Prepare for December’s Alcohol Awareness Day

Note: This is a joint announcement from Acting Commissioner of Education Jim Rier and Guy Cousins, director of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services in the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.

Community groups and schools across the state will be conducting activities to raise awareness about alcohol use and abuse throughout Maine’s Alcohol Awareness Week, Dec. 2-6, which includes Alcohol Awareness Day on Monday, Dec. 2.

Continue reading “Prepare for December’s Alcohol Awareness Day” →

STEM distinguished educator fellowship program seeks applicants

The Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program seeks experienced and distinguished K-12 educators in fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to serve an 11-month fellowship appointment in a federal agency or U.S. Congressional office.

Continue reading “STEM distinguished educator fellowship program seeks applicants” →

Governor LePage’s trade mission to Colombia promotes Maine schools

The following is a news release from the Governor’s Office.

Education leaders meet with Colombian parents, students

AUGUSTA — Representatives from two Maine high schools and one university met with Colombian parents and students on Thursday night as the State of Maine trade mission, led by Governor Paul R. LePage, continued in Bogota, Colombia.

Continue reading “Governor LePage’s trade mission to Colombia promotes Maine schools” →

Commissioner’s Update – October 31, 2013

From the Maine DOE

Improving educator effectiveness is the single most important action we can take for our students. Study after study shows that students who are assigned to effective teachers make noticeably more academic progress than those who are not.

Knowing this, Maine DOE is committed to supporting our state’s school administrative units to ensure there is an effective educator in every single classroom. Earlier this month we named longtime English teacher Mary Paine as our first-ever Educator Effectiveness Coordinator.

Continue reading →

Notices and Reporting

Continue reading “Commissioner’s Update – October 31, 2013” →

Ensuring an effective educator in every Maine classroom

Improving educator effectiveness is the single most important action we can take for our students. Study after study shows that students who are assigned to effective teachers and school leaders make noticeably more academic progress than those who are not.

Continue reading “Ensuring an effective educator in every Maine classroom” →

Prepare for Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards

In order to implement additional mandates by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently published the Smart Snacks in School standards for all foods sold in school outside the school meals programs. These are practical, science-based standards for foods sold in vending machines and à la carte lines — standards that make the healthy choice the easy choice for students.

Continue reading “Prepare for Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards” →

Updates made to special education FAQs

The Maine DOE maintains an online collection of frequently asked questions about special education. The Department has added new sets of questions to the Caseload and Adverse Effect Form sections of the FAQs. The Child Development Services section has been removed, and an already-existing question from this section has been added to the IEP Team section.

Continue reading “Updates made to special education FAQs” →

Additional IDEA, Part B funding for school administrative units

The Maine DOE Office of Special Services will make an additional $3 million in FY13 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B funding available to school administrative units to help offset financial losses they may have experienced as a result of the federal sequestration. These funds are part of the FY13 amount set aside by the Maine DOE, in accordance with its federally-approved Part B application, for State-level activities.

Continue reading “Additional IDEA, Part B funding for school administrative units” →

Alternate assessment no longer required for second graders with disabilities

Beginning in fall of 2014, there will no longer be a fall administration of the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) for third grade students. As a result, as of this school year, Maine no longer requires that second grade students complete the Personalized Alternate Assessment Portfolio (PAAP), which tests grades 2-8 students with the most significant cognitive disabilities who are unable to participate in the NECAP.

Continue reading “Alternate assessment no longer required for second graders with disabilities” →

Nominate those who serve youth for national award

Organizations are invited to nominate individuals for the 2014 Lewis Hine Awards for Service to Children and Youth. These awards are presented annually by the National Child Labor Committee (NCLC) to 10 recipients – five professionals and five volunteers – for their commitment to the well-being, growth and development of youth through a paid job or volunteering.

Continue reading “Nominate those who serve youth for national award” →