Maine DOE Update – August 1, 2019

From the Maine Department of Education

Reporting Items

WHY DATA MATTERS: SAU Leaders Invited to Train and Talk!

Are you a school or district leader who wonders why the Department of Education collects certain data sets, and what they are used for? Have you ever wanted to have a frank discussion with the DOE’s Data Team about the data collections and how they could be improved? | More

| Visit the DC&R Reporting Calendar |

News & Updates

PRIORITY NOTICE: Conceptual Conversation Around the Performance Evaluation and Professional Growth Systems (PEPG)

Since 2012, educators across the State of Maine have worked collaboratively to create locally developed, effective models for professional growth. Since that time, plans have been revised and refined to reflect the requirements of Chapter 180 and school or district goals. In response to changes to Chapter 180 made during the 129th legislative session, The Maine Department of Education invites interested stakeholders to attend a conceptual conversation related to educator effectiveness on August 5, 2019 | More

RECOGNIZING GREAT EDUCATORS: Department of Education Talent Pool!

The Maine Department of Education believes that a great way to ensure a robust educator workforce is to develop and engage a network of outstanding educators as exemplars and leaders for our state. By promoting the excellence that exists in classrooms and schools across Maine, we hope to increase the trust and respect given to educators, and encourage and support others in an outstanding career working with Maine’s students.| More

Seeking Innovative Educational Leaders to Join Maine’s Leadership Development Program

The Maine Department of Education is thrilled to announce that the facilitator candidates for Maine’s Leadership Development Program (Maine LDP) have been selected. | More

Preparing to Educate Students who Are English Learners- Reviewing Lau Plans

As schools prepare for the 2019-2020 academic year, the Maine Department of Education would like to offer its support to help educators proactively plan effective programs for students who are English learners (ELs). Each year many new families arrive to Maine over the summer, or transfer from one Maine district to another. When school enrollment begins in the fall, districts may enroll a student who is an EL for the first time or may experience an increase in the number of students who are ELs as compared to last school year. The following suggestions and resources can help educators prepare to identify and serve students who are ELs and engage their families and communities. | More

Maine Officially Adopts English Language Development Standards

Each of the eight content areas taught in Maine schools has its own set of standards, collectively known as the Maine Learning Results. Since 1997, the Maine Learning Results have provided a framework from which educators can build their curriculum, instruction, and assessments. Alongside these content standards, students learning English have been supported with a cohesive set of English language development (ELD) standards, aligned to the academic content they are learning. | More

Maine DOE Director of ESOL Selected as Finalist for US Department of State Award

April Perkins is the current Director of ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages)/Bilingual Programs & Title III at the Maine Department of Education (DOE). She is also one of four finalists for a prestigious national award. | More

Next Think Tank Scheduled for September 30!

In the ongoing effort to engage with all stakeholders, the Department of Education will hold its next Think Tank at the Schoodic Institute in Winter Harbor on September 30. | More

Get to Know the DOE Team – Meet Barbara McGowen

Maine DOE Fiscal Coordinator Barbara McGowen is being highlighted this week as the part of a Get to know the DOE Team campaign! Learn a little more about Barbara in the brief question and answer below. | More

Maine Schools Sharing Success Stories

| Submit your Maine School Success Story |

Professional Development & Training Opportunities

| Visit the Professional Development Calendar |

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

Maine DOE Update – July 25, 2019

From the Maine Department of Education

Reporting Items

Annual Audit Requirements- an Early Reminder

We know that superintendents are busy during this season of hiring and preparation for the new school year. We wanted to get audit dates to district leaders and key personnel as an early reminder, so that you can mark your calendars and take any initial steps needed. | More

| Visit the DC&R Reporting Calendar |

News & Updates

Cultivating Safe, Equitable, Strengths Focused School Communities- A Collaborative Opportunity

The goal of this convening is to build capacity, communication, and collaboration among youth serving practitioners based in schools, law enforcement, community corrections, and community programs to cultivate safe, equitable, strengths focused school communities where all youth experience positive outcomes. | More

Educators Invited to Write Maine’s Computer Science Plan. Application Due Monday, July 29th!

The Maine Department of Education is hosting a Computer Science Summit, where educators will create a statewide plan for Pre-K to 12 Computer Science. This plan will help coordinate and guide the efforts of many stakeholders, and serve as a set of recommendations in a report to the Legislature in January 2020. | More

Maine DOE Employee of the Week: Rhonda Casey

Business Manager in the Unorganized Territory , Rhonda Casey is being highlighted this week as the Maine DOE’s Employee of the Week! Learn a little more about Rhonda | More

Maine Schools Sharing Success Stories

| Submit your Maine School Success Story |

Professional Development & Training Opportunities

WHY DATA MATTERS: SAU Leaders Invited to Train and Talk!

| Visit the Professional Development Calendar |

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

Maine DOE Update – July 18, 2019

From the Maine Department of Education

Reporting Items

Who’s in Charge? Let Us Know!

Do you have new leadership in your school or district? Maine Department of Education asks that you please update new superintendents, principals, and other leadership contact information in NEO Staff as soon as possible. The contact information in NEO Staff is used to send Department of Education communications, and is also used to keep the ESSA Data Dashboard as up to date as possible for the public. | More

Public Preschool Annual Report due July 31, 2019

In the event that you missed the announcement of the Public Preschool Annual Report, this is a friendly reminder that the report is now available and due to the Department of Education no later than close of business on July 31, 2019. | More

| Visit the DC&R Reporting Calendar |

News & Updates

PRIORITY NOTICE: School Year 2019-2020 Enacted ED279 Subsidy Printouts Now Available

Thank you for your patience as we finalized School Year 2019-2020 ED 279 subsidy printouts to reflect the enactment of Public Law 2019 Chapter 343. | More

Certification Renewals Due July 1, 2019: Update

At this time 57% of those with certifications that were set to expire on July 1 have submitted their renewal application and materials. To avoid complications and delays, SAU leaders are encouraged to check the certification portal, to ensure your staff members hold valid certification. | More

A Hopeful Path Forward at Maine’s Opiate Crisis Summit

In her opening remarks at the Opiate Response Summit, Governor Janet Mills expressed her appreciation for Gordon Smith. One of the Governor’s first actions, post-inauguration, was to found the Opiate Response and Prevention Taskforce directed by Smith. Mills’ founding of this taskforce underscores what a large priority the Opiate Epidemic represents for Mainers. | More

Maine DOE Engages Stakeholder Input Through Regional Think Tank Series

Drawing its largest gathering of stakeholders, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) hosted its 5th event in a series of Think Tanks held at various locations throughout the state this spring and summer. The Think Tanks are a way for the Department to discuss various topics and gain feedback from stakeholders about ongoing initiatives, long term programming, and to inform future decision-making. | More

Middle School Career and Technical Education Has a New Web Page! Grant Information and Resources: Check it Out!

In June of 2017, the legislature enacted law to expand CTE opportunities by requiring Maine schools to provide access to developmentally appropriate CTE for middle school students (grades 6-8). To assist with this new opportunity, there is currently a new grant application available for CTE centers and regions to implement pilot programs in the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years. To kick off this new initiative, the Maine State Board of Education provided federal and special revenue funding in school year 2018-2019 for pilot programs. | More

Shana Goodall Named 2019 Maine History Teacher of the Year

Shana Goodall, a teacher at Orono High School, has been named the 2019 Maine History Teacher of the Year, an award presented annually by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. | More

Maine DOE Employee of the Week: Leora Byras

Education Specialist Leora Byras is being highlighted this week as the Maine DOE’s Employee of the Week! Learn a little more about Leora | More

Maine Schools Sharing Success Stories

| Submit your Maine School Success Story |

Professional Development & Training Opportunities

| Visit the Professional Development Calendar |

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

Maine DOE Update – July 10, 2019

From the Maine Department of Education

Reporting Items

Maine DOE Data Management Systems Summer Training

The Maine Department of Education Data Team is holding their annual summer training during the first two weeks of August. The focus of the training this year will be on tips and resources to assist districts with their data reporting and viewing/certifying their reports. The sessions will be focused on sharing resources to assist districts with the data tasks required. | More

| Visit the DC&R Reporting Calendar |

News & Updates

Questions & Answers regarding An Act to Prevent Food Shaming in Maine’s Public Schools

In an effort to support schools and districts as they align their practices and policies in response to the passing of Public Law 2019, Chapter 54, please see the Question and Answer document and resources, below. | More

Updated Maine DOE Home Instruction Portal Release

In March of this year, the Department of Education (DOE) released the online Home Instruction Portal. Since then, home instruction parents all over the state have begun to utilize the new portal, and have reported that the new process is less burdensome than the former paper-only process, which required double-reporting and greater expense and time due to mailing and requesting proof of receipt. | More

Maine FFA Joins Forces with Other New England States

On June 25-30, 2019, three student State Officers of the Maine FFA Association (formerly known as “Future Farmers of America”) joined 23 of their counterparts from the other New England States for a regional leadership training held for the first time at Northern Vermont University (NVU) in Lyndon. | More

Maine DOE Employee of the Week: Trevor Burns

Student Data Coordinator, Trevor Burns is being highlighted this week as the Maine DOE’s Employee of the Week! Learn a little more about Trevor | More

Maine Schools Sharing Success Stories

| Submit your Maine School Success Story |

Professional Development & Training Opportunities

| Visit the Professional Development Calendar |

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

Maine DOE Update – July 3, 2019

From the Maine Department of Education

Reporting Items

| Visit the DC&R Reporting Calendar |

News & Updates

ADMINISTRATIVE LETTER: Guidance regarding The Credentialing of Education Personnel requirements

The Legislature recently authorized a series of changes to Chapter 115 through Public Law 2019 Chapter 101 Resolve, that is scheduled to go into effect on September 19, 2019. Until then, the Department will continue to apply the pre-existing language of Chapter 115. The Department will notify you when changes become effective. | More

School Renovation Funding Available

The Maine Department of Education is accepting applications to receive funding for school renovation projects through the School Revolving Renovation Fund (SRRF). The application deadline is September 30. The Department will be able to approve approximately $25 million in SRRF loans. A portion of each loan will be considered a grant, and will be forgiven. The remaining portion will be paid back over either five or ten years with no interest. The maximum loan amount is limited to $1 million per school building, per priority, in any five-year period.| More

Title III Immigrant Children & Youth Subgrant

Each year, one Maine LEA is awarded the Title III Immigrant Children & Youth Subgrant. The purpose of the subgrant is to provide supplemental programs to enhance the education of immigrant students. The subgrant is awarded to the LEA that has experienced the greatest increase in the enrollment of immigrant students, based on the average immigrant enrollment of the two prior years as compared to the current year. | More

Maine DOE Employee of the Week: Eric Buckhalter

Assessment Team Office Associate, Eric Buckhulter is being highlighted this week as the Maine DOE’s Employee of the Week! Learn a little more about Eric | More

Maine Schools Sharing Success Stories

Casco Bay High School Students Named BOA Student Leaders

| Submit your Maine School Success Story |

Professional Development & Training Opportunities

Free School Safety Presentation

Scott Parker, Scott Parker, “I Love You Guys” Certified Trainer for the Standard Response Protocols and Standard Reunification Method; National school safety subject matter expert; supported the development of the Maine Model plan in 2007; certified SRP and SRM Train the Trainer in 2013; has worked with over 20 school districts and academies in Maine; currently working with 8 school districts in Maine. | More

| Visit the Professional Development Calendar |

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

Maine DOE Update – June 27, 2019

From the Maine Department of Education

Reporting Items

| Visit the DC&R Reporting Calendar |

News & Updates

Certification Reminder- July 1 Renewals are Due!

We have now received 52% of renewal applications for the July 1 expiration date. The process is all online, so please don’t delay!. | More

Maine DOE Employee of the Week: Faith McLaughlin

Faith McLaughlin, Office Associate from the Career and Technical Education team, is being highlighted this week as the Maine DOE’s Employee of the Week! Learn a little more about Faith | More

Maine Schools Sharing Success Stories

| Submit your Maine School Success Story |

Professional Development & Training Opportunities

Professional Development Opportunity: Creative Assessment- Teacher as Curator

For Visual and Performing Arts teachers, or those looking to more robustly intertwine the arts into their curriculum: The Maine Department of Education invites you to be part of its upcoming professional development opportunity, Creative Assessment: Teacher as Curator. This session will explore the use of the arts as creative assessment strategies where participants explore artistic approaches to demonstrate academic learning and devise ways of gathering and presenting evidence of learning through documentation. | More

| Visit the Professional Development Calendar |

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

Maine DOE Update – June 20, 2019

From the Maine Department of Education

Reporting Items

Public Preschool Annual Report Due July 31, 2019

We are grateful to our school districts who are addressing the need for public preschool programming in their communities, and we are committed to fostering partnerships and increasing early intervention and educational opportunities for our youngest learners. As you are likely aware, all public preschool programs are required to complete the Public Preschool Annual Report. | More

| Visit the DC&R Reporting Calendar |

News & Updates

New School Nurse Orientation Registration Now Open!

If you have hired or will be hiring a new nurse for your school over the summer, be sure to include THIS workshop in their new hire work plan. The New School Nurse Orientation is a specialized program, designed to help nurses transition into the educational setting which is very different than hospital, urgent care, or other medical settings. | More

Registration now open for the 2019 state Custodial and Maintenance Conference

Registration is now open for the 51^th Custodial and Maintenance Conference for Maine school custodians and facilities directors. | More

Maine DOE Employee of the Week: Scott Brown

Scott Brown, Maine DOE Director of School Construction, School Security, and Student Transportation is being highlighted this week as the Maine DOE’s Employee of the Week! Learn a little more about Scott | More

Maine Schools Sharing Success Stories

| Submit your Maine School Success Story |

Professional Development & Training Opportunities

NOTICE: Maine School Wellness Summit POSTPONED, New Dates TBD

Regretfully, due to low registration, the 2019 Maine School Wellness Summit planned for June 25 & 26 has been postponed. The Maine Schoolsite Health Promotion Program (MSHPP) Planning Committee is committed to hosting the planned two-day agenda in the 2019-20 school year. | More

| Visit the Professional Development Calendar |

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

Maine DOE Update – June 13, 2019

From the Maine Department of Education

Reporting Items

MaineCare Seed Adjustments to be Made, Review Q3’19 Reports by July 8, 2019

The recovery of Q3’19 MaineCare Seed will occur in the July 2019 subsidy payment, and the Maine Department of Education is asking SAUs to review their reports by July 8, 2019 to ensure accurate adjustments to subsidy. | More

| Visit the DC&R Reporting Calendar |

News & Updates

Maine Department of Education Shares Vision, Mission, and Strategic Goals

During the transition of a new leadership team to the Department of Education, Commissioner Makin has actively sought input and guidance from the expert staff at the department, and from education professionals and other stakeholder groups, to inform our Vision, Mission and Strategic Priorities. In hearing the hopes and dreams of so many, and understanding the immensely important work that is being done in classrooms across our state, our Vision, Mission and Strategic Priorities will serve as a continually evolving guide for the work of the Department of Education. | More

ADMINISTRATIVE LETTER: Amendments to Educator Evaluation Requirements

On April 11, 2019, Governor Mills signed a law that makes important changes to Performance Evaluation and Professional Growth (PEPG) systems. The new law will go into effect 90 days after the current legislative session ends. Chapter 27, An Act to Amend Educator Evaluation Requirements, includes a number of changes. | More

Certification Update- Are YOU Due July 1, 2019?

Maine Department of Education is proud to share that our certification team continues to process a number of new certificates for those joining the education profession or who are seeking new endorsements. | More

Still Time to Register for 4th Annual Read to Ride Summer Reading Challenge

Summer vacation is a welcome break from the daily school routine for children and parents alike, but the summer months can be detrimental to students’ learning if young minds do not remain active. Summer learning loss is a well-documented phenomenon, particularly with respect to reading achievement. | More

Successes Shared by Districts at Closing Event of 4-Year Preschool Expansion Grant

The Maine Department of Education hosted a closing event of the 4-year Preschool Expansion Grant (PEG) that was awarded to Maine DOE in December 2014 by the US Department of Education. Eighteen states were awarded grants to support local school districts in the development of new preschool classrooms, and to expand access to high-quality, full-day pre-k programs for children whose families were at or below 200% Federal Poverty Level. | More

Julie Meltzer Named 2019 Curriculum Leader of the Year

Julie Meltzer, Director of Curriculum, Assessment, and Instruction for the Mount Desert Island Regional School System (AOS #91) is Maine’s 2019 Curriculum Leader of the Year. | More

School Safety Bulletin-June: Preparation and Response for Bomb Threats

Throughout the 2018- 2019 school year, the Maine Department of Education, State Fire Marshal’s Office, Department of Health and Human Services, Maine State Police, Maine Sheriffs Association, Maine Chiefs of Police Association, and the Maine Emergency Management Agency will provide tips and resource information to Maine schools to help provide some guidance for identifying signs and preventing school violence. | More

Maine DOE Employee of the Week: Michele Bisbee

Maine DOE Child Nutrition Consultant, Michele Bisbee is being highlighted this week as the Maine DOE’s Employee of the Week! Learn a little more about Michele | More

Maine Schools Sharing Success Stories

| Submit your Maine School Success Story |

Professional Development & Training Opportunities

| Visit the Professional Development Calendar |

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

Maine DOE Update – June 6, 2019

From the Maine Department of Education

Reporting Items

| Visit the DC&R Reporting Calendar |

News & Updates

Maine FFA Officers Joined by Vermont in Presque Isle Leadership Training

Student State Officers of the FFA (formerly known as “Future Farmers of America”) from Maine and Vermont gathered at the University of Maine, Presque Isle on May 31-June 2, 2019 for a start-up leadership training conducted by Alex Morrissey, National FFA facilitator from Oregon. | More

Six Summer Interns Descend on the DOE

The Department of Education officially welcomed six summer student interns on May 28th. The students were selected for internship positions with the Department by the University of Maine’s Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center through their Maine Government Internships program. Throughout the summer, the students will assist in the daily operations of the Maine DOE at the Augusta headquarters. | More

Seeking Innovative Educational Leaders to join Maine’s Leadership Development Program

The Maine Department of Education is excited to announce the launch of Maine’s Leadership Development Program (Maine LDP), an initiative designed to build and strengthen instructional leadership skills among Maine’s educational leaders at the school, district, and state levels. In our ongoing efforts to support and foster the educational expertise in Maine, educators who aspire to do the same are invited to take advantage of this high impact opportunity! | More

FREE Facilitated School Team Problem Solving Opportunity!

We are very excited to announce that the Maine Teacher Leadership Committee (Teach to Lead® Maine), in collaboration with the Maine Department of Education, United States Department of Education, and the University of Maine Farmington, will be hosting the second annual Powered By Teach to Lead® Summit on August 16, 2019. This event encourages teams of teachers and administrators to identify a problem of practice or area of need in their school/district and develop a concrete plan to solve the identified problem/issue at their school. | More

Educational Plant Maintenance Association of Maine’s A. Burleigh Oxton Award for Excellence

The Educational Plant Maintenance Association (EPMA) of Maine is pleased to announce that they are seeking nominations for the A. Burleigh Oxton Award for Excellence.Nominations will be accepted until June 14, 2019. | More

Maine DOE Employee of the Week: Susan Berry

Maine DOE Health Education and Health Promotion Coordinator Susan Berry is being highlighted this week as the Maine DOE’s Employee of the Week! Learn a little more about Susan| More

Maine Schools Sharing Success Stories

| Submit your Maine School Success Story |

Professional Development & Training Opportunities

| Visit the Professional Development Calendar |

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

Maine DOE Update – May 30, 2019

From the Maine Department of Education

Reporting Items

Quarter 4 Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism Webinar

The final quarter of attendance reporting for school year 2018-2019 is coming soon. Quarter 4 attendance (end of year attendance certification) will finalize data for federal reporting of Chronic Absenteeism data to EDFacts, and for the calculation and reporting of the ESSA non-academic indicator of Chronic Absenteeism. | More

| Visit the DC&R Reporting Calendar |

News & Updates

1200+ Students Attend Annual MLTI Student Conference at UMaine Hosted by Maine DOE

More than 1200 middle and high school students from schools across Maine gathered today at the University of Maine at Orono for the Maine Department of Education’s Annual Maine Learning Through Technology Initiative (MLTI) Student Conference. | More

Regional Think Tanks – Maine Department of Education Wants to Brainstorm With YOU!

Ready for the end of the year? Can’t wait for summer? Before you shift to the summer season, help us to reflect on the 2018/2019 School Year and keep the momentum of discussion for education in Maine. | More

Student Nutrition Continues Beyond School Year with Summer Food Service Program

With the assistance of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Maine public schools have long offered a nutritious breakfast and lunch meal program to thousands of children in Maine during the school year. With summer right around the corner, it’s time to think about keeping children healthy while school is out. The Summer Food Service Program, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, operates at hundreds of sites across Maine to ensure children get the nutrition they need when school is out. | More

Maine FFA Convention Attracts 200 Members and Guests

This year’s Maine FFA (formerly known as “Future Farmers of America”) annual Convention included 200 middle and high school FFA members, assisting judges, helpers and guests from the education and private sectors. | More

Maine DOE Employee of the Week: Rick Bergeron

Maine DOE Federal Reporting Coordinator, Rick Bergeron is being highlighted this week as the Maine DOE’s Employee of the Week! Learn a little more about Rick | More

Maine Schools Sharing Success Stories

| Submit your Maine School Success Story |

Professional Development & Training Opportunities

Interdisciplinary, Exciting and Cost Effective Professional Development for Educators: Learning for the 21st Century

Join the Maine Department of Education as we explore knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary for 21^st century careers as well as the intentional actions of educators that support students’ skill and will to fuel their learning. | More

Maine School Wellness Summit

Refill your wellness toolbox with tools (strategies, resources, and programs) to build an action plan for healthier staff, students and school environments starting with two outstanding educators each day | More

| Visit the Professional Development Calendar |