The MEA Alternate Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy

The MEA Alternate Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy assessment known as the Multi-State Alternate Assessment (MSAA) is moving forward. On Friday, February 19, all students and Test Coordinators were registered in the MSAA System.  Test Coordinators may now begin registering Test Administrators.

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Maine DOE Monthly – February 23, 2016

Welcome to the February issue of the Maine DOE Monthly, which provides a recap of some of the month’s most important updates from the Department.

Commissioner & Deputy Commissioner’s Comments

The Department is hard at work on several fronts.

We are getting up to speed on the new Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) with a particular interest in making sure implementing of regulations and reporting are not prohibitively complex for small and rural school districts.

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Tax conformity matters to Maine teachers and families

Reprinted with permission from the Department of Administrative and Financial Services (DAFS).

AUGUSTA — As tax conformity legislation continues to make its way through the Maine Legislature, the Department of Administrative and Financial Services (DAFS) has heard from stakeholders in the education community asking about the effects of this proposal on teachers.

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Governor supports teachers and urges Democrats to do the same

Reprinted with permission from the Office of Governor Paul LePage.

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage is urging teachers to contact Democrats in the Legislature and tell them to support the administration’s tax conformity bill that will provide teachers with tax benefits for school supplies they pay for out of their own pocket.

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Commissioner’s Update – February 11, 2016

From the Maine Department of Education

Twenty seven high school career and technical education regions and centers across Maine and the entire field of secondary school applied technology and workforce educators are being recognized during the month of February.

“From industry recognized training and dual enrollments in colleges to professional licensures and industry recognized certificates, approximately 8,500 of Maine high school students enrolled in the Career and Technical Education (CTE) program are demonstrating industry and college proficiencies, ranging from robotics to coding, from culinary arts to welding, building trades to health services, and marketing to auto technology. CTE programs adhere to rigorous industry recognized standards and offer students hand-on learning at its best,” says Acting Education Commissioner, Bill Beardsley.

In Maine, CTE is provided at 27 regional schools, in all counties across the state, each affiliated with a group of nearby sending high schools. There are 60 different programs; an ever increasing number leading to industry recognized credentials while credits are earned towards high school graduation and post-secondary attainment. Most programs have articulation agreements or lead to an industry pathway.

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Notices and Reporting Items

More Notices | Administrative Letters | Reporting Calendar


News & Views

Department releases Standards Review Panel Report

The Maine DOE has finalized for release the report from the Maine Learning Standards Review Panel. | More

State agency clients returning to their parental home

A child who is placed by the Department of Health and Human Services outside the family home through the Intensive Temporary Residential Treatment process becomes a “state agency client.” | More

2016-17 public preschool application available

The Maine DOE is making an online application form available again this year that will make it easier for districts to apply for State approval of new or expanding public preschool programs. | More

Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports webinar

In an effort to increase implementation of positive behavior supports in Maine schools, Maine DOE in collaboration with the University of Maine, will be offering a webinar. | More

Read to ME Challenge gone viral

It’s not an ice bucket challenge but some have taken it to that extreme as Maine takes on the challenge…the Read to ME Challenge. | More

Maine’s academic achievement noted by Education Week

Maine continues to have its strengths and challenges according to a recently published ‘Quality Counts’ report released by the Education Week Research Center. | More

Winter Wellness Workshop Day raises awareness

The Maine Schoolsite Health Promotion Program’s Winter Wellness Workshop Day last week drew school employees from across Maine. | More

Maine School Food Service Directors recognized

Two Maine School Food Service Directors were recognized for their outstanding work by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Northeast Regional office. | More

Nominations due March 4 for Young Maine Volunteer Roll of Honor

The Young Maine Volunteer Roll of Honor program is accepting nominations for students age 18 and under who have devoted at least 50 hours of community service for 2015. | More

Organizations needed to feed hungry children this summer

Maine DOE is now seeking out organizations who would like to participate in this federally funded Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). | More

More Dispatches | Press Releases | Priority Notices


LATEST DOE Career/Project Opportunities

Read to ME Challenge gone viral

It’s not an ice bucket challenge but some have taken it to that extreme as Maine takes on the challenge…the Read to ME Challenge. Since the February 2 launch, The Maine Department of Education’s literacy awareness campaign has gone viral which was the hope at its inception.

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Winter Wellness Workshop Day raises awareness

The Maine Schoolsite Health Promotion Program’s Winter Wellness Workshop Day last week drew school employees from across Maine to Waterville to expand their understanding of worksite wellness and how to implement successful wellness programs utilizing a variety of tools and resources. It was also National Wear Red Day, so participants donned a variety of red to show their support for heart health.

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State agency clients returning to their parental home

A child who is placed by the Department of Health and Human Services outside the family home in a foster home or in a children’s residential care facility through the Intensive Temporary Residential Treatment process becomes a “state agency client” under Maine statute and Department of Education regulations, resulting in a shift of administrative and fiscal responsibility for the education of that child.

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