A little over a year ago, I outlined a vision for education in Maine, our strategic plan, Education Evolving, at Capital Area Technical Center. A few weeks later, Governor LePage and I laid out the education agenda at the Somerset Career and Technical Education Center in Skowhegan. We at Maine DOE, in collaboration with schools and school districts, have made great progress in changing policies and focus toward a system that supports students in achieving proficiency in rigorous standards that will prepare them to be ready for college and careers.
Category: Priority Notices
Improving the state of education
The Governor devoted a good portion of his State of the State address on Tuesday evening to education, a reflection of the passion he has for the topic. As he said, he believes education saved his life.
Maine DOE and DHHS ink pledge on early childhood learning
A little over a year ago, Maine scored high, but not high enough, on its application for a Race to the Top grant to promote advances in the state’s early childhood learning systems. We and our counterparts at the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, who worked collaboratively to develop the plan, held a press conference and pledged to move forward with as much of the plan as we could, even though we would not receive any federal funding.
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Impact on education funding in proposed budget
In a two-year state budget proposal that has a lot of reductions, education was largely spared by comparison – state education funds to school districts will be essentially flat for the next two years, at the post-curtailment rate. While the budget adds $27 million to GPA, it also shifts $28 million in retirement costs to become a state/local share. Currently those retirement costs are covered entirely by the State – for all districts, from the wealthiest to the poorest. The state will continue to cover the full Unfunded Actuarial Liability – the 25-year costs of paying off retirement obligations for teachers – at $142m, and another $30m-plus for retired teachers health and life insurance.
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Urging schools to hold influenza vaccine clinics again
In December, Maine experienced the first influenza death. The person was a school-aged child who had not been immunized for influenza. Every school is experiencing absences related to influenza, sometimes in great numbers. Continue reading “Urging schools to hold influenza vaccine clinics again”
Request, resources, and info in the aftermath of Sandy Hook
Originally posted Dec. 17, 2012
This memo from Commissioner Bowen is intended for superintendents, heads of private schools, and other administrators. It includes links below to key resources on emergency preparedness and talking with children about Sandy Hook.
Friday’s tragedy in Newtown, Conn., has shocked and saddened us beyond words. The Governor and I have both expressed our condolences and send our thoughts and prayers. I confess I can’t help but feel that our words seem insufficient within the scope of the tragedy. Still, I know that they are important, and I appreciate the efforts many of you have made to share your thoughts and prayers, and your efforts to communicate with your parents in the aftermath of this national tragedy.
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We’re discovering everything we’re learning
“We’re discovering everything we’re learning.”
Continue reading “We’re discovering everything we’re learning”
Connecting Maine students and veterans
On Monday I had the opportunity to attend an incredible event at the Cole Land Transportation Museum in Bangor. Three middle school and three high school students read their winning essays based on interviews with veterans, arranged by the Museum and the Cole Family Foundation.
Looking forward to better accountability system
Today the Department released its annual report on school progress under the No Child Left Behind Act, which showed that a majority of schools aren’t meeting federal targets—just as we anticipated.
We, along with most other states, don’t believe AYP accurately measures school success. Continue reading “Looking forward to better accountability system”
Recognizing exceptional teachers
Today was a great day for recognizing excellent teachers and showcasing their work. I was honored to start the day by announcing that Peter Barlow is the newest Maine CTE Teacher of the Year. A few hours later, I was congratulating four teachers for becoming Presidential Award finalists at a conference for science teachers in Gardiner.
Maine DOE Newsroom 