The Maine DOE has selected one of the state’s leading learning technology integrators and a 30-year veteran educator to head its Learning Through Technology Team, which administers the groundbreaking 1:1 Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI). Continue reading “Mike Muir joins Maine DOE as Learning Through Technology Director”
Category: Professional Development
Schoolwide Plan due, Department schedules webinar
The Maine DOE is hosting a webinar next month to provide guidance to Title I schools as they complete their Schoolwide Plan, which now must be submitted to the Department.
Continue reading “Schoolwide Plan due, Department schedules webinar”
Maine teachers invited to apply for STEM scholarship
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Alumni Club of Maine is inviting Maine middle school and high school science and engineering teachers to apply for Club scholarships to the MIT Science and Engineering Program for Teachers (SEPT) which will be held June 21-27.
Continue reading “Maine teachers invited to apply for STEM scholarship”
Commissioner’s Update – January 15, 2015
From the Maine Department of Education
The Maine DOE is releasing additional new resources to support the development and implementation of Performance Evaluation and Professional Growth (PEPG) systems. The new resources build upon those released last month and include Leader Evaluation and Professional Growth (LEPG) modules and a presentation specifically for special educators.
Among the previously released resources were educator training modules produced in collaboration with American Institutes of Research and the Department has now additionally added the last three modules in the State LEPG module series. Though each of the modules is aligned with the details of the State PEPG model for teachers or the State PEPG model for principals, they can be adapted by local districts as needed. The modules are located on the State Teacher PEPG and State Principal PEPG pages of the Educator Effectiveness website.
Notices and Reporting
- Annual Certification of Superintendent, due Jan. 31 (Reminder)
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News & Views
Maine DOE publishes applied learning lesson plans
The Department has published 30 lesson plans that support hands-on, applied learning for Maine’s middle school students. | More
Connecting classroom to math assessment focus of February Department workshops
The Maine DOE is inviting math educators to one of the six workshops the Department will host across the state next month focused on connecting the classroom to the new online Maine Education Assessment developed by Smarter Balanced. | More
EPS Commission releases final report
The Commission to Strengthen the Adequacy and Equity of Certain Cost Components of the School Funding Formula has released its final report. | More
Educators invited to Maine DOE winter wellness workshop
The Maine DOE is hosting a one-day workshop next month focused on supporting the development and implementation of successful school-based health promotion programs. | More
Department webinar to overview new assessment accommodations
The Maine DOE will host a webinar on Jan. 23 to overview the features and accommodations that will be available with the new online Maine Educational Assessment for Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy developed by Smarter Balanced. | More
U.S. Office of Civil Rights releases guidance on the obligations to EL students
The Maine DOE is encouraging review of new guidance released by the U.S. Office of Civil Rights on the obligations to English learner students. | More
Department reminds schools of pest control reporting, upcoming training
The Maine DOE is reminding all schools serving K-12 students that they are required to appoint a staff member to be the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Coordinator. | More
Department reminds district leaders EDFacts Staff Survey past due
The Department is asking districts that have not yet completed their 2013-14 EDFacts Annual Academic Staff Survey to do so before the statewide data is uploaded to the U.S. Department of Education. | More
iOS 8 compatible secure browser for assessment available soon
The Maine DOE is aware that the secure browser application that will be used for the administration of the Maine Educational Assessment for Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy developed by Smarter Balanced is currently not compatible with iOS 8. | More
January is Invite Your Maine Legislator to School Month
Schools are encouraged to invite legislators to visit classrooms and meet with teachers, administrators and students this month. | More
Maine students selected for United States Senate Youth Program
Two Maine students will travel to Washington, D.C. for a week in March to serve as delegates to the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP). | More
Bucksport High School recognized for academic excellence
Bucksport High School has been honored as a National BARR School of Academic Excellence. | More
Nominations due Feb. 1 for Maine’s History Teacher of the Year
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, Preserve America and the History Channel annually recognize outstanding American history teachers at the state and national levels. | More
College For Every Student awards to help underserved students become college, career ready
College For Every Student (CFES) has received funding to provide five low-income middle or high schools with Closing the Gap awards. | More
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Maine DOE releases new educator effectiveness resources
The Maine DOE is releasing additional new resources to support the development and implementation of Performance Evaluation and Professional Growth (PEPG) systems. The new resources build upon those released last month and include Leader Evaluation and Professional Growth (LEPG) modules and a presentation specifically for special educators.
Continue reading “Maine DOE releases new educator effectiveness resources”
Connecting classroom to math assessment focus of Maine DOE workshops
The Maine DOE is inviting math educators to one of the six workshops the Department will host across the state next month focused on connecting the classroom to the new online Maine Education Assessment developed by Smarter Balanced. Continue reading “Connecting classroom to math assessment focus of Maine DOE workshops”
Educators invited to winter wellness workshop
The Maine DOE is hosting a one-day workshop next month in Augusta focused on supporting the development and implementation of successful school-based health promotion programs for staff and students that ultimately improve student achievement.
Continue reading “Educators invited to winter wellness workshop”
Department webinar to overview new assessment accommodations
The Maine DOE Office of Special Services will host a webinar on Jan. 23 from 9 to 10 a.m. to overview the features and accommodations that will be available with the new online Maine Educational Assessment for Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy developed by Smarter Balanced.
Continue reading “Department webinar to overview new assessment accommodations”
Department reminds schools of pest control reporting requirements, upcoming training
The Maine DOE is reminding all schools serving K-12 students that they are required to appoint a staff member to be the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Coordinator responsible for oversight of pest prevention, management and monitoring activities. Schools must report the name and e-mail address of the IPM Coordinator in MEDMS or by email to the Maine Board of Pesticides Control at pesticides@maine.gov.
Commissioner’s Update – January 8, 2015
From the Maine Department of Education
The Maine DOE is continuing its work to ensure an effective teacher in every classroom and an effective leader in every school.
In the coming months, the Department will engage stakeholders in conversations to inform the development of a four to seven year state plan to provide all students with effective educators. The State will examine data and work with stakeholders to understand any identified differences in access to effective educators across high/low poverty and high/low minority schools and must submit its plan to the U.S. Department of Education by June 1.
Access to great teachers and leaders is a core priority of the Department’s Education Evolving strategic plan to put learners first, released in 2012.
Notices and Reporting
- Report of Adult Education for Subsidy Purposes (EF-M-39B), due Jan. 15 (Reminder)
- Annual Certification of Superintendent, due Jan. 31 (Reminder)
More Notices | Administrative Letters | Reporting Calendar
News & Views
Department releases new online resources to support spring MEA administration
The Maine DOE continues to support schools as they prepare for a successful spring administration of the new online Maine Educational Assessment for Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy and has recently added new resources to its website. | More
Maine DOE adopts rules to strengthen public preschool programs
Rule Chapter 124: Basic Approval Standards: Public Preschool Programs has been formally adopted by the Department of Education and took effect Dec. 28. | More
Alternate assessment for mathematics and ELA dates set, resources released
User and student registration will open next month for the National Center and State Collaborative Alternate Assessment based on Alternate Standards (NCSC AA-AAS). | More
Smarter Balanced practice, training tests now available
Smarter Balanced practice and training tests are now available to help schools better prepare students for the statewide spring assessment. | More
PAAP test bank live
The Personalized Alternate Assessment Portfolio (PAAP) task bank is up and running with 206 students registered so far. | More
Department seeks public preschool classrooms for observation pilot
The Maine DOE is seeking public preschool classrooms to pilot a research-based classroom observation tool called CLASS (Classroom Assessment Scoring System). | More
Maine DOE announces social studies DBQ workshops
The Maine DOE is inviting teachers of grades 6-12 to participate in its 2015 Social Studies Document-Based Question (DBQ) Workshop series. | More
Department reminds district leaders EDFacts Staff Survey past due
The Dec. 19 deadline for completion of the 2013-14 EDFacts Annual Academic Staff Survey has passed. | More
School, technology leaders reminded to complete assessment readiness survey
The Department is reminding school and district leaders to complete the short technology readiness survey in advance of the spring administration of the new Maine Educational Assessment for Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy. | More
Maine students invited to participate in 2015 Law Day Art Contest
The American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division is inviting Maine students to submit work to its 2015 Law Day Art Contest. | More
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