If this legislative session results in the passage of just one bill that brings about major improvements to our educational system, this would be it: LD 1858.
Continue reading “Clear expectations, rigorous evaluations, continued growth”
Category: Priority Notices
Learning about proficiency-based education
Interested in learning more about proficiency-based education and the efforts of a growing number of Maine schools to transition to a system that’s shaped around students, their needs, and the ways they learn best?
This week is a good week to find out more.
Continue reading “Learning about proficiency-based education”
Starting the serious work of crafting a new accountability system
When we took to the road in December, we wanted to hear what the public had to say about the system we use to hold our schools accountable. And hear from the public we did. We had more than 1,500 people respond to an online survey; several dozen turned out at public forums in Bangor, Portland and online.
Continue reading “Starting the serious work of crafting a new accountability system”
Moving to a learner-centered system
It’s been a busy and exciting month for us as we advance our efforts to move Maine to an education system that is centered around students.
Feedback has started to come in about our newly released strategic plan, “Education Evolving: Maine’s Plan for Putting Learners First.” We appreciate the constructive suggestions and comments from those who have taken time to read the document, and we actively encourage more feedback.
Recognizing education’s evolution
After 10 months of collecting and considering the public’s feedback and thinking seriously about our priorities, we’ve publicly released a strategic plan for education in Maine.
The upside of not being first
Sometimes, it’s OK if we’re not first.
In fact, it offers Maine an advantage when it comes to preparing an application for flexibility from provisions of the federal No Child Left Behind law.
Taking a chance on behalf of kids
When author Tony Wagner visited Maine this summer to speak at the University of Maine, he lamented that there’s not much research and development to speak of in public education.
Challenging times, and a path forward
Below are the remarks I delivered to curriculum leaders, superintendents and school board members at separate conferences last week.
Better engagement, better preparation
On Monday, I joined Gov. Paul LePage, Midcoast-area school administrators, and representatives from that region’s higher education and business communities to discuss education as an economic imperative for Maine’s Midcoast.
Welcome news and a special opportunity
We’ve had a flurry of activity here at the Department of Education ever since the Obama administration last week released guidelines for states interested in securing waivers from certain provisions of the federal No Child Left Behind law.
Maine DOE Newsroom 