Since 2007, the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance (MMSA) has led Math Science Partnership Projects (ESEA Title II, Part B), funded by grants through the Maine DOE. These particular projects were developed to involve collaborations by teams of Career Technical Education (CTE) teachers and math teachers from middle and high schools in various regions of Maine. Continue reading “Project guides for integrating math and CTE available”
Maine DOE bridges transition to college, careers with $500,000 in grants
The funding will allow students to earn post-secondary credit while still in high school and develop technical and life skills for success in college, careers and civic life
AUGUSTA – As many as 225 students will earn approximately two semesters of college credit before they even graduate from high school, thanks to $500,000 from the Maine Department of Education to support the innovative Bridge Year Program.
Continue reading “Maine DOE bridges transition to college, careers with $500,000 in grants”
Schools to represent Maine at regional conference on educational innovation
PORTLAND – Three Maine schools and one Maine school district—Ellsworth High School, Troy Howard Middle School (Belfast), Westbrook High School and Regional School Unit 2 (Hallowell)—have been invited to represent their state at a regional conference on effective strategies for improving teaching and learning in the 21st century.
Continue reading “Schools to represent Maine at regional conference on educational innovation”
Maine DOE selects student artwork for MLTI screensavers
AUGUSTA – Twenty-two young Maine artists will soon have an audience of tens of thousands of their fellow students and teachers for their artwork.
A painting, drawing or photograph from each of the 22 artists representing a dozen schools has been selected to be displayed during the 2014-15 academic year on devices provided to schools by the Maine Department of Education through the Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI).
Continue reading “Maine DOE selects student artwork for MLTI screensavers”
Priority schools invited to apply for $1.7 million SIG
For the fifth straight year, the Maine DOE has been awarded money from the U.S. Department of Education Title I School Improvement Grants (SIG) program to turn around our state’s persistently lowest-achieving schools. Continue reading “Priority schools invited to apply for $1.7 million SIG”
Commissioner’s Update – March 13, 2014
From the Maine DOE
Last summer, the Department received approval for an accountability waiver under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). This waiver provides flexibility in meeting federal accountability requirements by allowing Maine to implement its own tiered statewide system of support. By reviewing annual progress and student proficiency, schools are placed in one of five categories: priority, focus, monitor, progressing and meeting, allowing us to most intensively target support to the schools that need it most.
In the months since, the Department’s team of Title I school improvement consultants have been working closely with the 19 priority and 35 focus schools that were identified, assisting them with a comprehensive review of needs and with developing improvement plans.
Just as Maine’s system allows our Department to identify schools that most need improvement support, it also recognizes those showing the greatest levels of improvement and performance. Through this process, we are pleased to announce that 19 schools have been named as a High Progress Reward School and 20 as a High Performance Reward School.
Notices and Reporting
- Qualified School Construction Bond (QSCB) Federal Tax Credit Bond Application (Reminder), due March 14
- Highly Qualified Teacher Data (Reminder), due March 31
- EPS April 1 Enrollment Reporting (Reminder), due April 15
- Private School April 1 Enrollment Reporting (Reminder), due April 30
- Regional School Calendars (Reminder), due May 1
- 2014 Maine Educator Talent Pool Recommendations (Reminder), due May 2
More Notices
Administrative Letters
Reporting Calendar
News & Views
Maine DOE offers additional guidance on transportation inclusion in IEP
The Maine DOE recently issued guidance regarding the provision of transportation to special education students. If a student’s disability results in a need for specialized transportation services beyond the regular transportation described in 20-A MRSA §5401-5402, then transportation must appear as a related service in Section 7 of the Individualized Education Program (IEP). | More
Preliminary FY15 State subsidy printouts published
The Department is pleased to let you know that the FY 2015 (2014-15 school year) preliminary State subsidy printouts, known as ED 279s, are now available here on our website. It is important to remember that these printouts reflect the currently enacted biennial budget, and will no doubt be adjusted as the Legislature responds to current and projected budget shortfalls. | More
AP4ALL registration now open
Student registration is now open for AP4ALL, which provides online Advanced Placement courses free of charge to any student residing in a Maine school administrative unit who is educated at the public expense. | More
General and special educators working together to improve student outcomes in transition to proficiency-based system
High expectations, inclusion/collaborative teaching practices and frequent assessment of progress are known to improve student outcomes. | More
Literacy for ME offers community literacy webinars
The Maine DOE is providing a webinar series designed to support community literacy teams. This five-part monthly series began in January and will continue through May. | More
Proficiency in World Languages more than just vocabulary
As Maine moves to a proficiency-based diploma, students will be required to demonstrate proficiency in content areas including World Languages. | More
Premier science events offer opportunity for Maine educators
Two upcoming national events in nearby Boston will provide extensive professional development opportunities for Maine science educators. | More
Free newspaper subscriptions available for educators
The Boston Globe News in Education (NIE) program is offering free Boston Globe NIE digital classroom subscriptions and educational resources to Maine teachers in kindergarten through grade 12. | More
Deadline approaching for Margaret Chase Smith Essay Contest
The deadline for the 18th annual Margaret Chase Smith Essay Contest is April 1 and this year’s theme is to assess the changes the United States has undergone over the past 50 years. | More
Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities
- Director of Budget
- Connect ME Broadband Technical Assistance Initiative Volunteer Literacy Service Technology Grant
More
Maine DOE recognizes reward schools
Last summer, the Department received approval for an accountability waiver under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). This waiver provides flexibility in meeting federal accountability requirements by allowing Maine to implement its own tiered statewide system of support.
AP4ALL registration now open
Student registration is now open for AP4ALL, which provides online Advanced Placement courses free of charge to any student residing in a Maine school administrative unit who is educated at the public expense. By offering online Advanced Placement courses at no charge, AP4ALL provides equity of access to any student residing in a Maine public high school regardless of where they live and the limits of resources available in their local school. Continue reading “AP4ALL registration now open”
Proficiency in World Languages more than just vocabulary
As Maine moves to a proficiency-based diploma, students will be required to demonstrate proficiency in content areas including World Languages.
World Languages are specific linguistic systems that involve not just vocabulary or “term sets,” but also reveal perspectives, expose cultures, allow students to interpret authentic cultural materials and engage in conversation in languages other than their own, and are organized and expressed through a structuring grammar and syntax. Continue reading “Proficiency in World Languages more than just vocabulary”
General and special educators working together to improve students outcomes
High expectations, inclusion/collaborative teaching practices and frequent assessment of progress are known to improve student outcomes. Continue reading “General and special educators working together to improve students outcomes”
