Bowen testimony in opposition to amend charter school funding

The Maine Legislature’s Education Committee held a public hearing April 1 on legislation that eliminates the requirement that local funding follow a student to a charter school; adjusts the funding transferred from school districts to charter schools; and amends several funding requirements for charter schools.

Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen delivered the following testimony in opposition to LD 533, An Act to Eliminate the Requirement that Local Funding Follow a Pupil to a Charter School; LD 889, An Act to Adjust Funding Forwarded from School Districts to Charter Schools; and LD 1057, An Act Related to Public Funding of Charter Schools. Continue reading “Bowen testimony in opposition to amend charter school funding” →

Bowen testimony in opposition to giving AOS’s authority to approve student transfers

The Maine Legislature’s Education Committee held a public hearing March 25 on legislation that gives a local school committee of an alternative organizational structure the authority to approve student transfer requests.

Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen delivered the following testimony opposing LD 880, An Act to Change the Process for Student Transfers from an Alternative Organizational Structure. Continue reading “Bowen testimony in opposition to giving AOS’s authority to approve student transfers” →

Bowen testimony in opposition to increase transparency to superintendents’ agreements

The Maine Legislature’s Education Committee held a public hearing March 25 on legislation that provides that, among other provisions, if the commissioner of education allows a student transfer that was not approved by the superintendents,  the commissioner is required to provide a written description of the basis of the commissioner’s determination that the transfer is in the best interest of the student.

Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen delivered the following testimony opposing LD 791, An Act to Increase Transparency and Improve Equity in Appeals to Superintendents’ Agreements. Continue reading “Bowen testimony in opposition to increase transparency to superintendents’ agreements” →

Questions, answers and discussion from the Governor’s Education Conference

There wasn’t time to answer all the questions at the Governor’s Conference on Education: Putting Students First at Cony High School on March 22. So we’ve assembled them here and will be posting more questions and answers over the coming days.

Continue reading “Questions, answers and discussion from the Governor’s Education Conference” →

Governor’s Conference on Education videos, resources available

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

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage speaks from the heart about what motivates him to seek education reform at the Governor’s Conference on Education: Putting Students First, and you can now watch that video online. In the Governor’s speech, he shares with Mainers his personal story and why he is passionate about providing multiple educational opportunities for Maine students.

Continue reading “Governor’s Conference on Education videos, resources available” →

Commissioner’s Update – March 28, 2013

Oops! We inadvertently sent you an early draft of the weekly update this morning. Here’s the finished product. Sorry for the double posting.
–@mdoeNews

From the Commissioner

By all accounts last Friday’s Governor’s Conference on Education: Putting Students First was a great success. Not because everyone agreed with every idea that was presented, but because we were able to hear about innovations and reforms in Florida and elsewhere that have had some real impact on student achievement, and continue our conversation about which make sense for Maine to consider and put into action.

More than 200 superintendents, legislators, principals, teachers, higher ed administrators and others attended the event (a big thank you to Cony High School in Augusta for hosting).

Continue reading →

Notices and Reporting

Continue reading “Commissioner’s Update – March 28, 2013” →

Governor’s Conference on Ed shares practices, prompts discussion

Commissioner Stephen Bowen reads questions from the audience to the first panel of presenters at the Governor's Conference on Education.
Commissioner Stephen Bowen reads questions from the audience to the first panel of presenters at the Governor’s Conference on Education.

By all accounts last Friday’s Governor’s Conference on Education: Putting Students First was a great success. Not because everyone agreed with every idea that was presented, but because we were able to hear about innovations and reforms in Florida and elsewhere that have had some real impact on student achievement, and continue our conversation about which make sense for Maine to consider and put into action.

Continue reading “Governor’s Conference on Ed shares practices, prompts discussion” →