Maine’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Students Learn About Leadership and Service

Community Service – Students, led by State FFA Vice President Isabelle Wright, enact food security simulation

Student leaders of the Maine FFA Association (formerly known as “Future Farmers of America”) conducted leadership workshops for over 150 students on November 13 & 17, 2017 in locations of Augusta and Presque Isle. Maine FFA serves middle and secondary students enrolled in programs related to agriculture and natural resources, providing them with leadership training, competitions, scholarships, travel opportunities and the chance to get recognition for their work. At the leadership workshops, through talks and hands-on activities, students examined topics of personal authenticity, opportunities in FFA, and community service. Exemplifying the area of community service, participants brought to the workshop donations to a local food pantry. At the Presque Isle workshop, students also discussed issues of food security in the world. Maine’s student State Officers, Kaley Norsworthy (President), Isabelle Wright (Vice President) and Micayla Driscoll (Secretary-Treasurer) entirely developed and presented both workshops. Accompanying the officers was Doug Robertson, State FFA Advisor from the Maine Department of Education. At the conclusion of the workshop, students discussed possible follow-up service activities they might undertake in their local communities. Maine FFA involves over 500 students in leadership development and the chance to access the many opportunities and resources of the National FFA Organization. For further information, please contact: Doug Robertson, State FFA Advisor, doug.robertson@maine.gov 207-624-6744

FFA — Competition – Students participate in “Family Feud” activity with host “Steve Harvey”

FFA — Human Knot – Students engage in teamwork to extricate themselves from entanglement.

PRIORITY NOTICE: EPS Oct 1 Enrollment/Special Ed (EF-S-05) Reporting Certification due by November 22

The Maine Department of Education is asking all districts for verification and certification of the EPS Oct 1 Enrollment/Special Ed (EF-S-05) Report to be completed by Wednesday, November 22, 2017.

At this time, all issues within the Synergy student data information system, and in the NEO Student Reports module have been resolved. We acknowledge the implementation process has caused significant delays in reporting and much frustration. However, as many of you are aware, the timeline for calculating the EPS Subsidy using this data is limited by statute. The Department is asking districts to verify and certify their data within this time frame to help ensure the legislative deadline is reached.

Districts can access their report within NEO Student Reports, October EPS Student Count – and we ask that all your data is reviewed, verified, corrected and certified by end of day on Wednesday, November, 22, 2017.

We thank school districts and their staff for their patience as we have worked through the implementation of the Synergy student data information system. Should you have any further questions or concerns contact the Maine DOE Helpdesk at 624-6896 or at medms.helpdesk@maine.gov.

Resources for Alcohol Awareness Day, December 4, 2017

Community groups and schools across the state will be raising awareness about alcohol use and abuse on Monday December 4, Alcohol Awareness Day and throughout Maine’s Alcohol Awareness Week December 4 through 8.

The State of Maine recognizes the need for schools and community organizations to address alcohol issues through Maine statute. The statute reads, in part: “Alcohol Awareness Day, the first Monday in December, shall be observed by studying, for at least 45 minutes, a constructive approach toward the use of alcohol and the problems and dangers of alcohol abuse upon the individual, the family, and society.”

Teachers seeking assistance in planning an Alcohol Awareness Day activity may contact the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Tobacco and Substance Use Prevention and Control Program at (207) 287-8901, TTY 711 or email: TSUP.DHHS@maine.gov. Pamphlets may be requested through our new Prevention Store in limited quantities at www.mainepreventionstore.com.

It is important that Maine students be provided with age-appropriate education and awareness about alcohol, tobacco and other drug use. This should be part of a comprehensive school health education, Pre-K through High School curriculum alignment to the Maine Learning Results for Health Education. Activities scheduled for Alcohol Awareness Day and/or week should be part of the curriculum,

This Alcohol Awareness Day, consider using one or more of the following resources to prepare a message or activity to enhance your existing health education curriculum.

“When you say No to Alcohol, what are you saying yes to?”. This online video that includes a discussion guide provides profiles of five Maine students who discuss their interests as well and reasons for choosing not to drink. The simple message of the video for middle and high school students is that despite assumptions, not all students drink.

The Maine CDC Tobacco and Substance Use Prevention and Control Program also offers a guide to help schools create, update, and enforce a substance use policy. The guide, “Substance Use Policy: A Comprehensive Guide for School Policy Development” was updated in 2016 and provides practical suggestions for a complete policy, based on research and best practices.

Due Date for Graduation and Dropout Reporting Extended to 12/21

The Department of Education has extended the due date for the Graduation and Dropout report to December 21, 2017.

Districts will gain access to the graduation module in NEO on December 4, 2017 and will have access to complete Graduation and Dropout report through December 21, 2017. Please note that there will be multiple districts that are required to submit these reports for the first time. If your district has never completed this report, be sure to check DC & R to see if it is now required.

Instructions for completing this report:

The reports can be accessed through DC & R or through NEO directly.

As a reminder, along with the attending district reporting requirements there are now responsible district reporting requirements as well.
Login issues: If you can log in to NEO but do not see the graduation tab or if you find that you cannot login; you will need a NEO access request form to be filled out and then signed by the superintendent. Send completed forms to the MEDMS help desk.

If you need assistance with the Graduation reports or have questions you may email Travis Wood, or call 624-6742; or email Leda Cunningham, or call 624-6897.

For other questions about NEO or the Graduation module contact Maine DOE Help Desk at MEDMS.Helpdesk@maine.gov or 207-624-6896.

Maine DOE joins the nation in celebration of “American Education Week”

In a Presidential Memoranda from The White House on Friday, November 10th President Donald Trump proclaimed November 12 – November 18, 2017 as American Education week.

“As we celebrate American Education Week, we are reminded of the vital importance of education for our children, for our communities, and for our world.”

The Maine Department of Education joins The White House and education communities around the nation to recognize and celebrate the hard work and determination of Maine students, their families, educators and schools as they strive for achievement and success.

See the full proclamation on The White House website.

Maine DOE Update – November 16, 2017

From the Maine Department of Education

Priority Notices

Reporting Items

| Visit the DC&R Reporting Calendar |

News & Updates

Maine MIC3 Council Meeting

The next meeting of the Commission on Educational Opportunity for Military Children will be held on Thursday November 30 at 1:30 p.m. in Room 228 of the State House in Augusta. | More

Tutoring for students who receive special education

The Maine Department of Education’s Office of Special Education would like to remind special educators about the provision of specially designed instruction on IEPs. | More

2017 Maine Integrated Youth health Survey Data

The 2017 MIYHS data has just been released. State and public health district data is available to the public for the 5^th and 6^th grade survey, as well as the middle and high school surveys. Kindergarten and third grade parent survey data is available at the State level. | More

Maine DOE joins the nation in celebration of “American Education Week”

In a Presidential Memoranda from The White House on Friday, November 10th President Donald Trump proclaimed November 12 – November 18, 2017 as American Education week. | More

More Dispatches | Press Releases | Priority Notices

Professional Development Opportunities

| Visit the Professional Development Calendar |

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

RFP #201708145– Fund for the Efficient Delivery of Educational Services
View current Child Development Services employment opportunities here

2017 Maine Integrated Youth health Survey Data

Over 61,000 students from 300+ schools participated in this past survey. MIYHS is administered as a collaborative project involving Maine DOE and Maine DHHS in February of every odd year to gauge the health and health habits of Maine public school students in grades kindergarten through grade 12. Many thanks to the superintendents and principals who have chosen to participate in this biennial survey over the years!

2017 State level Snapshots for K/3, 5/6, Middle School and High School are available by clicking: https://data.mainepublichealth.gov/miyhs/2017Snapshots

For more information contact Maine Department of Education Health and Physical Education Consultant, Jean Zimmerman at Jean.zimmerman@maine.gov or (207) 624-6687.

Tutoring for students who receive special education

The Maine Department of Education’s Office of Special Education would like to remind special educators about the provision of specially designed instruction on IEPs.

When students are out of school because of discipline, an abbreviated school day, or medical reasons, tutoring may be provided as a short-term measure to ensure that students receive instruction. Tutoring is not specially designed instruction.

Schools should make every effort, including re-entry plans and proposals for definitive placements, to ensure that students with disabilities are enrolled and attending school. The IEP must be revised to add tutorial instruction.

For more information view Maine Unified Special Education Regulation (MUSER) or contact Maine Department of Special Services Director, Jan Breton at Janice.breton@maine.gov . (207) 624-6676.

Maine DOE provides complimentary 2017-18 law books to Superintendents

The Maine DOE acquired enough copies of the Maine Education and School Statutes 2017-2018 Edition law book from the publisher, Swan Island Press, to distribute one at no charge to each Superintendent of Schools in Maine.

The law books are in the mail and should be received soon. To purchase additional copies of this law book directly from Swan Island Press please complete the order form that was inserted with the book or contact Aaron Chase of Swan Island Press at info@swanislandpress.me.

Maine MIC3 Council Meeting

The next meeting of the Commission on Educational Opportunity for Military Children will be held on Thursday November 30 at 1:30 p.m. in Room 228 of the State House in Augusta.

All 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, belong to the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3). Each state appoints a council to oversee the implementation of the Compact at the state level.

States that sign on to the Compact commit to doing what it takes to:

Enroll children of military families at their new schools as quickly and seamlessly as possible, even in the absence of normally required official records and immunizations; and
Ensure that students with parents in the Armed Forces stay on track to graduate on time, even when such students’ academic records don’t comply perfectly with local graduation requirements.

Meeting Agenda

More information about MIC3 is available at http://www.mic3.net/ or http://maine.gov/doe/special/military.html.

Contact: Tyler Backus, Military Education Liaison. 207-624-6635