MEA alternate testing window opens

The Multi-State Alternate Assessment (MSAA) for mathematics and English language arts/literacy testing window opens Wednesday, March 30 and closes May 13. Maine’s alternate assessment is required for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities in grades 3-8 and in the third year of high school.

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Annual Local Entitlement application training webinar

The Maine Department of Education’s Office of Special Services will be hosting a training webinar to assist Local Education Agencies in new and important procedural and timeline changes regarding the 2016-2017 IDEA Local Entitlement electronic application process.

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Count ME In spring regional meetings

Attendance Matters! This is why you are encouraged to check out Count ME In’s regional spring meeting. These meetings will be held in Lewiston on March 24, in Portland on March 31, and in Augusta on April 7. Attendees will hear schools share effective strategies as well as parent perspective on school attendance. Sessions are free but registration is required. To learn more, visit www.countmeinmaine.org.

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Student learning objectives regional trainings proved to be valuable to SAUs

Last month, the Maine Department of Education held regional trainings for over 350 educators from school administrative units (SAUs) around the state. The trainings were held in Portland, Farmington, Ellsworth, and Presque Isle. The Maine DOE hosted presenters from the Community Training and Assistance Center (CTAC) in all four locations.

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Maine DOE and NESSC collaboration offers second webinar to support proficiency diplomas

The Maine Department of Education and the New England Secondary School Consortium (NESSC) hosted a webinar early this month featuring RSU 2’s collaborative efforts to assess student work in ways that are increasingly consistent. Courtney Belolan (Instructional Coach) and Matthew Shea (Coordinator of Student Achievement) set the context for their work by describing a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration that led to the district’s initial development and implementation of proficiency-based learning. Their district-wide content area K-12 curriculum teams are central to their work.

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Nature based education summer institute

The University of Maine at Farmington is excited to announce registration is open for a first-of-a-kind Nature Based Education Summer Institute June 24 and 25, 2016.  The institute is designed for pre-service and experienced educators to gather and learn about the benefits and best practices of connecting children to nature.  The workshops will be interactive and held outdoors.

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Winter Wellness Workshop Day raises awareness

The Maine Schoolsite Health Promotion Program’s Winter Wellness Workshop Day last week drew school employees from across Maine to Waterville to expand their understanding of worksite wellness and how to implement successful wellness programs utilizing a variety of tools and resources. It was also National Wear Red Day, so participants donned a variety of red to show their support for heart health.

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