Category: Standards

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

Maine signs assessment contract with valued, proven partner

Maine-specific test will take less time away from classroom teaching

AUGUSTA – The Maine Department of Education is pleased to be signing a contract today with Measured Progress, a nonprofit organization from Dover, New Hampshire. This contract is for the development and administration of the 2016 online, state summative assessment in English language arts (ELA)/literacy and mathematics for grades 3-8 and the third-year of high school. Maine has a long-standing history with Measured Progress and the Department is confident this spring’s assessment will take less time away from classroom instruction while adequately measuring students’ knowledge.

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Maine DOE shares expertise at community meeting

Recently, three members of Maine DOE’s Standards and Instructional Support Team presented information to a local chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma (an organization that promotes professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education). The presentations were well received and have led to much discussion within that organization in the days following the meeting.

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Districts receive PEPG system development grants

The Maine DOE is proud to report the distribution of 139 grants to school administrative units (SAUs) across the state of $4,600 each to support the development of performance evaluation and professional growth (PEPG) systems. The grant money was available to any school district that submitted their Intent to Pilot survey and submitted the PEPG Grant Application.

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A Guiding Principles resource for educators

The Maine DOE is offering support for educators (in understanding the spirit and intent of the Maine Learning Results Guiding Principles) by releasing a research-based set of descriptions titled, Understanding  the Guiding Principles. This resource was developed in collaboration with the Education Policy Improvement Center (EPIC) and Maine DOE staff and was vetted by Maine educators in August.

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Maine follows the national trend on the Nation’s Report Card: NAEP

AUGUSTA – Test scores from the 2015 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), in grades 4 and 8, released today show Maine remains above the national average even as mathematics scores slightly declined and reading scores saw no statistical change.

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Maine DOE announces conditional assessment awardee

The following Priority Notice was distributed on Tuesday, Oct. 20 to superintendents regarding the conditional vendor award to Measured Progress, Inc. for the 2015-16 administration of the Maine Educational Assessment (MEA) for Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy.

Dear Educators,

As a result of action during this past Legislative session, Maine will no longer participate in the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium.

We are pleased to announce that the Maine DOE has made a conditional decision, based on a competitive process outlined by the Maine State Division of Purchases, to award Measured Progress, Inc. the contract to develop and deliver our Mathematics and ELA/Literacy assessment in 2015-16. This proposal includes an assessment developed by Measured Progress, Inc. for students in grades 3-8 and the SAT for third year high school students.

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Academic eligibility policy for athletic and co-curricular participation

The Maine DOE has posted an example policy on academic eligibility for athletic and co-curricular participation. This policy was developed collaboratively by representatives of the Maine Principals Association (MPA), the Maine Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (MIAAA), Maine School Management Association (MSMA) and Great Schools Partnership (GSP). The policy is a welcome resource for school districts as they transition to proficiency-based learning and proficiency based diplomas and review, revise, and/or refine existing policies to better address the shifts in practice underway in their schools. Recently, the eligibility policies were vetted at two statewide MPA gatherings and the MIAAA state conference.

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Pathways to Proficiency summer literacy institute

During the month of August, over 400 PK-12 educators from across Maine attended two-day professional development institutes offered in Presque Isle, Brewer, Lewiston and Saco. The Pathways to Proficiency institute was designed to help teams of educators strengthen their understanding of Maine’s English language arts standards while also bolstering their knowledge of highly effective instructional strategies that support students in achieving proficiency.

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Standardized Assessment Scores for 2014-15

AUGUSTA – As Maine shifts to a proficiency-based system by 2018, the 2014-15 Smarter Balanced Assessment scores in English language arts and mathematics for grades 3 through 8 and the third year of high school are the first statewide assessment of our students’ accomplishments in meeting Maine’s college and career readiness standards. These results are reflective of a more rigorous assessment as the world is changing rapidly, and Maine is poised to improve in this educational shift to better prepare our students for future success.

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