Category: News & Views

Maine’s first two charter schools open doors

Olivia Broadrick, senior at the Maine Academy of Natural Sciences, chose to attend the public charter school because she plans to work in the sciences.
Olivia Broadrick, senior at the Maine Academy of Natural Sciences, chose to attend the public charter school because she plans to work in the sciences.

AUGUSTA – The Maine Academy of Natural Sciences (MeANS) and Cornville Regional Charter School opened as Maine’s first two public charter schools Monday, providing new choices for Maine students.

Charter schools are public schools of choice that have more flexibility than traditional public schools over decisions concerning curriculum and instruction, scheduling, staffing and finance. The opening of the charter schools directly aligns with the LePage administration’s ABC plan, which aims to improve achievement growth in Maine by prioritizing three core areas: accountability, best practices, and choice.

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Grant to help Maine schools develop teacher, leader evaluation systems

AUGUSTA – Seventeen Maine schools will share a nearly $25 million grant to build systems that recognize and reward great teachers and school leaders. The federal grant will be used to improve educator evaluation systems, reward effective teachers and principals, and provide greater professional opportunities.

The 17 schools are in six districts: RSU 16 (Poland area); RSU 19 (Newport); Millinocket; Bangor; MSAD 11 (Gardiner); and RSU 86 (Fort Fairfield).

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Upcoming conference for career and technical educators

High school and community college career and technical education teachers will have a chance to discuss alignment of curriculum to Maine and industry standards, innovations in the trade areas, assessment agreements, and exemplary practices in the world of work at the annual CTE conference Friday, Oct. 5 at the Lewiston Regional Technical Center.

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Amended guidance on federal sequestration

This is an update on the current status of the anticipated sequestration of federal funds as a result of the debt limit deal enacted by Congress on August 2, 2011. The President is required to issue a sequestration order, which will have immediate effect, no later than Jan. 2, 2013.

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Two Mitchell scholars study diplomacy abroad

Senator George Mitchell with 2012 Mitchell Institute international fellows Amanda Hall, of Yale University, and Spencer Traylor, of Colby College, at a post-internship celebration.
Senator George Mitchell with 2012 Mitchell Institute international fellows Amanda Hall, of Yale University, and Spencer Traylor, of Colby College, at a post-internship celebration.

This spring, the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) and the Mitchell Institute selected two exemplary, globally minded students from current Mitchell scholars to participate in an innovative diplomacy internship.

The 2012 CIEE and Mitchell Institute international fellows, Amanda Hall ’14 of Yale University and Spencer Traylor ’15 of Colby College, had the unprecedented opportunity of examining firsthand the elements that contribute to successful peace processes and public diplomacy and those factors that inhibit success in Belfast, Ireland and Amman, Jordan.   Continue reading “Two Mitchell scholars study diplomacy abroad” →

From homelessness to happiness through Jobs for Maine’s Graduates program

Missy Nolette-Bald head shotThanks to Jobs for Maine’s Graduates for sharing the following article with the Maine DOE for publication.

You might not think a teenager who earned good grades and had plenty of friends would have any trouble in high school, but Missy Nolette-Bald did. A 1995 alumnus of the Jobs for Maine’s Graduates (JMG) program at Biddeford High School, Nolette-Bald faced some major struggles at home.

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Rule Change Adoption: Chapter 114, Purpose, Standards and Procedures for the Review and Approval of Preparation Programs for Education Personnel

Rule changes proposed for the State Board of Education, Rule Chapter 114, Purpose, Standards, and Procedures for the Review and Approval of Preparation Programs for Education Personnel, have been finally adopted.

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