Each Maine school administrative unit (SAU) is required to file with the Department of Education a long-range strategic learning technology plan (Chapter 125, Section 9.03, Item C, and Policy Code IJND), either as an SAU or within a consortium. Plans should cover three years of implementation.
Continue reading “2016 District Learning Technology Plan guidelines released”
The following Priority Notice was sent March 17
With much focus recently on the Maine Education Assessment Math & ELA/Literacy eMPowerME test starting next week, we must be reminded that next month we have our required MEA Science for grades 5, 8 and third year high school.
The same as previous years, this assessment is from Measured Progress and is a paper-pencil test. The test window is two weeks and runs from April 25 – May 6.
If there are any requests for LARGE PRINT versions of this assessment, now is the time to notify Assessment Coordinator Nancy Godfrey at nancy.godfrey@maine.gov or call 624-6775.
The following Priority Notice was sent on March 17
The FY 2017 (2016-17 school year) State subsidy printouts, known as ED 279s, are now available here on our website: http://www.maine.gov/doe/eps/.
These printouts are based on PL 2015, Chapter 389 which provides an additional appropriation of $15 million dollars to General Purpose Aid for Local Schools for FY 2017.
The printouts also reflect corrections for data quality issues identified after the January 29 publication of the printouts, as well as adjustments for Adult Education course counts and debt service adjustments for those school units which were impacted by recent debt refinancing.
We hope the publication of the ED 279s is informative to your local budget preparations.
If you have any questions as you review these printouts, contact our School Finance team via email: tyler.backus@maine.gov, paula.b.gravelle@maine.gov or joanne.allen@maine.gov.
The following Priority Notice was sent on March 15
Following the initial publication of the preliminary FY 2017 (2016-17 school year) state subsidy printouts (ED 279) on January 29, 2016, data quality issues were detected. During the time in which the Department has been working to correct these issues, the Legislature passed, and the Governor signed, PL 2015, Chapter 389 which provides an additional appropriation of $15 million dollars to General Purpose Aid for Local Schools for FY 2017.
In order to provide school administrative units with timely information needed for budgeting purposes, the Department has produced several spreadsheets which illustrate the changes to each school administrative unit’s subsidy allocation, beginning with the preliminary ED 279 published on January 29, to the impact of the additional $15 million appropriation enacted this week. The following spreadsheets are available here:
In addition to corrections for the identified data quality issues, amounts in the spreadsheet include adjustments for Adult Education course counts, replacing the estimated counts originally used with actual counts, as reported on the EFM 39 reports. Also included are debt service adjustments for those school units which were impacted by recent debt refinancing.
Work is continuing to correct systemic issues which impact the actual ED 279 report. As soon as those issues are corrected and the detailed reports posted, school units will be notified. In the meantime, these spreadsheets will assist school units in moving forward with their FY 2017 budget work.
Please direct questions regarding these printouts to the School Finance team via email: tyler.backus@maine.gov, paula.b.gravelle@maine.gov or joanne.allen@maine.gov.
The following Priority Notice was sent on Monday, March 14
To best prepare Test Administrators and Proctors for a successful administration of this spring’s Maine Educational Assessment in Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy for grades 3 through 8, the following resources are provided.
Prior to testing, Test Administrators and Proctors must be familiar with the Test Administration Manual found here.
Two required webinars include:
All Test Administrators and Proctors are required to sign the TA Test Security and Data Privacy Agreement which can be downloaded here.
In addition, Maine DOE recommends two segments of the eMPower™ ME Accessibility: Tools, Supports & Accommodations webinar (25 minutes). The first segment is at 4:40 minutes in to 8:05, and the second segment is 11:02 minutes in to 20 minutes. These segments will familiarize TAs with the embedded tools, testing taking aids, and basic navigation of the test environment. They are ideal for TAs who wish to work through the practice tests with their students but are short on time.
Questions may be addressed to Maine DOE’s Assessment Coordinator Nancy Godfrey at nancy.godfrey@maine.gov or call 624-6775.
The following Priority Notice was sent on Saturday, March 12
The following updates are available regarding 2016 Maine Educational Assessment:
Student Data loaded into the iTester portal – This enables School Test Coordinators to begin the work of loading student accommodations and creating classes for testing sessions.
Test Security Webinar- This training is required for all School Test Coordinators, Test Administrators and Proctors who will be involved in the administration of the eMPowerME assessment of mathematics and English language arts/literacy at grades 3-8.
https://maine.onlinehelp.measuredprogress.org/training/
Test Security & Data Privacy Agreements- Agreements must be signed by each School Test Coordinators, Test Administrator and Proctor and maintained by the District Assessment Coordinator. http://www.maine.gov/doe/assessment/math-ela/administration/stc-testsecurityagreement-eMPowerME.docx http://www.maine.gov/doe/assessment/math-ela/administration/ta-testsecurityagreement-eMPowerME.docx
School Test Coordinator Manual- This manual provides guidance for the School Test Coordinator related to preparation for a secure administration of the 2016 eMPowerME assessment. It is required reading for School Test Coordinators.
Test Administration Manual- This manual provides instructions for Test Administrators and Proctors regarding preparation for and the actual administration of the 2016 eMPowerME assessment, including the script to be used during the test administration. It is required reading for Test Administrators and Proctors.
For more information, contact Assessment Coordinator, Nancy Godfrey at nancy.godfrey@maine.gov.
The following Priority Notice was sent on Wednesday, March 9.
President and CEO of Measured Progress Martin Borg has provided the following important update regarding preparations for the 2016 MEA assessment for grades three through eight. This message is in keeping with Measured Progress’ agreement with Acting Education Commissioner Bill Beardsley to maintain the current schedule for test administration.
The following priority notice was sent on Wednesday, March 9.
The following updates are available regarding 2016 Maine Educational Assessments:
2016 Operational Procedures for the Maine Educational Assessments – This document assists schools with participation, enrollment, and administration issues. The Operational Procedures should be used in conjunction with each MEA’s Test Coordinator/Administration Manual.
Sample Parent Letter template regarding 2016 MEA (eMPower™ME and SAT)
eMPower™ME 25 minute webinar webinar regarding Accessibility: Tools, Supports & Accommodations
With the availability of paper-based, browser-based, and kiosk-based practice tests/sample items, the following documents outline the Directions for Administration (DFA) of Paper-Pencil and Online Sample Items for eMPower™ME Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy.
For more information, contact Assessment Coordinator Nancy Godfrey at nancy.godfrey@maine.gov.
The following Priority Notice was sent Monday, February 29
The eMPowerME Portal https://maine.measuredprogress.org/ is open with access to the following features:
Continue reading “MEA for Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy Grades 3-8 Portal”
The following Priority Notice was sent on February 26, 2016
The College Board provides an optional Student Data Questionnaire for third year high school students taking the SAT in Maine. In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the Maine Department of Education is requiring all schools participating in the April 12, 2016 SAT School Day Administration to have Informed Parental Consent prior to issuing the Student Data Questionnaire to any student.
Continue reading “Parental Consent Required for SAT Questionnaire”
