Comments sought on Maine’s IDEA Part B application

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is seeking public comments on its annual application for federal funds under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which covers services to children with disabilities, ages 3-20.

The application, which covers Maine fiscal year 2018 (starting July 1, 2017) is posted on the Maine DOE’s webpage at http://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 (2017), pending the State’s receipt of the finalized federal award for the coming year. Both documents will be posted from March 9th, 2017 through May 8th, 2017.

Written comments will be accepted from March 9th, 2017 until 4 p.m. on April 8th, 2017. Please send comments to Janice Breton at janice.breton@maine.gov or 23 State House Station, Augusta, ME. 04333.

Attendance Matters: Connecting For Student Success Regional Meetings

Attendance Matters! The Spring Connecting For Student Success regional meetings sponsored by ME Department of Education and Count ME In are happening statewide. You can attend a regional meeting that is convenient for you.

Lewiston -Tuesday, March 14
Portland – Wednesday, March 22
Bangor – Monday, March 27
Caribou – Tuesday, March 28
Augusta – Thursday, April 6

Attendees will hear schools share effective strategies as well as a presentation on effective approaches to address bias and harassment . Sessions are free but registration is required. To learn more go to www.countmeinmaine.org

Attendance Matters because early absences can affect later achievement, since students can miss some of the key building blocks for learning. Absences add up- just two days a month can mean 18 absences a year.

To register: http://countmeinmaine.org/site/?page_id=168 For more information, please contact Sarah Ricker at sarah.ricker@maine.gov or Susan Lieberman at slieberman@countmeinmaine.org

Media Advisory: Maine DOE welcomes new Director of Communications

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Debra Plowman, DOE, 624-6620

(Augusta) Acting Commissioner of the Department of Education Robert Hasson has announced that Rachel Paling joined the team in the Department of Education as the Director of Communications on Tuesday, February 21, 2017. Rachel previously worked as the Communications Manager at the University of Maine, Augusta where she held that position for 5 years.

“Rachel’s experience in communications, messaging, web management, and graphics and design makes her a great addition to our team and we look forward to her contributions to our mission at the Department.”

Rachel lives in New Sharon with her husband and two children. We are so pleased to welcome her. You can reach Rachel at Rachel.Paling@maine.gov or by calling 624-6747.

Maine DOE Update – February 23, 2017

From the Maine Department of Education

Notices and Reporting Items

More Notices | Administrative Letters | Reporting Calendar

News & Views

Media Advisory: (Updated) Maine Department of Education to Hold a Public Information Session in Bangor on February 27th concerning Regional School Construction

Acting Commissioner Robert G. Hasson will lead a public information session, accompanied by representatives from the Maine Department of Education and the Senior Education Policy Advisor to Governor LePage. The public session will be held from 6:00PM to 8:00PM on February 27th | More

Training offered for education technicians

RFP issued for 21st Century Community Learning Centers program

The Maine Department of Education has issued a request for proposals (RFP) seeking bids from interested parties to execute comprehensive 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) programs in 2017-18. | More

Guidance on General Education Interventions for Public Preschool Children

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is providing this guidance to ensure that all Maine school administrative units (SAU) receive direction on general education interventions for public preschool children. | More

FAQ on Proficiency Diplomas and Students with Disabilities

Maine Seeks Feedback on IDEA Part C Family Cost Participation Policy

The Maine Department of Education is seeking comments from the public on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C Family Cost Participation Fee Policy which is used in relation to services for young children birth through age two with disabilities. | More

More Dispatches | Press Releases | Priority Notices

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

Media Advisory: (Updated) Maine Department of Education to Hold a Public Information Session in Bangor on February 27th concerning Regional School Construction

AUGUSTA –

The information session will focus on providing answers to public questions concerning the recently announced 2017-2018 rating cycle for an innovative, regional school construction pilot. The “Integrated, Consolidated 9-16 School Construction 2017-2018 Rating Cycle Application” is now available on the Department of Education website.

An additional information session will be held on March 31st from 10:00AM to 12:00PM in Augusta at the Burton M. Cross State Office Building in room 103.

All questions and answers discussed at the session will be posted on the Department’s website.

Training offered for education technicians

Maine Department of Education’s Special Services Division is offering a professional development opportunity specifically for education technicians working with students with disabilities and challenging behaviors. Topics covered during this day-long session include: the roles and responsibilities of the educational technician; special education and the IEP process; implementing accommodations/modifications; and, supporting students to succeed in the classroom at all grade levels.

These no-cost sessions are offered in Augusta, Brewer, Houlton and Portland. For dates, locations, registration and other information, visit the Department’s professional development calendar.

RFP issued for 21st Century Community Learning Centers program

Enacted under Title IV, Part B of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the 21st CCLC program provides competitive grant funding to support before school, after school, and summer learning programs that focus on improving the academic performance of students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12.

In Maine, the primary purpose of the 21st CCLC program is to provide school and community partnerships with funding to establish or expand programs that provide educational and related support services to students and families in high-need, economically-disadvantaged communities. Allowable activities for 21st CCLC programs include providing academic enrichment opportunities designed to complement traditional school day curriculum. In addition, these programs can provide a broad array of additional support services related to the overall health and well-being of students. Local 21st CCLC programs, which are either located in an elementary schools, secondary schools or similarly accessible community facilities, provide these high-quality support services to students during non-school hours or periods when school is not in session. As such, these programs also support working parents and families by providing safe, conducive learning environments for students at times when school is not in session.

The RFP, which includes information on program eligibility and requirements for new, expansion, and continuation applicants, is available here. A technical assistance webinar, which will provide supplemental information for completing the RFP application, will be posted to the Department’s application site on March 2, 2017.

For more information on the 21st Century Community Learning Center (21^st CCLC) Program, contact the Department’s Federal Grant Coordinator Travis Doughty at travis.w.doughty@maine.gov.

Guidance on general education interventions for public preschool children

As required by Maine DOE rules, Code of Maine Regulations (05-071 CMR Chapter 101, II, 2015) all SAUs shall develop and implement general education interventions. It is the Department’s interpretation that these requirements are for all children enrolled in your SAU, including children in your public preschool program(s). The Maine DOE also expects that general education interventions are utilized prior to making a referral to Child Development Services (CDS) and that any general education intervention data is shared when making a referral to CDS.

For more information, please contact the Department’s Director of Special Services Janice Breton at janice.breton@maine.gov or 624-6676.

FAQ on proficiency diplomas and students with disabilities

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) has developed responses to various questions from the field about what IEP teams are permitted to do in developing IEPs in Maine’s proficiency based diploma system. The Q&A is placed under the topic heading “Policies, Procedures & Effective Implementation”. The link to the Q&A document is here: http://www.maine.gov/doe/specialed/support/policies/index.html

The Special Services webpage also includes a new webinar addressing students with reading difficulties and dyslexia. The webinar can be accessed here: http://maine.gov/doe/dyslexia/training/index.html

Guidelines for Local Entitlement Budget Modifications involving 10 percent or more of the total allocation may be found at http://www.maine.gov/doe/specialed/support/fiscal/documents/LEBudgetModificationFinal.pdf

Please direct any questions to the Maine DOE’s Director of Special Services Jan Breton at janice.breton@maine.gov.

Preliminary FY 2018 State subsidy printouts available

The Department is pleased to announce that the FY 2018 (2017-18 school year) preliminary State subsidy printouts, known as ED 279s, are now available here on our website:

http://www.maine.gov/doe/eps/

These preliminary amounts are based on Governor LePage’s proposed biennial budget. Governor LePage’s FY18 budget proposal includes $991.3 million for general purpose aid for Maine schools and $1,002.4 billion for FY19. The Governor’s budget does propose changes to the current funding law, which include repealing the adjustment for Title I revenues when calculating the per pupil rate, increasing the targeted funds weight for K-2 from 10% to 15%, with a proposal to add grade 3 in FY 2019, and increasing the adjustment for those school units receiving a minimum special education adjustment to 33%.

The subsidy amounts for FY 2018 (2017-18) reflected on these printouts are only preliminary and do not represent final action of the 128th Maine Legislature and should therefore only be used as “initial” guidance for your budget preparations. Some calculations included in these amounts are dependent upon enactment of statutory changes. Please review your ED 279 printouts in order to familiarize yourself with the full scope of changes proposed in the Governor’s budget.

The Department hopes this release of the preliminary ED 279s is informative to your local budgeting preparations. If you have any questions as you review these printouts, please contact our School Finance Team via email: tyler.backus@maine.gov or paula.b.gravelle@maine.gov or ida.batista@maine.gov or at 624-6790.