan”

Calling cultural and arts professionals for Maine Humanities Summit

The University of Maine Humanities Initiative will host a daylong Maine Humanities Summit at the Governor Hill Mansion in Augusta on Friday, May 17, 2013, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The summit convenes humanities, arts, and cultural professionals with academic administrators, legislators, and policymakers from across the state.

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Lewiston a model for early college program

LHS students (from left to right) Paige Clabby, Amal Mohamed and Faith Ide describe their early college experiences to Commissioner Stephen Bowen.
LHS students (from left to right) Paige Clabby, Amal Mohamed and Faith Ide describe their early college experiences to Commissioner Stephen Bowen.
View more photos from this event.

I had the chance last week to talk with five students at Lewiston High School who are taking advantage of an early college opportunity that will save them money, expose them to the college experience, and could lead them to future careers. I picked LHS for the second stop on my Promising Practices tour because the kids I talked to are among 68 juniors and seniors who are taking college classes for credit at institutions like the University of Southern Maine and Central Maine Community College. It’s encouraging to see students taking initiative when it comes to their futures, and it’s great to meet teachers and administrators who are making that happen.

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Next gen MLTI: tablets or laptops?

Tablets or laptops? For at least two years now we’ve been getting that question, similar to the way in which the focus once was: Mac or PC? As with the last time, Jeff Mao, our Director of Learning Technology, and I try to remind people that we don’t choose a device – we choose a learning solution that will enhance learning in the ways we demand in our request for proposals. It’s up to vendors to show us how their solution will do that, whether it’s a laptop, tablet, smartphone or something else.

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