A reminder, as of July 1, 2015, all of Maine DOE’s contracts with agencies and persons providing special education services to state agency clients stipulate that invoices for those services be sent to the school administrative unit (SAU) responsible for the student. The SAU is responsible for reviewing those invoices to determine whether they are properly payable as described, and will then forward to the Maine DOE any invoice which the SAU found to be properly payable.
Professional standards for food service
As part of the Federal Hunger Free Kids Act that went into effect July 1, local food service directors or the individual completing director’s duties must now meet the minimum hiring requirements for the director position. The standards have several options available to local districts. The new federal law also requires local food service staff to meet training standards.
Salary supplement available to eligible educators and school staff
Maine educators and school staff who attained National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (or its successor organization) certification prior to July 1 may be eligible for a salary supplement for the 2015-16 school year.
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Maine educators encouraged to apply for certification scholarship program
Maine educators are encouraged to apply to and enroll in the certification program offered by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, or its successor organization. This is courtesy of State law, 20-A MRSA Section 13013-A subsection 5 & 6; as amended by PL 2012 c. 702, which established the National Board Certification Scholarship Fund.
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Maine Teacher of the Year candidates nearing end of reviews
Eight teachers in the running for the 2016 Maine Teacher of the Year title presented to and answered questions from members of the State review panel last week. The teachers were selected from the 2015 County Teachers of the Year named in May at a ceremony at the State House Hall of Flags. Maine DOE’s Acting Deputy Commissioner Rachelle Tome and the 2015 Maine Teacher of the Year Jenn Dorman from Skowhegan Area Middle School were among the seven member review panel.
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Pilot training of a kindergarten entry assessment
Fifteen Maine kindergarten teachers spent three days last week learning how to pilot a Kindergarten Entry Assessment (KEA) with support from a grant to the Maine DOE. The KEA has been created with input from kindergarten teachers from the start and Maine teachers’ feedback on the benefits of KEA will guide its development.
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Horatio Alger Scholarship for Maine students now open
Maine students are invited to apply for the 2016 Horatio Alger Association Scholarship Program, one of the nation’s largest privately-funded college scholarship programs specifically designed to assist high school students who have faced and overcome great obstacles in their young lives.
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Maine DOE staff changes and additions
While many take time to relax over the summer, some folks at Maine DOE have done little of that while embracing their new positions with the Department.
Maine schools invited to host dangers of texting while driving program
Maine schools are invited to host the AT&T “It Can Wait” program, a national initiative designed to educate youth about the dangers of texting while driving.
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Third annual National Anthem sing-a-long
In Maine, and across the nation, students are invited to sing in unity our National Anthem on September 11. This year marks the third annual simultaneous sing-a-long organized by the National Anthem Movement and concludes a year-long celebration of the 200th birthday of the Star-Spangled Banner.
