School choice has always been an option for some Maine students, but we’re getting closer and closer to offering choice to all our kids—enabling them to take charge of their own learning.
Category: Priority Notices
Passing of Deb Hannigan and Buzz Kastuck
It is with great, great sadness that I report the passing this week of two long-time members of the Maine DOE family – Deb Hannigan, who served as the director of Child Development Services, and Buzz Kastuck, who managed the school approval process, superintendent agreements and home schooling. Continue reading “Passing of Deb Hannigan and Buzz Kastuck”
Literacy: not just for schools, anymore
It’s time for a new school year, and here at the Maine DOE we’re continuing the work of our strategic plan.
In a few weeks, the Department will launch its birth-to-adult literacy initiative, Literacy for ME, and we’re hoping to get the whole state involved.
Join statewide discussion on ESEA flexibility
Well, the time has come.
For nearly the past year, we’ve been working on a proposal for flexibility under the decade-old No Child Left Behind Act (or Elementary and Secondary Education Act). Maine will submit its application by Sept. 6, and it’s important to us to involve the public one more time as we finalize a plan for creating a better school accountability and improvement system.
Continue reading “Join statewide discussion on ESEA flexibility”
Improving education with ABC plan
Governor Paul LePage and I held a press conference this week to discuss the results of a recent Harvard University education study, which found that Maine’s NAEP test scores have barely moved over the past two decades.
Superintendents unite
Educators from across the state gathered in Augusta for the 101st annual Maine Superintendents’ Conference earlier this week.
Teachers as students
I had the chance to speak with future teachers at the University of Maine Wednesday. It was great to witness their passion for education and the student-centered direction the profession is moving in.
Five-year HS a reality at Hermon
Governor LePage and I had the opportunity on Monday to attend Hermon High School’s kick-off ceremony for the Bridge Year Program, a pilot project set to launch 15 students on the path toward associate’s degrees starting in July.
New teacher eval system means better educator training
Administrators and teachers at Farwell Elementary School in Lewiston are using iPads to develop new educator evaluation rubrics, the first Teacher Incentive Fund school in Maine to do so. I had the chance to use the app to evaluate fifth grade teacher Danielle Bilodeau when I visited Farwell last week, and I can assure you that teachers have never had any feedback system like this before.
Continue reading “New teacher eval system means better educator training”
A call for ESEA flexibility feedback
This week, in addition to the usual updates about our work, I will ask for something from you. The September 2012 deadline to request flexibility from the federal government in Maine’s implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act (or Elementary and Secondary Education Act) is growing nearer, and we at the Department need your feedback to develop our proposal.
Maine DOE Newsroom 