The Secretary of State’s Office is excited to continue the popular student program, the Maine Constitution Essay and Poster Contest. This program is designed to promote the history of Maine, an understanding of the Maine Constitution, and the importance of democracy and voting.
Continue reading “Constitution essay contest for all grades”
Maine 2016 teacher of the Year Talya Edlund recently shared some thoughts about teaching 21st century skills. Her article appeared in the Bangor Daily News January 9-10, 2016.
Continue reading “Maine’s Teacher of the Year on 21st century skills”
Maine Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC) announced the 2016 Teachers of the Year at the 75th Annual Maine Agricultural Trades Show this month. Governor Paul R. LePage was on hand to congratulate Morgan Kerr and Stephanie Enaire from Gray-New Gloucester Middle School.
Continue reading “Maine Agricultural Teachers of the Year announced”
The days are clicking away fast as Maine gears up for the statewide Read to ME Challenge kicking off Tuesday, Feb. 2, at the Blaine House with the Governor and First Lady. But before then, you are being asked to consider participating in the challenge and think about whom you would like to challenge as well.
The Maine DOE is pleased to share an opportunity for students to participate in the Maine Humanities Council’s Student Humanities Ambassador Program. The council is seeking committed, passionate and excited students who would benefit from an alternative learning environment or who flourish in an environment of structured autonomy to participate.
Continue reading “Humanities opportunity for Maine students”
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) requires all states to provide an annual report card to inform stakeholders about the progress of students and schools on indicators of student achievement, attendance and graduation rates, status of ESEA accountability and information on “highly qualified” teachers – information that is related to student success.
Continue reading “Department releases 2015-16 NCLB Report Cards”
On December 10, 2015 President Obama signed into law the Every Student Success Act (ESSA) which reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Maine’s current flexibility waiver will expire on August 1, 2016. However, ESSA is clear that during the transition period priority and focus schools shall implement the interventions as described in State flexibility plans.
Continue reading “More information regarding exit from current school identifications”
A recent dispatch from Maine DOE’s Office of Special Services on parental consent for evaluation informs school administrative units of the rules when a parent does not consent to an initial evaluation of a student. In these cases, the SAU may, but is not required to, request a due process hearing in an effort to obtain the authorization for the evaluation from a hearing officer, but otherwise may not proceed with the evaluation. (Note: an initial evaluation encompasses all types of evaluations that may be administered at the point where a student is being considered for eligibility).
Commissioner Bill Beardsley joined Senator Roger Katz, Hannah Pingree, and Maine Education Association’s John Kosinksi for a taping of the “The Maine Event” airing this Saturday night at 6 p.m. on Maine Public Broadcasting.
Suzan Beaudoin (Cameron) has been appointed Acting Deputy Commissioner of Education at the Maine Department of Education effective Jan. 11, 2016. She previously served as the Department’s director of finance and operations.
As Acting Deputy Commissioner, Beaudoin will continue her broad administrative oversight of $900 million of State and general purpose aid to education. She will continue to provide financial and information systems coordination for an array of operation activities ranging from school construction, transportation and nutrition, to teacher certification and statistical data collection and analysis.
“Suzan will also be broadening her coordination and policy activities to other department divisions and will be expanding and improving the department’s working relationship with other public financing authorities, school districts and the Legislature. She is also a well-respected, trusted colleague of 30 years,” said Acting Commissioner Bill Beardsley in making the appointment.
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Nominations are now open for the 2017 Maine Teacher of the Year. Members of the public are encouraged to nominate educators. | More
Districts with students requiring an alternate assessment, those with the most significant cognitive disabilities, need to follow these instructions. | More
Maine DOE is informing districts of upcoming training workshops to prepare for the 2016 Maine Educational Assessment for Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy. | More
Moving the needle is the objective of the Maine’s Learning Through Technology Team which is partnering with the Thomas College Center for Innovation in Education and Educate Maine for a summit. | More
Maine DOE is gearing up for the Read to ME Challenge to promote reading to and/or with children for at least 15 minutes a day. | More
Although dyslexia is not itself a category of disability under the federal IDEA or Maine’s special education regulations (MUSER), the definition of the disability category Specific Learning Disability (at both the federal and state level) expressly references dyslexia. | More
Maine is one of four states leading efforts to create innovative opportunities in public school classrooms around the country through the Next State of Learning project. | More
Teachers from culinary arts, health occupations, and early childhood education programs worked with math and English language arts (ELA) teachers to find points of intersections. | More
Educators are invited to the fourth annual winter wellness workshop “Building Partnerships for Wellness Success,” on Feb. 5 in Waterville. | More
The Maine DOE encourages teachers, administrators, students, and parents to nominate teachers for Maine’s History Teacher of the Year award. | More
Maine DOE is pleased to announce the selection of students for the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP). | More
The annual Maine Native American History and Culture Essay Contest saw four top essayists being recognized for learning about the rich history of the Wabanaki peoples of Maine. | More
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