Maine DOE Update – December 14, 2017

From the Maine Department of Education


Reporting Items

ESEA/ESSA Title I Comparability Report FY18

Section 1118(c) of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)/Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), requires that school administrative units (SAUs) with multiple attendance areas maintain comparability of local/state resources between the Title I schools and the non-Title I schools; or if all the schools at a grade span are Title I schools, comparability of local resources must be maintained among the Title I schools. The list of SAUs required to submit a Comparability Report is noted at the end of this announcement. If your SAU is not listed below, you can disregard this notice.  | More

Alternate student data needed by Dec. 15th, 2017

Finalization of the 1% identification of students to participate in alternate assessments must be complete December 15th.  The Department will apply to the US Department of Education for a waiver on December 19th.  | More

| Visit the DC&R Reporting Calendar |


News & Updates

School Based Health Center Survey

In an effort to learn more about what health services are available in School Based Health Centers (SBHC) around the State of Maine, the Department of Education requests any school unit that has one to complete a short survey.  | More

More Dispatches | Press Releases | Priority Notices


Professional Development Opportunities

Visit the Professional Development Calendar |


Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

Maine DOE Update – December 7, 2017

From the Maine Department of Education


Priority Notices


Reporting Items

Urgent Title V eligibility verification

To align the Title V (Rural Education Achievement Program -REAP) Grant timeline to other Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Federal Programs, the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) has revised data collection and submission dates with a more aggressive timeline. This revision will allow Title V (REAP) Federal funds to be awarded to states on July 1 of each program year. | More

Graduation and Dropout Reporting dates further delayed

On November 20th the Department issued a notice announcing that the due date for Graduation and Dropout Reporting was extended to December 21st. The Department has just learned that the data needed prior to launching the updated Graduation and Dropout reporting module in NEO is not yet available.  | More

| Visit the DC&R Reporting Calendar |


News & Updates

Department receives 23 Part I applications for Regional Service Centers

The Department received Part I Applications from 23 proposed regional service centers by the November 30 deadline. The proposals include 102 discrete school administrative units from across the state, with all but one with an operational date of July 1, 2018. | More

Maine DOE partnering in national study to evaluate the effectiveness of anti-bullying law in Maine

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) and the Maine Center for Disease Control are taking part in a study to evaluate the efficacy and implementation of anti-bullying laws in partnership with the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health and with Columbia University, the University of Iowa and Temple University. | More

Nominations Now Open for Maine History Teacher of the Year

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is seeking nominations for the Maine History Teacher of the Year.  State History Teachers of the Year receive $1,000, an archive of materials for their school’s library, and an invitation to attend a 2019 Gilder Lehrman Teacher Seminar. | More

Winter holidays in the classroom

The following information has been put together with the support of the Council of State Social Studies Specialists (CS4) to help educators who are planning to include seasonal holiday activities in their classrooms and at their schools. | More

More Dispatches | Press Releases | Priority Notices


Professional Development Opportunities

Visit the Professional Development Calendar |


Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

Maine DOE Update – November 30, 2017

From the Maine Department of Education


Priority Notices


Reporting Items

Regional school calendars due by May 4

School administrative units and private schools approved for tuition purposes are expected to establish regional school calendars, in coordination with their local secondary career and technical education school, by May 4, 2018.  | More


News & Updates

School Meal Benefits

The School Lunch Program can help families that are struggling financially with their food costs.  Households can apply anytime throughout the school year for meal benefits that are offered by school districts. | More

Family Code Night Comes to Maine

Next week, children and their parents will come together to learn how to code. It’s Computer Science Education Week (December 4-8), and 75 sites across Maine will host Family Code Nights. Specially designed for elementary-aged students, these events use Hour of Code puzzles that introduce programming principles through fun games. | More

More Dispatches | Press Releases | Priority Notices


Professional Development Opportunities

Free Professional Development Webinar: Overview & Preparation Tips for the NextGen Accuplacer

Reach Higher Maine has developed this series of free webinars designed to help support school counselors in their work exposing students to career and college opportunities. | More

Visit the Professional Development Calendar |


Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

Maine DOE Update – November 16, 2017

From the Maine Department of Education


Priority Notices


Reporting Items

| Visit the DC&R Reporting Calendar |


News & Updates

Maine MIC3 Council Meeting

The next meeting of the Commission on Educational Opportunity for Military Children will be held on Thursday November 30 at 1:30 p.m. in Room 228 of the State House in Augusta. | More

Tutoring for students who receive special education

The Maine Department of Education’s Office of Special Education would like to remind special educators about the provision of specially designed instruction on IEPs.   | More

2017 Maine Integrated Youth health Survey Data

The 2017 MIYHS data has just been released. State and public health district data is available to the public for the 5th and 6th grade survey, as well as the middle and high school surveys. Kindergarten and third grade parent survey data is available at the State level. | More

Maine DOE joins the nation in celebration of “American Education Week”

In a Presidential Memoranda from The White House on Friday, November 10th President Donald Trump proclaimed November 12 – November 18, 2017 as American Education week.  | More

More Dispatches | Press Releases | Priority Notices


Professional Development Opportunities

Visit the Professional Development Calendar |


Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

Maine DOE Update – November 9, 2017

From the Maine Department of Education


Reporting Items

| Visit the DC&R Reporting Calendar |


News & Updates

New survey for identifying English learners

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) has developed a new survey called, Language Use Survey (formerly Home Language Survey) to be used in the identification of English learners. The Language Use Survey is to be administered to the parent/guardian of every student enrolling in a School Administrative Unit (SAU) for the first time and must be included in the SAU’s enrollment packet. | More

Webinars planned for districts over 1% for alternate assessment

All districts above the 1% for alternate assessments will receive an Action Plan document to provide justifications on November 20th. Action Plans will be submitted to the State by December 10th.. Maine will provide an opportunity for Public Comment before the December 19th submission of a state waiver. | More

Maine’s 2017 Presidential Awards State Finalists for grades 7-12th Mathematics and Science Teachers

The Maine Department of Education is pleased to announce the Maine state selection committees for the 2017 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) program has selected as the state-level finalists for 7-12th grade teachers of mathematics Ellen Payne from Nokomis Regional High School and Priya Natarajan from Casco Bay High for Expeditionary Learning School. | More

More Dispatches | Press Releases | Priority Notices


Professional Development Opportunities

Visit the Professional Development Calendar |

 


Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

Maine DOE Update – November 2, 2017

From the Maine Department of Education


Priority Notices


Reporting Items

New feature added to assist Helpdesk communicate known issues and system updates

The Department has added a new knowledgebase feature designed to communicate known issues and updates pertaining to our data systems (NEO/Synergy).  We hope this will provide those in need of help with a quick way to search and filter by issue or topic to find more information and possible resolutions. | More

| Visit the DC&R Reporting Calendar |


News & Updates

Waterville High School nurse named Maine School Nurse of the Year

The Maine Association of School Nurses has named Ann Bouchard, Maine’s 2017-2018 School Nurse of the Year. | More

Federal Funds and Teacher Qualifications

As a direct result of the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015 (2015) teacher certification language was revised and amended. Current education law, requires educators to achieve full State certification and licensure. | More

School Bus Purchase Program Applications Open November 1, 2017

The Department is accepting applications for the Maine School Bus Purchase Program beginning November 1, 2017.  Program applications will close on November 25, 2017 with no extension. | More

More Dispatches | Press Releases | Priority Notices


Professional Development Opportunities

Register for Alternate Assessment Workshops by Nov. 6

Teachers may register for PAAP (MEA Alternate Science ) and MSAA (MEA Alternate Mathematics and ELA/Literacy teacher administration through November 6th | More

Visit the Professional Development Calendar |


Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

Maine DOE Update – October 27, 2017

From the Maine Department of Education


Priority Notices


Reporting Items

EPS Student Enrollment and Special Education Child Count data certification deadline extended to November 7

Due to the continued data access and quality issues integrating the student data from Synergy to the EPS reports in NEO, the Maine Department of Education is extending the certification deadline from October 31st to November 7th for Essential Programs And Services (EPS) Student Enrollment and Special Education Child Count (EF-S-05 Part 1). | More

MaineCare Q417 Seed report review delayed

Due to the continued data access and quality issues integrating the student data from Infinite Campus to NEO, the Maine Department of Education is delaying the MaineCare report review for Q417. | More

| Visit the DC&R Reporting Calendar |


News & Updates

More Dispatches | Press Releases | Priority Notices


Professional Development Opportunities

Visit the Professional Development Calendar |


Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

Maine DOE Update – October 19, 2017

From the Maine Department of Education


Priority Notices


Reporting Items

| Visit the DC&R Reporting Calendar |


News & Updates

Synergy updates and resolved issues

The Maine Department of Education is continuing to assist School Administrative Units (SAU) as October 1st student enrollment counts are being uploaded into the new Synergy State Edition Student System. | More

More Dispatches | Press Releases | Priority Notices


Professional Development Opportunities

Visit the Professional Development Calendar |


Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

Maine DOE Update – October 12, 2017

From the Maine Department of Education


Priority Notices


Reporting Items

National Board Certified Teacher Salary Supplement Request due November 10

Superintendents of a school administrative unit or the director of a publicly-supported secondary school or CTE region, with eligible staff who have attained National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification prior to July 1, 2017, must submit to the Maine DOE the list of those eligible to receive the salary supplement for the 2017-18 school year by November 10, 2017. | More

Synergy technical issues resolved

The Department has resolved a technical issue with the upload functionality for special education data in the Synergy State Edition Student System. | More

| Visit the DC&R Reporting Calendar |


News & Updates

Maine DOE legislative summary available

Maine DOE has prepared a summary of major laws related to education enacted by the First Regular Session of the 128th Maine Legislature. This information may prove helpful to educators when planning for the 2017-8 school year. | More

National Board Certified Teacher Scholarship Funds available

State law, 20-A MRSA Section 13013-A subsection 5 & 6; as amended by PL 2012 c. 702, established the National Board Certification Scholarship Fund to encourage teachers to apply to and enroll in the certification program offered by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, or its successor organization. | More

Over 800 Maine students complete Read to Ride Summer Reading Challenge

Preventing summer reading slide is a goal of many Maine educators. Students can lose months of learning gains if their brains do not remain active. | More

More Dispatches | Press Releases | Priority Notices


Professional Development Opportunities

Visit the Professional Development Calendar |


Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

Maine DOE Update – October 5, 2017

From the Maine Department of Education


Priority Notices

See More Notices |

Reporting Items

CTE Enrollment Requirements for EPS Subsidy calculations

With the upcoming Career and Technical Education (CTE) requirements for EPS subsidy calculations it is extremely important that all enrollments, primary and concurrent, are uploaded in Synergy State Edition prior to the certification due date of October 30. | More

Initial Audit Report to the Commissioner Due November 1st

Statements of assurance and the Maine Education Financial Systems (MEFS) Financial reconciliations, as required by Title 20-A MRSA 6051 §4, are due by November 1st.  Any adjustments identified by these reconciliations should be submitted to Maine Education Financial System by November 30th. | More

FY17 EF-S-07 Opening for Data Entry on October 18th

The EF-S-07, Special Education Out of District Placement Tuition and Board report for Fiscal year 2017 will open for data entry on October 18, 2017  and will close for submission on November 18, 2017.| More

Reminder: Public Preschool Funding 2018-19

The Maine State Legislature has provided start-up funding in FY19 state budget for public school districts to begin new or expand preschool classrooms. | More

| Visit the DC&R Reporting Calendar |


News & Updates

Dover-Foxcroft elementary school music teacher named Maine 2018 Teacher of the Year

In a surprise all-school assembly today at SeDoMoCha Elementary School, Maine Department of Education Commissioner Robert G. Hasson, Jr. named SeDoMoCha Elementary music teacher Kaitlin Young as Maine’s 2018 Teacher of the Year. | More

Notice of Part B 619 Committee Meeting and Invitation for Public Attendance

Child Development Services and the Maine Department of Education are convening a Part B 619 advisory committee which is tasked with identifying and addressing all issues related to the proposed transition of special education and related services for children age 3 to kindergarten age 5 to the public schools and developing recommendations to be submitted to the Department. | More

U.S. EPA 2017 School Bus Rebate Program now accepting applications

The U.S.  Environmental Protection Agency is offering an opportunity to receive up to $20,000 per vehicle to replace your older school buses, and up to $6,000 per vehicle for retrofits. Older school buses without emission reduction retrofits emit significant amounts of harmful exhaust, so participating in this program will help improve the health of students and other members of your community. | More

Schools across Maine celebrate Maine Harvest Lunch Week

Maine Baked Fish Vera Cruz, meatloaf made with locally raised beef and school garden grown rainbow carrots were “on the menu” for schools across Maine who celebrated Maine Harvest Lunch Week. Each year this Maine DOE sponsored event designates one week in September to educate students on where their food comes from by serving up Maine grown foods on the menu and promoting Farm to School in the wider school community. This year the celebrations took place the week of September 18-22, 2017, and while most schools participate on the selected week, other schools chose to highlight Maine grown foods on a week of their choice. | More

Maine DOE Partners with TransACT to provide schools with resource to promote student achievement through Family Engagement

To help with new Parent and Family Engagement requirements under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and to meet the civil rights obligations of schools in working with English Learners’ (EL) families across the state of Maine, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) is partnering with TransACT® Parent Notices to provide unlimited remote access to parent friendly notifications that meet legal requirements, guidance on required audiences, a compliance tracking system, and recommended timelines. | More

More Dispatches | Press Releases | Priority Notices


Professional Development Opportunities

Upcoming DOE sponsored assessment workshops

The Maine DOE is sponsoring a series of four workshops for the MEA Alternate Mathematics and ELA/Literacy (MSAA) and the MEA Alternate Science (PAAP) assessments. | More

Visit the Professional Development Calendar |


Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities