District Assessment Coordinators Confirmation

The following Priority Notice was sent to district administrators.

Dear Superintendents,

The Maine Department of Education is ready to start sending out information about the Maine Educational Assessments, and the primary audiences include District Assessment Coordinators (DAC). They will receive information in preparation for the 2016-17 test administration, and they will receive information regarding the results from the 2015-16 test administration.
Continue reading “District Assessment Coordinators Confirmation” →

Maine DOE Update – September 15, 2016

From the Maine Department of Education

2016 fall assessment workshops – MAARS & SAT reporting systems

Training for the Maine Assessment and Accountability Reporting System (MAARS – replacing iServices) and redesigned SAT are now scheduled and will be held in various locations (Portland, Waterville, Bangor, Lewiston, Presque Isle) during the week of October 31.

The morning sessions will be hosted by Maine DOE and FocalPointK12, and focus on all of Maine’s State assessments in the new reporting portal. The afternoon sessions will be hosted by the College Board and provide an overview of the SAT suite of assessments.

MAARS morning session – Who should register?

  • District Assessment Coordinator (DAC)
  • Data/IT personnel or other administrator who will be accessing assessment data
  • **Restricted to two representatives per district

SAT afternoon session – Who should register?

  • Curriculum Coordinators/Instructional Leaders, Directors of Guidance, and/or Data Professionals
  • Recommended audience of two representatives per district

Please see attached flyer for registration information.

Continue reading →

Notices and Reporting Items

More Notices | Administrative Letters | Reporting Calendar

News & Views

Individual student economic status information required by October 1 count for subsidy calculation

School Administrative Units (SAUs) are required to report individual student information for the purpose of State funding. | More

Maine DOE updates teacher mentoring materials for 2016-17

The Maine DOE is announcing the official release of the newly revised teacher mentoring materials for the 2016-17 school year. | More

Physical education requirements for children with disabilities

Under Maine’s system of learning results, each student is required to study and achieve proficiency in the eight content areas including physical education. | More

OSERS issues “Dear Colleague Letter” regarding positive behavior interventions and supports

On August 1, 2016, the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) issued a “Dear Colleague Letter” (DCL) on the requirement that schools provide positive behavioral supports to students with disabilities when needed. | More

Integrated Pest Management helps schools develop healthier learning environments

Maine School IPM is dedicated to reducing risks of pests and pesticides in Maine schools. | More

District wellness policies required to be updated by June 30, 2017

School administrative units participating in federal child nutrition programs such as the USDA National School Lunch Program are required to have updated wellness policies. | More

More Dispatches | Press Releases | Priority Notices

LATEST DOE Career/Project Opportunities

Maine DOE updates teacher mentoring materials for 2016-17

The Maine DOE is announcing the official release of the newly revised teacher mentoring materials for the 2016-17 school year. The new materials have been reviewed and reworked, and replace older versions of print-based documents.

All mentoring materials are now available here on the Department’s Educator Effectiveness website including presentations, forms, training templates and video.

The new materials are comprehensive and make teacher mentoring a vital part of the overall effectiveness of a teacher. This support system is not only essential in growing and supporting our new teachers  but affords highly effective teachers an opportunity to expand their leadership.

For more information contact the Department’s Educator Effectiveness Coordinator Charles Lomonte at charles.lomonte@maine.gov or 624-6748.

Physical education requirements for children with disabilities

Under Maine’s system of learning results, each student is required to study and achieve proficiency in the eight content areas including physical education. In addition to State requirements, federal regulations for implementing the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) require that states follow the guidelines set forth in sections 34 CFR 300.39 and 300.108.

Continue reading “Physical education requirements for children with disabilities” →

OSERS issues “Dear Colleague Letter” regarding positive behavior interventions and supports

On August 1, 2016, the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) issued a “Dear Colleague Letter” (DCL) on the requirement that schools provide positive behavioral supports to students with disabilities when needed.

Continue reading “OSERS issues “Dear Colleague Letter” regarding positive behavior interventions and supports” →

2016 fall assessment workshops – MAARS & SAT reporting systems

Training for the Maine Assessment and Accountability Reporting System (MAARS – replacing iServices) and redesigned SAT are now scheduled and will be held in various locations (Portland, Waterville, Bangor, Lewiston, Presque Isle) during the week of October 31.

Continue reading “2016 fall assessment workshops – MAARS & SAT reporting systems” →

Integrated Pest Management helps schools develop healthier learning environments

On the national scene the U.S. Environmental Protection agency seeks to help schools pave the path towards healthier schools through integrated pest management (IPM) – ultimately supporting healthier learning environments.

Locally, Maine School IPM is dedicated to reducing risks of pests and pesticides in Maine schools. The School IPM Program, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, is available to help with pest problem-solving advice, training resources and more.

Continue reading “Integrated Pest Management helps schools develop healthier learning environments” →

District wellness policies required to be updated by June 30, 2017

School administrative units participating in federal child nutrition programs such as the USDA National School Lunch Program are required to have updated wellness policies that comply with newly issued regulations. School wellness policies guide efforts to establish a school environment that promotes students’ health, well-being, and ability to learn.

Continue reading “District wellness policies required to be updated by June 30, 2017” →

Individual student economic status information required by October 1 count for subsidy calculation

The following Priority Notice was sent to superintendents on Monday, September 12.

School Administrative Units (SAUs) that do not collect school lunch information because they have chosen to implement the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for the federal school nutrition funds purposes, or for some other reason, are still required to report individual student information for the purpose of State funding (for Economically Disadvantaged students*) through the Essential Programs & Services Funding Act (EPS) and other federal and State individual student information requirements.

Continue reading “Individual student economic status information required by October 1 count for subsidy calculation” →

Next Blue Ribbon Commission meeting rescheduled to Sept. 26

AUGUSTA – The next meeting of the Commission to Reform Public Education Funding and Improve Student Performance in Maine has been rescheduled and will now be held on Monday, Sept. 26 at 9 a.m. at RSU #17 Central Office, located at 232 Main Street in South Paris.

Continue reading “Next Blue Ribbon Commission meeting rescheduled to Sept. 26” →