Transition to Kindergarten Train the Trainer Opportunity

The Maine Department of Education’s Early Learning Team is happy to announce the next step in the Transition to Kindergarten training series. In 2022, the Transition to Kindergarten module series and facilitator guide focused on building community-wide understanding of kindergarten readiness and the impact of high-quality transition practices on children, families, schools, and communities was released. This 4-part series, as well as several other useful resources related to kindergarten transitions, can be found on the Transitioning to Kindergarten webpages.

The next installment in the Transitions to Kindergarten series is a Train the Trainer opportunity built to support and guide individuals who can facilitate community-based kindergarten transition teams to use the tools and activities within the Transition to Kindergarten module series. The goal of the series modules is to build understanding and implementation of high-quality, year-round transition practices for all stakeholders to ensure children’s successful transition into their Kindergarten year.

If you, or someone you know, could benefit from participating in this training which will prepare participants to guide communities in forming Kindergarten transition teams and transitions plans, please register for this exciting and free two-session training.

Session #1 will be held on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 pm.
Session #2 will be held on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Once you register, a link will be sent to your email; this will be the same link for both sessions

Click here to Register for both sessions.

For more information and any questions, please reach to Marcy Whitcomb, Public Pre-K Consultant at Marcy.r.whitcomb@maine.gov.

Special Topic Series Upcoming Sessions: Word-Level Reading and PBIS Framework

As a reminder, the Maine Department of Education’s Office of Special Services & Inclusive Education is hosting a Special Topic Series around inclusivity and multi-tiered systems of support through the winter and spring months. Upcoming topics include:

Word-Level Reading Problems – Implications for Instruction and Intervention

Description: Speaker David A. Kilpatrick, PhD will focus on how children learn to read words and why some children struggle. Learn more here.
Date: March 1, 2023
Time: 3:30-4:30 pm
Where: Zoom
Cost: FREE
Register here.

Supporting All Students: How the PBIS Framework is Inclusive for All

Description: Speaker Dr. Heather George. PBIS has been shown through research to be effective for a wide range of student outcomes. This whole school prevention based approach establishes a safe and predictable environment to improve behavior and help more students succeed, including students with disabilities. Free resources will be shared to help schools build systems with practices that are inclusive, robust and supportive of all students.
Date: Wednesday, April 26, 2023,
Times: 3:30-4:30 PM
Where: Zoom
Cost: FREE
Register here.

Download a flyer about these topics (PDF)

WEBINAR: Multi-Tiered Systems of Support: Timely Instruction for All Students

Join MAIER (Maine Access to Inclusive Education Resources) and the Maine Department of Education Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education (OSSIE) for a webinar with host Dr. Rachel Brown Chidsey on multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS). This session will provide an overview of the components in a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) and how students with disabilities can and should participate within all tiers. Participants will learn the importance of a strong Tier 1 core instruction foundation for all students as well as how targeted (Tier 2) and intensive (Tier 3) supports are provided for students regardless of dis/ability. The session will conclude with action steps that special educators can take to ensure that their students are included within all tiers of support, as appropriate.

When: February 9 @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Audience: For all educators and administrators
Contact Hours: 2 contact hours will be provided to participants
Register here

Rachel Brown Chidsey, Ph.D. Is a nationally renowned expert in multi-tiered systems of support for academics, and inclusive teaching practices. She has more than 25 years of experience in education and has authored dozens of articles, and many books on supporting struggling learners and students with disabilities. She is currently the president of the Maine State Council for Exceptional Children.

This session will be recorded and available on the MAIER after the event. For additional information please contact MAIER director, Dr. Sarah Howorth at sarah.howorth@maine.edu

Special Topic Series: Word-Level Reading Problems – Implications for Instruction and Intervention

The Maine Department of Education’s Office of Special Services & Inclusive Education is hosting a Special Topic Series around inclusivity and multi-tiered systems of support through the winter and spring months. The upcoming speaker is David A. Kilpatrick, PhD

Date: March 1, 2023
Time: 3:30-4:30 pm
Where: Zoom
Cost: FREE Register for Zoom Link Here

This presentation from David A. Kilpatrick, PhD will focus on how children learn to read words and why some children struggle. Including:

The nature of word-level reading development and how word-level reading problems can guide instruction and intervention.
Understanding how reading works and why some students struggle, illustrating other approaches to intervention that can yield very large reading gains for such students.
Examples of studies that consistently show that the most used intervention approaches provide limited benefits for at-risk and struggling readers.
Establishing a knowledge base for educators to choose the most effective instructional and intervention practices.

Audience: General & Special Educators, Administrators, Parents, Caregivers and Community Members Interested in Literacy, Dyslexia & Reading Disabilities and Interventions

Contact Hours: Each attendee will be awarded a certificate for 1 contact hour

About the Presenter:

David A. Kilpatrick, PhD is a professor of psychology for the State University of New York College at Cortland. He is a New York State certified school psychologist with 28 years’ experience in schools. He has been teaching courses in learning disabilities and educational psychology since 1994. David is a reading researcher and the author of two books on reading, Essentials of Assessing, Preventing, and Overcoming Reading Difficulties, and Equipped for Reading Success, and is a co-editor of a third, Reading Development and Difficulties: Bridging the Gap Between Research and Practice. David Kilpatrick’s website Equipped for Reading Success can be found at https://www.equippedforreadingsuccess.com/ .

David Kilpatrick is also the developer of the PAST (Phonemic Awareness Screener Test) which is included in his book Equipped for Reading Success and is used to monitor student progress. The Phonological Awareness Screening Test (PAST) is a valid and reliable assessment of phonological awareness that takes 5-8 minutes to administer. You can download the PAST for free at http://thepasttest.com/ .

Virtual Tuesday Power Hour Series by TransitionME: 1/31 Session – Teaching Skills that Matter

The Maine Department of Education, Office of Special Services & Inclusive Education presents TransitionME Virtual Tuesday Power Hour Series, a best practices forum to provide opportunities for our State educators and transition leaders to grapple with and actuate strategies and support for our scholars’ diverse needs and pathways to post-secondary opportunities

Upcoming session: What central skills do students, including students with exceptionalities, need to find success in life and work?

Audience: All teachers; Highly recommended for Sped teachers, Case managers & Transition Leads

When: Jan 31, 2023 03:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Amy Poland, a member of Maine Department of Education (DOE) Adult Education Team, will discuss nine central skills that are critical for success in life and work and will share the Teaching Skills that Matter toolkit, a set of high-quality lessons that integrate the skills into relevant contexts, such as civics education, health literacy, and workforce preparation. While written for adult learners, the TSTM toolkit materials are also relevant for high school learners, including multilingual learners.

Register here in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Participants who take part in this Professional Development will receive 1 contact hour.

For further information contact Titus O’Rourke, Maine DOE Eligibility & Transition Specialist at titus.orourke@maine.gov or call 207-215-6303.

Maine Alternative Education Association Spring Conference to Be Held March 10 at Thomas

The 2023 Alternative Education Association (AEA) of Maine’s Spring Conference will take place at Thomas College on March 10th from 8:30-2:30. AEA will offer six contact hours for participants of this conference.

If interested, please take a moment to fill out the Choices for Conference Presentation form, which will help the AEA define the topics that will be presented at the conference.

If you are ready to register for the conference, please submit the Conference Registration Form – all individuals must fill out the form, even if multiple people are attending from one school district. Step two of the registration process is to print out the AEA of Maine Conference Invoice and send it to Dawn Matthews with your payment. (address and conference information is on the form) If you have already paid your dues for the Association this year, you DO NOT need to do Step 2. If you are not sure, send Dawn an email at dawn.matthews@rsu29.org

For further information and questions about the conference reach out to Lenny Holmes Leonard Holmes at lholmes@bonnyeagle.org.

The Mission of the Alternative Education Association of Maine is to provide support, guidance and direction to Maine Alternative Educators and the students they serve. The AEA’s purpose is to be an advocate and provide resources for all those in Maine who are involved in Alternative Education. Learn more about AEA here.

WEBINAR: Functional Communication – More Than Just a New App!

The Maine Department of Education is pleased to present “Functional Communication: More than just a new app!”

Please join us on February 1st from 3:30-5:00 pm for a free virtual workshop presented by Fran Bodkin, MA CCC-SLP, in order to support all school personnel in understanding students with communication needs. Communication is vital to participating in society at all levels; school, home and community. Students who have difficulty expressing themselves and getting their needs met frequently experience frustration and may exhibit interfering behaviors in attempting to communicate what they need and want.

In this presentation you will learn:

How functional communication impacts students across settings
What is a functional communication evaluation and who can do one?
How to seek an evaluation or alternate supports
Different levels of assistive technology to support communication
How you can support students across settings
How to help students reach their full potential
How to leverage communication to support positive behaviors
How to have fun with communication!

1.5 contact hours will be offered to participants of this webinar.

For more information contact Erin Frazier at Erin.Frazier@maine.gov.

Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) Training for Maine PBIS Schools

Maine PBIS is offering a 3 day Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) Training for our Maine PBIS schools. A FBA is the process used to assess a specific behavior that is interfering with a student’s academic, social, emotional and behavioral goals. This team-based training will support your school staff in identifying why the behavior is happening through a variety of assessment tools and procedures leading to the development of a positive behavior support plan individualized to the student’s strengths and needs.

Team-based training, minimum of three team members per school
In-person training 8:30-3:00 pm (3/21, 4/4, 4/25)
The training is cumulative, participants will need to attend all three sessions – 18 contact hours are available to participants who attend all 3 sessions.
In-person at University of Southern Maine, Gorham Campus: 37 College Ave, 8 Bailey Hall – Room 301/301C in Gorham, ME

Please contact Anne-Marie Adamson (anne-marie.adamson@maine.gov) with questions.

WEBINAR: Annual Foster Care Training for Point of Contacts – Jan 31st

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed into law on December 10, 2015, amending the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). ESSA contains provisions related to protections for children in foster care and requires the Maine Department of Education ( DOE) and Maine school administrative units (SAUs) to collaborate with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) to ensure educational stability for children in foster care.

Join the Maine DOE’s Office of School and Student Supports Director Julie Smyth and Associate Director of Child Welfare Services Bobbi Johnson on Tuesday, January 31st via Zoom for a 4:00 pm Annual Foster Care Training for Point Of Contacts (POCs). Participants receive a certificate upon successful completion of a post-session quiz.

The goal of ESSA is for children in foster care to experience minimal disruption in their education because of being placed in foster care and that they are given the same opportunities to develop the necessary skills to be successful as children who are not in foster care.

Under ESSA the Maine DOE and OCFS must work together to ensure:

A child in foster care will enroll or remain enrolled in the child’s school of origin unless a determination is made that it is not in the child’s best interest to attend that school.
If a determination is made that is not in the child’s best interest to remain in the school of origin, the child will immediately be enrolled in a new school, even if the child and/or his or her guardians are unable to produce records normally required for enrollment; and
The child’s new school must immediately contact the school of origin to obtain relevant records.

Register here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing further information about joining the meeting.

For questions, please contact Julie Smyth, Director of the Office of School, and Student Supports – at 207.592.0949 or julie.a.smyth@maine.gov .

Monthly Sessions: Mental Health Promotion in the School Setting

Project ECHO© presents Mental Health Promotion in the School Setting ECHO Monthly Sessions begin on January 23, 2023, the 4th Monday of the month from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm on ZOOM. Bring your most challenging cases to colleagues and a panel of subject matter experts for review and recommendations. Access tools to foster positive social, emotional, and behavioral skills, and well-being for all. Join as your schedule allows. CEUs available upon survey completion.

Audience: Anyone working in the School Setting
Cost: Free

SESSION TOPICS: