Interactive Three-day Workshop on the Application of School Transportation Software

Transfinder University is coming to Augusta, Maine! Maine public school transportation staff are invited to attend a three-day workshop which will provide participants with information regarding bus routing, map editing, geo-coding, pre-routing, custom reporting, and more to optimize their local district transportation operations. Public school districts using Transfinder are strongly encouraged to participate in this workshop, as it will provide refined knowledge and practice on the routing module used to enhance transportation efficiency, logistics, reporting, and safety.

This computer-based intensive workshop will be taught by Brian Keefer who is a senior educator for Transfinder Corporation. The curriculum includes a combination of educator-led lessons with a hands-on lab where participants’ complete real transportation operations tasks using actual Transfinder system software.

To meet the high demand for this course, this year, we doubled the class capacity. Pre-registration is required. Computers will be provided. Wireless internet and free parking will be available. Attendees are responsible for hotel reservations and meals. Breakfast is included for participants who stay overnight at the Senator Inn. Continuing education units will be available upon request. The Maine Department of Education is sponsoring this course and there is no cost for Maine Public school Transfinder users.

Date: October 2-4, 2018

Time: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Location: Senator Inn, 284 Western Avenue, Augusta, Maine

Registration: Pre-registration is required; the class fills quickly

Register Now – To register for the workshop, call 888-427-2403 ext. 8206 and speak with Angela Vitti, Maine Transfinder Account Executive, or send an email to avitti@transfinder.com .

If you have questions about school transportation, please contact Pat Hinckley, Transportation and Facilities Administrator at pat.hinckley@maine.gov or 204-624-6886.

Professional Development Opportunity for Educators: Integrating Technology in Mathematics Classrooms

Maine Department of Education will be sponsoring a 2-part series, offered in two locations, that will focus on supporting teachers in developing and implementing purposeful integration of technology in the mathematics classroom to effectively impact student engagement, learning, and understanding.

Jennifer Vadnais, a certified Desmos presenter, will be facilitating the sessions with the first part in October and the second part in March. Participants will be expected to implement their learning and return with evidence of implementation for the next in-person meeting. In addition, there will be virtual check-in opportunities in between the sessions to provide support and answer questions.

During these sessions participants will:

Experience the impact of purposeful integration of technology in the mathematics classroom
Explore the Desmos resources
Learn how to navigate and use the teacher account
Understand how using Desmos supports student engagement and learning
Apply these understandings using a developed implementation plan

Participants will be provided 20 contact hours at end of series upon completion of survey in addition to coffee, lunch, and workshop materials.

Cost and participation: these sessions are FREE and open to anyone working with middle and high school math students.

Location

Dates

Grade Span

Jeff’s Catering, Brewer ME

Session 1 – October 11, 2018

Session 2 – March 25, 2019

Grades 6-12

Keeley’s, Portland ME

Session 1 – October 12, 2018

Session 2 – March 26, 2019

Grades 6-12

Registration & coffee begins at 8:00 am. The sessions run from 8:30 am – 3:30 pm . Lunch will be provided. Virtual Check-ins to be scheduled.

Register here

Assessment Professional Development and Learning Opportunities

As a follow-up to the September 6, 2018 notice in the Maine DOE Newsroom regarding scheduled opportunities for professional development and learning around assessment, the Department is providing additional information and registration details for upcoming sessions.

Lexile Framework for Reading

On October 9- 11, 2018, the Department in conjunction with MetaMetrics® will be conducting three (3) regional ½ day repeated sessions in Presque Isle, Bangor/Brewer and Portland areas. Each ½ day /3-hour session will provide attendees an overview of the Lexile Framework for Reading and the utilization of Lexile levels to support and impact instructional practice. This session will discuss and review student Lexile levels as determined by student performance on the Spring 2018 ELA eMPowerME state assessment and as reported on 2018 Individual Student Reports (ISRs) to parents.

The intended audience for this session is Special Educators, Librarians, English Language Teachers, English Language Arts (ELA) teaching staff, and elementary school teaching staff.

To register for the Lexile professional development session please click here.

Date	Location	Session times	Registration
October 9, 2018	Elks Lodge 508 Main Street, Presque Isle, 04769	PM – 12:30 -3:30 pm	To register for Oct. 9 sessions, click here.
October 10, 2018	Jeff’s Catering 15 Littlefield Road, Brewer, 04401	AM – 8:30 -11:30 am PM – 12:30 -3:30 pm	To register for Oct. 10 sessions, click here.
October 11, 2018	Elks Lodge 1945 Congress Street, Portland, 04102	AM – 8:30 -11:30 am PM – 12:30 -3:30 pm	To register for Oct. 11 sessions, click here.

Maine’s Assessment & Accountability Reporting System (MAARS) Review & Released Items

On November 13-15, 2018, the Department in conjunction with FocalPointK-12 will be conducting three, one day sessions in Presque Isle, Bangor/Brewer and Portland areas.

During each morning session, attendees will be provided an overview of MAARS with a focus on confidential reporting elements. Please note, in order for participants to engage fully in this session, participants should ensure necessary permissions to access MAARS have been granted and provided from the District Assessment Coordinator (DAC).

Afternoon sessions will focus on English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics eMPowerME and Science released items and specifically the impact on curriculum and development review to instructional practice.

To register for the MAARS Review and Released Item session please click here.

The intended audience for this session is Superintendents, Assistant Superintendents, curriculum coordinators, and ELA, Math and Science teaching staff.

Date	Location	Time	Registration
November 13, 2018	Presque Isle	Registration 8:30 am Session 9 am – 3:30 PM	To register for Nov.13 sessions, click here.
November 14, 2018	Bangor/Brewer	Registration 8:30 am Session 9 am – 3:30 PM	To register for Nov. 14 sessions, click here.
November 15, 2018	Portland	Registration 8:30 am Session 9 am – 3:30 PM	To register for Nov. 15 sessions, click here.

For further information or additional questions please contact Janette Kirk, Deputy Director, Office of Learning Systems at janette.kirk@maine.gov or 624-6707.

Online Learning Communities for Educators

Maine educators are invited to join online learning communities led by other Maine educators who will offer guidance and support for completing recognized online learning programs that are designed to develop various skills related to teaching and learning with technology. Educators can learn on their own time and at their own pace while still being a part of community of educators that are all working toward a common goal.

All of the online learning communities are free to join, though some have materials that need to be purchased in order to participate more fully.

Apple Teacher – iPad Badges (free)
Apple Teacher – Mac Badges (free)
Code.org Express Course (free)
Common Sense Educators (free)
Google Level 1 Certification ($10 exam fee paid to Google directly)
Wonder Workshop ($125 for robot and course bundle purchased with ACTEM discount)

To register, please complete this online form »

Note: Most offerings start on or around Oct. 1^st and have a limit on the number of participants.

All educators who earn their badge or certificate by midnight on December 2^nd will be invited to join a daylong celebration and professional learning opportunity. The celebration will likely be held on Thursday, December 13^th or Friday, December 14^th in the central Maine area. More details will be sent directly to participants later in the fall

For more information contact, Maine DOE Digital Learning Specialist, Amanda Nguyen at Amanda.Nguyen@maine.gov

Attendance Matters: Connecting for Student Success Regional Meetings

Attendance Matters: The Fall Connecting for Student Success regional meetings sponsored by Maine Department of Education and Count ME In are happening statewide. You can attend a regional meeting that is convenient for you.

Tuesday, October 16 in Bangor 12:00 to 2:30
Wednesday, October 17 in Presque Isle 12:00 – 2:30
Thursday, November 1 in Augusta 9:00 – 11:30
~~Thursday, November 29 in Portland 8:30 – 11:00~~ (Full)

Attendees will hear schools and agencies share updates on programs and effective strategies as well as a short presentation on anxiety-steps to support students. Sessions are free but registration is required.

Attendance matters because early absences can affect later achievement, since students can miss some of the key building blocks for learning. Absences add up- just two days a month can mean 18 absences a year.

Register Now

For more information, please contact Gayle Erdheim at Gayle.Erdheim@maine.gov, Emily Poland at Emily.Poland@maine.gov or Susan Lieberman at slieberman@countmeinmaine.org.

Interactive Workshop on the Legal Rights of English Learners

All educators are invited to attend this workshop which will provide participants with information regarding the legal responsibilities of schools serving English learners. Districts receiving federal funds under Title I and/or Title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education (ESEA) are strongly encouraged to participate in this workshop, as it will clarify the core requirements for English learner programming that must be met before supplemental federal funds may be utilized.

The workshop, facilitated by Charo Basterra, Vice President of the Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium (MAEC), will include practical applications, scenarios, and tools that promote appropriate implementation of practices to address the needs and rights of English learners. MAEC is one of four regional technical assistance centers funded by the United States Department of Education.

Three contact hours will be available upon completion of a feedback survey. Wireless internet and free parking will be available, either on campus or at an off-campus parking lot connected by a free shuttle service. The ESEA Title III office of the Maine Department of Education is sponsoring this event and there is no registration fee.

Date: September 20, 2018

Time: 9:00am-12:00pm

Location:
University of New England
Innovation Hall
716 Stevens Avenue
Portland, ME 04103

Register Now

If you have any questions about this workshop, please contact April Perkins, Director of ESOL/Bilingual Programs, at april.perkins@maine.gov or (207)624-6627.

Assessment Professional Development and Learning

During the month of July, Department staff engaged in the review of submitted Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA)/SAU Consolidated Plans. All submitted plans have been reviewed and the Department continues final synthesis of review notes and team meetings in order to provide meaningful feedback to districts.

Cross team discussions during the review of submitted district CNAs/SAU Consolidated Plans afforded the Maine DOE a unique opportunity to identify trends in challenges and successes experienced by schools and districts across the state. As a result of this review, the Department has developed a series of professional development and learning opportunities related to assessment and instructional practice. Full details including the list of dates will soon be available on the Maine DOE Professional Development & Training Calendar – at this time a listing can viewed in the following downloadable excel listing:

2018 Professional Development & Learning Opportunities (excel)

The first session of the series will be conducted via webinar and will focus on a Balanced Assessment System. This session will include an overview of the planned opportunities and timeline in addition to reviewing the key components of a Balanced Assessment System. Registration details regarding this session can be found below.

Session: Balanced Assessment Systems
Location: Webinar
Date & Time: September 26, 2018 at 2 pm
Join the Webinar (no registration necessary)

For further information please contact Janette Kirk, Deputy Director, Office of Learning Systems at Janette.Kirk@maine.gov or 624-6707.

ESSA Implementation and Report Card Release #success4ME

Formerly known as No Child Left Behind, the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965 was reauthorized as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in December, 2015.

During the fall of 2018, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) will begin implementation of ESSA including the rollout of Maine’s Model of School Supports and the public release of the Maine’s School Report Cards.

The reauthorization of ESSA provides Maine with the opportunity to develop and refine Maine’s strategic vision for education and provides flexibility for Maine to develop an accountability system known as Maine’s Model of School Supports, which incorporates measures of success beyond that of academic assessment data.

Over the coming weeks and months, in on-going communications from the Maine DOE Newsroom; official social media sites Facebook and Twitter (with use of the hash tag #success4ME); and in-person meetings throughout the State, the Maine DOE will be providing updates and information regarding Maine’s Model of Support, why it matters, and how it impacts schools and students.

In addition, the Department will be providing workshop sessions across the state for principals and school leaders to learn more about the School Report Card Dashboard and the Model of School Supports. Registration information will be forthcoming.

Anticipated Timeline

September 2018 – January 2019 (and beyond): Ongoing communications via the Maine DOE Newsroom and in-person meetings scheduled throughout the State to prepare local officials and communities for the release of the implementation of ESSA and the public release of the report cards.
October 15, 2018: Confidential release of Maine Educational Assessment (MEA) student results with three weeks for districts to review and verify the data.
November 5, 2018: Public release of MEA student results.
November 2018: Internally, the Department will run the final and full 2017/2018 data through the Model of School Supports to check for accuracy.
December 2018: Confidential preview of School Report Cards for districts and schools followed by the public release of the School Report Cards.
January 2019: Department staff will meet with schools identified for tier III supports at regional meetings held throughout the State.

For further information, please contact Janette Kirk, Deputy Director, Office of Learning Systems at Janette.Kirk@maine.gov or 624-6707.

NAEP Assessment Positions Available

Westat is recruiting for the 2019 National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as NAEP or The Nation’s Report Card, for the National Center for Education Statistics, which is part of the U.S. Department of Education. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is seeking motivated individuals who are committed to excellence and experienced in working with primary and secondary school students.

Positions are available for those interested in leading a team conducting assessments using touch-enabled tablets with 4th-, 8th-, and 12th grade students in participating schools across the state and for those interested in being a part of the team. Teams consist of 2-4 people, and will be responsible for assessment equipment during and between assessments. This opportunity is ideal for retired educators.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is the largest continuing and nationally representative assessment of what our nation’s students know and can do in core subjects. NAEP will be conducting assessments in Maine schools in 2019 and is looking for people to work from January to March 2019 who have education or research experience and are comfortable interacting with students in schools.

An online application can be found at workNAEP.com

For more information, can be found using the links below or by contacting:

Linda Pomerleau, NAEP 2019 State Field Manager at 207-266-8138 or lindapomerleau@naepmail.westat.com.

2018-19 Gifted and Talented SAU Program Application Forms Available

The 2018-19 Gifted and Talented SAU Program Application forms are now available. All applications are due by September 30, 2018:

Access the Forms for Annual Gifted and Talented Program Approval and other related materials.

At the link above you will find:

Renewal applications with instructions (for SAUs that have an already existing gifted and talented program);
Initial applications with instructions (for SAUs that do not have a gifted and talented program);
Waiver request form (for SAUs that would like a one year waiver from having a gifted and talented program); &
Extension request form (for SAUs that require more time to complete their renewal or initial application).

All applications must be submitted to GT.DOE@maine.gov by September 30, 2018.

If you have any questions, please contact Ida Batista at ida.batista@maine.gov or 624-6795.