Certification Updates

Please help share the following notice with all Maine educators.

The Maine Department of Education has now received 10,000 renewal applications since releasing the new online certification system, Maine Educator Information System (MEIS), to educators in June. There are currently 3,000 of those applications in queue, with an approximate eight-week processing time.

Approximately 70% of all Maine educators needing renewal have now applied. For those that have applied for renewal, it is important to note the following renewal procedure as outlined in Chapter 115 Part 1:

In the case of a complete application for the renewal of a credential that has not lapsed, the existing credential shall remain in effect until the application is approved or denied, and a renewal subsequently issued shall be deemed effective as of the expiration date of the previous certificate.

More than 50% of all certification related calls to the Department are applicants requesting updates of their application status. To decrease these calls and consequently process applications at a faster rate, please note the following:

Current processing times can be found on the Certification webpage.
Processing times begin on the date the complete application is received.
Applicants – Please do not call unless you applied more than eight weeks ago.

To increase support, a concerted effort has and will continue to be made to keep the Certification webpages up to date with current information, support documentation, and answers to frequently asked questions. If educators have additional questions not answered on the website, they can call 207-324-6603 or can email the certification department at cert.doe@maine.gov.

Further communications and updates are available on the Maine Department of Education Certification Webpage, Maine DOE’s official Facebook and Twitter pages, and the DOE newsroom.

Student Health Data Needed for Nationwide Initiative

This notice is to inform all school administrators, school nurses and related staff of a new effort to collect and submit de-identified student health data to a nationwide initiative of National Association of School Nurses (NASN) entitled Every Student Counts™. The goals of Every Student Counts™ are to develop a robust national school health data set that will influence local, state, and national student health policy, as well as identify best practices in school health. By creating data driven policies to advocate for the needs of students, we can increase evidence-based school nursing practice, and improve youth health outcomes.

In order for this to be successful at a statewide and national level, we are asking school administrators to commit to this ongoing effort and;

Select one point person in the school unit to be responsible for compiling and submitting the data from all schools to submit one report in June for each school administrative unit.
Share this notice with their school nurses and other health staff.

This data collection will be included with the School Health Annual Report that is submitted at the end of each school year. Although these added questions are not required, we strongly recommend every school unit participate. The data points, not covered in any other state or national survey, are:

Staffing levels for health services (direct services, supplemental staff, special assignments, supervisory position provided by RN, LPN, and health aides)
Number of students with a diagnosis (from a health care provider) of asthma, type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, seizure disorder, life threatening allergy
Health office visits & disposition (number of students seen face to face by RN, LPN, health aide and resulting disposition: return to class, sent home, or 911 call)

The Department is in full support of the NASN Every Student Counts™ initiative. The Maine Association of School Nurses will be working with the Maine DOE School Nurse Consultant to promote the collection of this data statewide.

If you have questions about Every Student Counts™, please contact Emily Poland, RN, School Nurse Consultant at Emily.Poland@Maine.gov or 207-624-6688, or visit the Every Student Counts™ Website.

Child Sexual Abuse Implementation Support Materials Now Available

As part of a collaborative effort of the Maine Department of Education and the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MECASA), resources have been developed to support school systems in the implementation of the child sexual abuse prevention and response law, L.D. 1180 – An Act To Require Education in Public Preschool Programs and Elementary. The Maine Department of Education has developed a Model Policy for Child Sexual Abuse Prevention and Response and more resources are available as part of an initiative called The Children’s Safety Partnership: Ending Child Abuse Together.

An important resource to the support these materials is The Children’s Safety Partnership Website dedicated to providing information and resources for schools and communities on child sexual abuse (CSA) prevention and response. Available on the home page of the new website is a link to a newly developed tool, A Guide to Implementing Maine’s CSA Prevention & Response Model Policy. Also available on the new website will be training opportunities focused on understanding the policy, personnel awareness and education, and curriculum lessons for students on child sexual abuse prevention. These trainings will include direct education as well as training of trainers and teachers. Get further details about scheduled regional trainings.

In addition, MECASA has a network of educators across the state available to support school districts with the implementation of the law. Visit the contact page of The Children’s Safety Partnership Website or the MECASA website to locate an educator at the sexual assault support center nearest you.

For more information contact Susan Berry, Health Education and Health Promotion Coordinator at Maine DOE at susan.berry@maine.gov.

Maine DOE Update – August 9, 2018

From the Maine Department of Education

Reporting Items

| Visit the DC&R Reporting Calendar |

News & Updates

The State of Maine announces the first round of competitive funding under the VW Environmental Mitigation Settlement Funds

Some public and private schools may have school buses eligible for Maine’s Volkswagen (VW) settlement allocation. The U.S. District Court in Northern California approved a partial consent decree to settle allegations that VW had installed defective devices on 2.0 and 3.0-liter diesel vehicles sold or leased in the United States. Maine’s VW settlement allocation totals just over $21 million dollars. | More

Integrated Pest Management Requirements

Encounters with rodents, hornets, bats, poisonous plants and other pests can threaten the health and safety of students, staff and visitors on school properties. However, pesticides can also pose a risk and the use of these chemicals in Maine is strictly regulated. All public and private schools serving any grades kindergarten through 12 are required under state law to adopt and implement an integrated pest management (IPM) policy to reduce potential risks of exposure to pests and pesticides. | More

Maine DOE Initiates Electronic Registration System

In an effort to control cost and improve services, the Maine DOE is now using the standard electronic event registration system. Like many organizations that require electronic registration for professional development opportunities and meetings, the Maine DOE system requires payment at the time of registration. Discover, MasterCard, and Visa are all accepted forms of payment. Links to registration will now appear on invitations to participate.| More

More Dispatches | Press Releases | Priority Notices

Professional Development & Training Opportunities

Reminder: Computer Science Day is Monday, August 13th

Please plan to join us in Augusta for Computer Science Day at the State House and Maine State Library on August 13th from 9am to 4pm. All ages are welcome! Note that educators can earn up to seven contact hours. | More

| Visit the Professional Development Calendar |

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

View current Child Development Services employment opportunities here

Integrated Pest Management Requirements

Specific requirements include:

Appointment of IPM Coordinator
Appoint a staff member to serve as and annually report their name and contact information (e-mail address and phone number) by September 1^st via the Department of Education NEO system. If unable to use NEO, report via email to pesticides@maine.gov or by calling 207-287-2731. This information is required to provide necessary educational information and training and ensure compliance with regulations.

Training
The IPM Coordinator must complete two trainings: 1) Initial Training Module must be completed within one month of appointment (available online at www.maine.gov/schoolipm click on ‘Trainings and Events’) and 2) Comprehensive IPM Training Training must be completed within one year of appointment (free workshop offered in numerous locations throughout the year. See schedule at www.maine.gov/schoolipm). In addition, the IPM Coordinator must earn 1-hr of Continuing Education credit per year.

Notification, Signage and Authorization
A notice describing your school’s IPM program must be included in the school policy manual or student and staff handbooks. Specific information is required. A sample notice is available at http://www.maine.gov/schoolipm. This information must be kept up to date, but an annual notice to parents and staff is no longer required. A notice about the schools’ IPM Policy must be published in your policy manuals, such as the student and staff handbooks. Before any pesticide application on school properties (including non-school properties used primarily for official school functions) the IPM Coordinator must authorize it. Parents and staff must be notified five days in advance and signs must be posted two days in advance. Some types of applications are exempted. More information and sample notices are available at maine.gov/schoolipm or by contacting the Maine Board of Pesticides Control at pesticides@maine.gov or 207-287-2731.

Licensing
A commercial Pesticide Applicators License is required for all pesticide applications except for the control of stinging insects and for routine use of disinfectants.

Record-Keeping
A Pest Management Activity Log must be kept current and on file for at least two years. Specific records about IPM steps taken and pesticide use must be kept. Sample logbook pages are available at maine.gov/schoolipm.

The School IPM Program, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, is available to help with pest problem-solving advice, training resources and more (www.maine.gov/schoolipm, e-mail: kathy.murray@maine.gov, phone: 207-287-7616). For more information contact the Maine Board of Pesticides Control (pesticides@maine.gov or 207-287-2731) or Pat Hinckley at the Department of Education (pat.hinckley@maine.gov, 207-624-6886 ).

Reminder: Computer Science Day is Monday, August 13th

There will be engaging activities, panels, and presentations led by students, educators, and businesses, such as:

Apple, Baxter Academy of Technology and Science, CashStar, Code.org, Eastern Maine Community College, Esri, Falmouth High School, Gizmo Gardens, Henry L. Cottrell Elementary, Husson University, Learn to Mod, Maine Department of Labor, Maine Office of Information Technology, Maine Central Institute, Maine CSTA, Microsoft, Monmouth Academy, Pi-Top, Project Lead The Way, RSU 19, South Portland High School, Sphero Edu, Texas Instruments, Thomas College, Tyler Technologies, University of Maine Cooperative Extension 4H, University of Maine, Unlimited Technology, University of Southern Maine, and Wonder Workshop.

You’re also encouraged to participate in a scavenger hunt throughout the day. Light refreshments will be provided. More information can be found below!

For more information or questions, contact any of the following event organizers:

Amanda Nguyen, Maine Department of Education, Digital Learning Specialist (Amanda.Nguyen@maine.gov)
Jamie Ritter, Maine State Library, Maine State Librarian, (James.Ritter@maine.gov)
Jason Judd, Educate Maine, Program Director, Project>Login (jason@educatemaine.org)
Ruth Kermish-Allen, Executive Director, Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance (rkermishallen@mmsa.org)

The State of Maine announces the first round of competitive funding under the VW Environmental Mitigation Settlement Funds

Key Points

Round one application due date is September 15, 2018
Eligible school buses include 2009 engine model year or older and class 4 school buses
Applicants for funding must use the fillable application form available at: https://www1.maine.gov/mdot/vw/application/
Maine anticipates several application rounds for competitive Appendix D-2 qualifying actions. Approximately $2million will be distributed to qualifying proponents during round 1; however, the State of Maine reserves the option to adjust the total distribution based on applications received.
Decision criteria are included in the application.

Maine Department of Transportation (DOT) is the lead State agency for Maine’s VW settlement. If you have any questions, please contact Maine Department of Transportation’s Judy Gates by email at Judy.Gates@maine.gov , or visit Maine’s VW settlement website: http://www.maine.gov/mdot/vw/ for more information.

MEDIA ADVISORY: Computer Science Day to be Held 8/13 in Augusta

What: The Maine Department of Education, the Maine State Library, Project Login, and the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance will be hosting Computer Science Day. Attendees can join presentations, hear from panelists from multiple industries, and visit booths with hands-on learning opportunities. The goal of the day is to offer participants the opportunity to explore how computer science skills can be learned in formal and informal learning settings, and how those skills can be applied in current and future jobs in Maine.

Who: The event is free and open to the public to attend. Educators and students from K-12 schools, higher education partners, businesses with employees engaged in computer science work, non-profits, informal learning providers, and companies that have computer science education products will spend the day networking, sharing their experiences with others, and learning from each other.

Where: Maine State House (Hall of Flags), Maine State Library (Atrium), and Various Committee Rooms in the Maine State House

When: Monday, August 13th from 9am – 4pm

8:30 am – Registration begins and continues throughout the day (Hall of Flags and Maine State Library Atrium)
9:00 am – 3:00 pm – Presentations, Panels, Hands-on learning at tables (various spaces)
3:00 pm – Closing Event (Hall of Flags)

Schedule Highlights:

10:00am – 10:45am – Student Panel, Legislative Council Chambers, Maine State House. Students from local schools will share their experiences with Computer Science education, as well as programing and coding projects.
1:00pm – 1:45pm – Higher Education Panel, Legislative Council Chambers, Maine State House. Faculty and students from Maine colleges and universities will discuss learning opportunities, potential career pathways, and resources available related to Computer Science.
2:00pm – 2:45pm – Education and Business Partnerships Panel, Legislative Council Chambers, Maine State House. Panelists will discuss ways that businesses and school communities can create stronger connections that result in a better understanding of career pathways, experiential education opportunities, and an awareness of the skills needed in the workforce.
3:00pm – 3:45pm – Closing Event, Hall of Flags, Maine State House. Host organizations will share ways to connect to resources and continue to engage in learning about Computer Science while participants who have completed the activities for the day enjoy some ice cream!

More information:

Members of the media are welcome to attend. For further questions contact, Maine DOE Director of Communications Rachel Paling at rachel.paling@maine.gov or call 624-6747.

Maine DOE Update – August 2, 2018

From the Maine Department of Education

Reporting Items

Annual Audit Requirements

Pursuant to Title 20-A MRSA 6051 §4, statements of assurance and Maine Education Financial System reconciliations are due to the Department by November 1, 2018. | More

| Visit the DC&R Reporting Calendar |

News & Updates

Anticipated Timeline for Release of Maine Education Assessment (MEA) Results

The anticipated date for providing confidential Maine Education Assessment (MEA) results to districts for review is October 8, 2018. | More

Maine Schools/School Approval FAQs Now Available

The Maine Department Education has posted a Maine Schools/School Approval FAQs document on the Maine DOE Public School Approval webpage to addresses questions about public school approval 2018-2019 and further assist schools in the approval process for 2018-2019. | More

Clarification of the Process for Addressing Complaints of Discrimination

The Maine Department of Education would like to clarify the process for addressing complaints of discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin. | More

More Dispatches | Press Releases | Priority Notices

Professional Development & Training Opportunities

IBPA Bullying Prevention Through SEL and Kindness Summit – August 17 in Augusta

The International Bullying Prevention Association (IBPA) is partnering with the Maine Department of Education to provide a one-day summit to address bullying prevention through social and emotional learning and kindness. | More

Understanding Maine DOE Data: A Workshop for School and District Leaders

Are you a school or district leader that wonders why the Department collects certain data sets and what they are used for? Get the answer to this question and more by attending a workshops led by Paula Gravelle of School Finance and Charlotte Ellis of the Data Team. These are targeted sessions for school and district leaders, they will be about data use and policy, not data entry. | More

| Visit the Professional Development Calendar |

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

View current Child Development Services employment opportunities here

Maine Schools/School Approval FAQs Now Available

The Maine Department Education has posted a Maine Schools/School Approval FAQs document on the Maine DOE Public School Approval webpage to addresses questions about public school approval and can further assist schools in the approval process for 2018-2019 specifically.

The frequently asked questions with answers have also been provided below for your convenience.

For further questions, please contact Maine DOE School Enrollment Specialist, Pamela Ford-Taylor at 207-624-6617 or Pamela.Ford-Taylor@maine.gov.

Maine Schools/School Approval FAQs

How do SAUs that operate only K-8 schools answer the CTE questions (#21 and #22)?
The SAU may check “no” and comment “Grade Level K-8.” Please note that it is recommended currently that 6-8 schools consider introducing students to the concept of alternative pathways, in preparation for high school CTE opportunities. In addition, new legislation (see LD 1576 – An Act To Enable Earlier Introduction of CTE in Maine Schools) will require middle schools to include a CTE experience as part of the curriculum beginning in September of 2019.
How do SAUs that don’t operate CTE schools answer the questions regarding CTE?
For Question 22, regarding Perkins funding, the SAU may check “no” and enter a comment indicating CTE programming details if they are not the fiscal agent for the CTE. SAUs with a secondary school (and soon, SAUs with a middle school) each have an assigned CTE (Center or Region) as outlined in M.R.S. 20-A, Chapter 313 and must offer students an opportunity to participate in state approved CTE programing as required by M.R.S. 20-A Section 4725.
How should SAUs respond when the law doesn’t go into effect until later this year; should they answer what they plan to do or what is in place currently?
The SAU may check “no” and indicate the timeline and plan for compliance in the comment section.
Will the comments be read even if the answer to the question is Yes?
Yes.
Do SAUs need to have actual policy documents with the titles that are in the SAU approval questions? Or can the policies be embedded within other SAU policy documents? If specific types of documents are required, are there templates available?
The policies may be embedded within other SAU policy documents. Per DOE Rule Chapter 125, “The school administrative unit shall determine the format of the Comprehensive Education Plan. The unit’s Comprehensive Education Plan shall address all plans required by the Department to meet state and federal requirements. This may be done by integrating the multiple requirements or by including each required plan as a distinct component of the Comprehensive Education Plan.” The Department recommends indexing the location of required policies, whether they are standalone documents or part of a larger subset.
How do SAUs that do not operate schools answer these questions?For the following NEO School Approval questions [only], SAUs that operate no schools may check “no” and enter a comment “SAU has no schools” and indicating where the resident students attend school:#s 1, 2, 4, 7-10, 12, 13, 15-18, 20, 22, 25-27, and 30-44.
The requirements represented by the above questions will be waived.
Although a Comprehensive Education Plan (CEP) is currently not required of SAUs that operate no schools, the following school approval questions refer to policies and process requirements that apply to all SAUs, including SAUs that do not operate schools. These requirements will not be waived: