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.
Category: Special Education
Maine DOE provides final preparation guidance to assessment administrators
The Maine Department of Education is preparing for the 2015-16 administration of the Maine Educational Assessment (MEA) for Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy. On Monday, March 21, the test window will open for students in grades 3-8 for the new eMPower™ ME assessment developed by Measured Progress. Then on March 30, the test window opens for the MEA Alternate known as the Multi-State Alternative Assessment (MSAA) for students in grades 3-8 and those 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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MEA Science large print orders requested
The following Priority Notice was sent March 17
With much focus recently on the Maine Education Assessment Math & ELA/Literacy eMPowerME test starting next week, we must be reminded that next month we have our required MEA Science for grades 5, 8 and third year high school.
The same as previous years, this assessment is from Measured Progress and is a paper-pencil test. The test window is two weeks and runs from April 25 – May 6.
If there are any requests for LARGE PRINT versions of this assessment, now is the time to notify Assessment Coordinator Nancy Godfrey at nancy.godfrey@maine.gov or call 624-6775.
Preparing Test Administrators and Proctors for grades 3-8 eMPower™ ME testing
The following Priority Notice was sent on Monday, March 14
To best prepare Test Administrators and Proctors for a successful administration of this spring’s Maine Educational Assessment in Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy for grades 3 through 8, the following resources are provided.
Prior to testing, Test Administrators and Proctors must be familiar with the Test Administration Manual found here.
Two required webinars include:
- eMPower™ ME Test Administration Essentials (7 minutes)
- eMPower™ ME Test Security (11 minutes)
All Test Administrators and Proctors are required to sign the TA Test Security and Data Privacy Agreement which can be downloaded here.
In addition, Maine DOE recommends two segments of the eMPower™ ME Accessibility: Tools, Supports & Accommodations webinar (25 minutes). The first segment is at 4:40 minutes in to 8:05, and the second segment is 11:02 minutes in to 20 minutes. These segments will familiarize TAs with the embedded tools, testing taking aids, and basic navigation of the test environment. They are ideal for TAs who wish to work through the practice tests with their students but are short on time.
Questions may be addressed to Maine DOE’s Assessment Coordinator Nancy Godfrey at nancy.godfrey@maine.gov or call 624-6775.
More updates re: 2016 MEA
The following Priority Notice was sent on Saturday, March 12
The following updates are available regarding 2016 Maine Educational Assessment:
Student Data loaded into the iTester portal – This enables School Test Coordinators to begin the work of loading student accommodations and creating classes for testing sessions.
Test Security Webinar- This training is required for all School Test Coordinators, Test Administrators and Proctors who will be involved in the administration of the eMPowerME assessment of mathematics and English language arts/literacy at grades 3-8.
https://maine.onlinehelp.measuredprogress.org/training/
Test Security & Data Privacy Agreements- Agreements must be signed by each School Test Coordinators, Test Administrator and Proctor and maintained by the District Assessment Coordinator. http://www.maine.gov/doe/assessment/math-ela/administration/stc-testsecurityagreement-eMPowerME.docx http://www.maine.gov/doe/assessment/math-ela/administration/ta-testsecurityagreement-eMPowerME.docx
School Test Coordinator Manual- This manual provides guidance for the School Test Coordinator related to preparation for a secure administration of the 2016 eMPowerME assessment. It is required reading for School Test Coordinators.
Test Administration Manual- This manual provides instructions for Test Administrators and Proctors regarding preparation for and the actual administration of the 2016 eMPowerME assessment, including the script to be used during the test administration. It is required reading for Test Administrators and Proctors.
For more information, contact Assessment Coordinator, Nancy Godfrey at nancy.godfrey@maine.gov.
State agency clients returning to their parental home, part II
This notice is to refine the information provided in the previous notice on this subject.
With respect to a child who is in the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services (a state ward) and who is subsequently reunited with his/her family, MUSER IV.4.D(2) provides that the child remains a state agency client for six months from when the child returns to his family. When, on the other hand, a child is removed from his/her family home by the Department of Health and Human Services and becomes a state agency client but remains in the custody of a parent or family member, and is subsequently returned to live in the family home, the child will lose state agency client status on the date that the child resumes residence in the family home.
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Maine seeks feedback on IDEA Part C application
Maine is seeking input on its application for the Part C (birth to age three) early intervention program under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, known as IDEA. The Part C budget included in the application is for State Fiscal Year 2017.
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State agency clients returning to their parental home
A child who is placed by the Department of Health and Human Services outside the family home in a foster home or in a children’s residential care facility through the Intensive Temporary Residential Treatment process becomes a “state agency client” under Maine statute and Department of Education regulations, resulting in a shift of administrative and fiscal responsibility for the education of that child. Sometimes, such a child is later returned to the family home from which s/he was removed.
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Comments sought on Maine’s IDEA Part B application
The Maine DOE is seeking comments from the public on its annual application for federal funds under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which covers services for children with disabilities, ages 3-20.
The application, which covers Maine fiscal year 2017 (starting July 1, 2016) is posted on the Maine DOE’s web page at www.maine.gov/doe/specialed/idea. The Part B budget is projected on the basis of Maine’s award for the current State fiscal year (2016), pending the State’s receipt of the finalized federal award for the coming year.
Written comments will be accepted from March 26, 2016 until 4 p.m. on April 24, 2016. Please send comments to Janice Breton at janice.breton@maine.gov or 23 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333.
Maine DOE Newsroom 