The Office of Special Services is responsible for the state’s oversight and support for the delivery of all special education services provided in Maine under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). A new rule adoption, Chapter 101: Maine Unified Special Education Regulation Birth to Age 20, goes into effect on July 19. Continue reading “New rule adoption”
Category: Special Education
Tentative IDEA Part B Local Entitlement allocations available
The tentative Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B Local Entitlement allocations for the 2016 fiscal year are available here on the Maine DOE’s Office of Special Services website. Preschool fund awards are still being determined. Final award notices will be sent in the coming weeks at which time the Local Entitlement applications will be opened for completion.
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Office of Special Services updates forms
The Maine DOE Office of Special Services has completed revisions of the following forms: Individualized Education Program (IEP), Written Notice, Optional 7-Day Waiver, and Learning Disability Evaluation Report. They are now posted on our website at www.maine.gov/doe/specialed/forms/.
SAUs agree on pathways for students in special purpose private schools
Students who are placed by their school administrative unit in a special purpose private school must be assured of a pathway to graduation from that SAU. That assurance, and a description of the pathway, is documented in a written agreement signed by both the SAU and the SPPS for each student at the SPPS.
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Office of Special Services offers guidance on WISC-V
The Maine DOE Office of Special Services has received questions about the three subtest requirements for a specific learning disability identification in Chapter 101 (Maine Unified Special Education Regulations or MUSER).
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Special services year-end reports now available
The following applications and year-end reports for the Maine DOE Office of Special Services are now available on the Department’s Reporting Calendar.
Continue reading “Special services year-end reports now available”
Department to host writing IEP workshops this fall
The Maine DOE will be offering an evidence-based practice IEP Goal Writing for College, Career and Community Readiness workshop this fall in four locations across the state. This workshop is designed for special education teachers who need assistance aligning IEP goals to standards.
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Maine DOE provides special services eligibility guidance for English learners
The Maine DOE recognizes that, due to their limited English language proficiency, determining eligibility for special education services for English learners (ELs) may be challenging. These challenges, however, should not result in ELs failing to be properly evaluated for eligibility for special education and related services. Maine DOE recommends that school administrative units (SAUs) with EL populations review the proportion of ELs in their unit identified for special education in comparison to the SAU’s overall special education identification rate.
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Commissioner’s Update – June 4, 2015
From the Maine Department of Education
Maine’s top Career & Technical Education students were honored as students of the year recently at a ceremony at the Lewiston Regional Technical Center.
It was a great night to celebrate the best CTE students in Maine. Twenty six centers were represented. State School Board Chair, Peter Geiger, indicated that it was the best celebration for students he has seen. Senator Brian Langley, Education Committee Chair, was also impressed and gave the audience a superb presentation with his remarks aligned to CTE in Maine.
Each of the 26 students was presented with an award certificate and two received scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each at the event sponsored by the Maine Administrators of Career & Technical Education (MACTE).
Notices and Reporting
- End-of-Year Student Enrollment Responsibilites, due June 30
- End-of-Year Behavior Reporting, due June 30
- End-of-Year Special Education Exit Reporting, due June 30
- End-of-Year Truancy Incident Reporting, due June 30
- Aggregate Daily Attendance / Membership Reporting, due June 30
- End-of-Year MEDMS Staff Data, due June 30
More Notices | Administrative Letters | Reporting Calendar
News & Views
FFA students celebrate accomplishments at 85th annual state convention
Secondary and middle school students in the Maine FFA Association (formerly known as “Future Farmers of America”) celebrated numerous accomplishments during the annual state convention held on May 14-15 at the University of Maine. | More
Data training sessions announced
There are many changes coming in the 2015-16 school year. In order that accurate student and staff data is reported to the Maine DOE, it is important that the appropriate staff attend one (or more) of these training sessions. | More
Learning Disability Report (LDR) form guidance
In a letter dated February 23, 2015, the United States Department of Education Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services directed the Maine DOE to issue guidance clarifying the use of the Learning Disability Report (LDR) form. | More
Office of Special Services notice of changes in special education forms
The Maine DOE Office of Special Services has revised the forms listed below. Revised forms are to be used effective August 1, 2015. | More
Maine DOE provides assistance for Civil Rights Data Collection to districts
The Maine DOE is offering some assistance to local districts who are working to comply with the U.S. Department of Education’s Civil Rights Data Collection. | More
Fact sheet highlights academic performance and student health risk
A newly available one-page fact sheet on the relationship between Academic Performance and Student Health Risks is available. | More
School and workplace violence training Aug 19-20
The National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) and the Brewer Police Department will host a two-day training event on school and workplace violence on Aug 19-20 in Brewer. | More
More Dispatches | Press Releases | From the Commissioner
LATEST DOE Career/Project Opportunities
Office of Special Services notice of changes in special education forms
The Maine DOE Office of Special Services has revised the forms listed below. Revised forms are to be used effective August 1, 2015.
Continue reading “Office of Special Services notice of changes in special education forms”
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