Category: Standards

Maine Learning Results standards, implementation of the Common Core State Standards and the development of the Next Generation Science Standards

PRIORITY NOTICE: Guidance on New High School Diploma Law

Governor LePage signed into law PL 2017, Chapter 466 on July 10, 2018, allowing SAUs to award either proficiency-based or credit-based diplomas. This change will take effect on December 13, 2018. The new diploma law, enacted by the 128th Legislature, removes the mandate that a high school diploma be based on a student’s demonstration of proficiency in Maine’s Learning Results and instead makes a proficiency-based diploma one of two options.

To help inform school districts and the public about the new law, the Department is providing a side-by-side comparison of the two diploma options. While the new law provides opportunities for flexibility and innovation in awarding a high school diploma, it also presents challenges. The Maine DOE believes the comparison chart will help districts navigate their different options to ensure that, whatever the local decision is, students are provided a high quality education.

Side-by-side comparison of the two diploma options (PDF) »

The chart demonstrates that many details must be worked out both at the state and local level. As school leaders consider the uncertainties presented by the new law, the Commissioner wants districts to know that Maine DOE has an unwavering commitment to the quality of education for all Maine students. In this vein, districts should move forward with diploma requirements that serve students with an understanding that further legislation is likely necessary to reduce the inconsistencies between the two options.

The Commissioner is working collaboratively with stakeholders to establish common goals and seek solutions that ensure Maine’s high school diploma requirements provide a challenging, high quality education for every student in Maine. The Maine DOE looks forward to working with districts in this endeavor to prepare our graduates for a bright future.

Resources

Laws Quick Look Up:

Maine Learning Results

Guiding Principles of The Maine Learning Results

Understanding the Guiding Principles – a Resource developed by the Maine DOE and epic, Educational Policy Improvement Center.

For further questions, contact Mary Paine, Maine DOE Chief of Planning and Implementation at Mary.paine@maine.gov or (207) 624-6672.

Registration for Student Learning Objectives Training Now Open

The Maine Department of Education is once again proud to offer Student Learning Objective (SLO) training to school administrative units (SAUs) to help support the development and refinement of Performance Evaluation and Professional Growth (PEPG) systems.

For the 2018-2019 school year, Maine DOE has continued its partnership with the Northeast Comprehensive Center to offer training and support to effectively implement these important measures of student learning and growth.  This training will take place at the Burton M. Cross Building in Rooms 103A and 103B on September 10, 2018 from 10:00AM to 3:00PM.

SAU teams and other key staff who lead and support SLO work as a part of PEPG systems can expect to receive:

  • Research-based approaches to SLO implementation
  • Turn-key activities to facilitate with your SAU
  • Electronic resources to support districts in their SLO implementation

Topics to be addressed at the event include:

  • Determining SLO Quality
  • Navigating an SLO Process
  • Deciding on Learning Content
  • Setting Growth Targets
  • Developing Quality Assessments

Register for the Student Learning Objectives Training

Please note, additional trainings for the 2018-2019 school year are currently under development.  As these trainings are added, information will be distributed to districts.

For more information, please contact Emily Gribben, Educator Effectiveness Coordinator at emily.gribben@maine.gov.

Science & Technology Standards Review – Writing Team

The Maine Department of Education is performing a review of the Maine Learning Results for Science & Technology and is looking for participants to serve as part of the writing team. The purpose of the writing team is to revise the current standards based on guidance provided from a steering committee. For more information about the standards review process, check the new Maine DOE standards revision website.

The team will serve as a representative sample of Maine K-12 science educators covering pK-12 grade levels, geographic locations, and content area strengths across all four of the science strands: life science, physical science (chemistry and physics), earth and space science, and engineering. While specific dates are still to be determined, a majority of the work will take place in July and August and will include at least one face to face meeting in Augusta.

All interested educators are encouraged to participate and are highly encouraged to apply. We will strive to ensure that the geographic diversity of our state is represented. We especially seek applicants from Aroostook, Franklin, Piscataquis and Sagadahoc counties.

Participants will receive contact hours for time worked, be reimbursed for travel costs, and lunch will be provided for face to face meetings.

If you are interested in participating, please complete this short survey by 4:00pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2018 to be considered. The Department will reach out to interested participants with more information in the coming weeks.

For further questions, contact Maine DOE Science & Technology Specialist Shari Templeton at (207) 624-6880 or shari.templeton@maine.gov

Social Studies Standards Review – Writing Team

The Department of Education is performing a review of the Maine Learning Results for Social Studies and is looking for participants to serve as part of the writing team. The purpose of the writing team is to revise the current standards based on guidance provided from a steering committee. For more information about the standards review process, check the new Maine DOE standards revision website.

The team will serve as a representative sample of Maine K-12 social studies educators covering pK-12 grade levels, geographic locations, and content area strengths across all four of the social studies strands. While specific dates are still to be determined, a majority of the work will take place in July and August and will include at least one face to face meeting in Augusta.

While all interested educators are encouraged to participate, those who work in elementary grades or have background in teaching economics or personal finance are highly encouraged to apply. Also, to help ensure that the geographic diversity of our state is represented, those who teach in the following counties: Hancock, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, or Washington are strongly encouraged to apply.

Participants will receive contact hours for time work, be reimbursed for travel costs, and lunch will be provided for face to face meetings.

If you are interested in participating, please complete this short survey by 4:00pm on Monday, June 4 to be considered. We will reach out to interested participants with more information in the coming weeks.

For further questions, contact Maine DOE Social Studies Specialist Joe Schmidt at (207) 624-6828 or Joe.Schmidt@maine.gov.

 

PRIORITY NOTICE: Reminder of public hearings for science and social studies standards; live broadcast links available

As a reminder, the Maine Department of Education has scheduled a series of public hearings this week as part of the scheduled periodic review of the Maine Learning Results. The Department is seeking public comments regarding the current social studies standards and science standards.

Public hearings for each standard have been scheduled back to back in locations throughout the State of Maine. Below is a list of relevant links as well as hearing dates, locations and times including a live links for each event:

Science Standards:

Social Studies Standards:

Anyone unable to attend the public hearing may send written comments by 5 pm on March 16th, 2018. Written comments may be emailed to sis.doe@maine.gov with the subject “Science Standards Review” or “Social Students Standards Review” or mailed to Maine Department of Education, attn: Paul Hambleton, 23 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333.

For further information about the standards review process contact Beth Lambert at Beth.Lambert@maine.gov.

PRIORITY NOTICE: Maine DOE seeks public comment for science standards

As part of the scheduled periodic review of the Maine Learning Results, the Maine Department of Education is seeking public comments regarding the current science standards.

The science standards are based on the National Research Council’s 1996 National Science Education Standards and include both processes (ways scientists investigate and communicate about the natural world) and bodies of knowledge (concepts, principles, facts, theories). Technology includes the design process and the study of technological tools and their effects on society. The standards are broken into grade spans (pK-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-Diploma) and the five MLR standards for Science and Technology are organized as follows:

  • A – major themes that unify science and technology ideas, e.g. systems, models, constancy and change, scale
  • B – skills and traits of scientific inquiry and technological design
  • C – history and nature of science and the impacts on society
  • D – earth, space and physical science
  • E – life science

The standards review process opens with public comments and public hearings prior to the convening of writing teams that will review and revise the science standards.  Public hearings will occur on the dates and locations listed below and are intended to give anyone the opportunity to weigh-in on the direction of future science standards in Maine. Anyone may speak at the public hearings which will be live-streamed.  People wishing to speak will be asked to sign in and it will be helpful, but not mandatory, to provide a written copy of their comments.

  • February 27, 2018 – Cross Office Building, room 103, 111 Sewell Street, Augusta, 4:00 – 6:00pm
  • February 28, 2018 – Houlton High School Library, 7 Bird Street, Houlton, 4:00 – 6:00pm
  • March 1, 2018 – Westbrook Middle School Cafeteria, 471 Stroudwater St, Westbrook, 4:00 – 6:00pm

Anyone unable to attend the public hearing may send written comments by 5 pm on March 16th, 2018. Written comments may be emailed to sis.doe@maine.gov with the subject “Science Standards Review” or mailed to Maine Department of Education, attn: Paul Hambleton, 23 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333.

Please note that the Department will also be conducting a review of the social studies standards. Public hearing dates will coincide with the dates announced in his notice (with different times so that attendees can plan accordingly).

For further information about the standards review process contact Beth Lambert at Beth.Lambert@maine.gov.

PRIORITY NOTICE: Maine DOE seeks public comment for social studies standards

As part of the scheduled periodic review of the Maine Learning Results, the Maine Department of Education is seeking public comments regarding the current social studies standards.

The social studies standards include four content areas (Civics and Government, Economics, Geography, History) and a strand about the application of social studies processes, knowledge, and skills. Each strand breaks down the standard into performance indicators and descriptors by grade bands (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-Diploma). The standards also include an introduction and a section of key ideas in the social studies standards.

The standards review process opens with public comments and public hearings prior to the convening of writing teams that will review and revise the social studies standards.  Public hearings will occur on the dates and locations listed below and are intended to give anyone the opportunity to weigh-in on the direction of future social studies standards in Maine. Anyone may speak at the public hearings which will be live-streamed.  People wishing to speak will be asked to sign in and it will be helpful, but not mandatory, to provide a written copy of their comments.

  • February 27, 2018 – Cross Office Building, room 103, 111 Sewell Street, Augusta, 6:00 – 8:00pm
  • February 28, 2018 – Houlton High School Library, 7 bird Street, Houlton, 6:00 – 8:00pm
  • March 1, 2018 – Westbrook Middle School Cafeteria, 471 Stroudwater St, Westbrook, 6:00 – 8:00pm

Anyone unable to attend the public hearing may send written comments by 5 pm on March 16th, 2018. Written comments may be emailed to sis.doe@maine.gov with the subject “Social Studies Standards Review” or mailed to Maine Department of Education, attn: Paul Hambleton, 23 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333.

Please note that the Department will soon be making a similar announcement for the science standards review. Public hearing dates will coincide with the dates announced in his notice (with different times so that attendees can plan accordingly). Further details will be forthcoming. This notice has been edited to include Science standards review notice.

For further information about the standards review process contact Beth Lambert at Beth.Lambert@maine.gov.

Comment period open for the Science & Technology science standards

The Maine DOE is announcing an open comment period for the Science & Technology science standards.  This is the first phase of opening Maine Learning Results for Science & Technology only.

The initial public comment period will be followed by the convening of a science review committee to scrutinize comments and existing standards in an effort to revise and improve science standards.  The science review committee will eventually put forth recommendations for revised science standards to the Department.  The Department will then prepare final updates to regulations and hold a public hearing before provisional adoption of the revised science standards.  Finally, the legislature will act on the substantive rulemaking process prior to its preparation for final adoption.

The Department’s methodology will be consistent with the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) rulemaking requirements.  To review the current (2007) Maine Science & Technology Learning Results, click here then click on “Download Science and Technology Standards”.

Please send any comments to shari.templeton@maine.gov with SCIENCE STANDARDS in the subject line.  The public comment period will end September 10, 2017 at midnight EDT.

 

Fostering Artful Classrooms for Early Childhood Students a Great Success

Five school districts participated in a professional development pilot from the Maine Department of Education this year to learn how to improve visual art offerings to public preschool students. Visual art and early childhood teachers from RSU 10, Lewiston School District, Glenburn School Department, MSAD 58 (Phillips), and MSAD 53 (Pittsfield) attended in teams for training three times during the 2016-2017 schoolyear. Guided during these session by early childhood expert, Terri Petnov, and early childhood arts specialist, Judy Fricke, teachers built collaborative partnerships as they broadened their skills in 2-D, 3-D, and Fiber Arts, as well as developmentally appropriate teaching for preschoolers. Both teachers learned strategies to be used in both in the early childhood classroom and the art room. This program was sponsored by Early Childhood Specialist, Sue Reed, and Visual and Performing Arts Specialist, Beth Lambert.

The training was aligned to Maine’s Early Learning and Development Standards and supported by research on the importance of art education being available every day in the early childhood classroom. Over the course of the three workshop days, teams learned a variety of visual art techniques and became more comfortable integrating art education into the other learning domains to support knowledge and development.

Here are some of the comments teachers had at the end of the experience:

“Children have become more engaged and have developed stamina to create and finish a project. It has created a calming effect on my room,” Lori Fowler, Preschool Teacher, Montello Elementary School.

“The collaboration and teamwork I now have with my art teacher has brought about valuable changes in my planning and instruction awareness of how the arts can connect and strengthen student learning opportunities,” Vicky Grotton, Preschool Teacher, Glenburn Elementary School.

“The value of this training, for me, was in learning the true and genuine connection between the arts and achievement across the curriculum. The foundation of learning and whole-student enrichment are clearest in prek, but persist throughout the entire academic career,” Adam Masterman, Art Teacher, SAD 58.

“(The prek teacher and I) have worked together to create a new space in her classroom where students are completely independent and encourage exploring materials…. I have gone into their classroom and taught lessons and group projects that would not be possible in my space,“  Karen Thayer, Art Teacher, RSU 10.

Due to the tremendous success of this pilot, the Maine Department of Education is exploring funding options to expand this training statewide during the 2017-2018 schoolyear as well as develop and offer music and performing arts in the early childhood classroom training.

For more information on this pilot you can visit our website http://www.maine.gov/doe/arts/ecevpa.html.

For more information on Early Childhood Education contact, Sue Reed, susan.d.reed@maine.gov . For more information about Visual and Performing Arts Education, contact, Beth Lambert, beth.lambert@maine.gov.

Poetry Out Loud registration open

Maine high schools are invited to register for Poetry Out Loud, a nationwide program that encourages youth to learn about poetry through memorization and recitation while helping students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about their literary heritage.

Continue reading “Poetry Out Loud registration open” →