The Maine DOE has been notified of the requirement to submit Maine teacher shortage areas by Dec. 10 for designation by the U.S. Department of Education (U.S. DOE) for the 2016-17 school year. The U.S. DOE annually designates teacher shortage areas for purposes of deferment of loan repayments or reductions of teaching obligation under the following student loan programs:
Reminder: Lunch served on early release days
Maine DOE is reminding districts the school lunch meal must be offered to students each school day, including planned half days and early release, as part of the National School Lunch Program Agreement to Participate.
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Invitation to participate in NECAP science inquiry task field test
Maine DOE is recruiting schools again this year to serve as field testing sites to administer the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) Science Inquiry Tasks in grades 5, 8, and 11. This opportunity allows Maine educators to see science performance assessment tasks in action. The field tests will occur between Nov. 2 and Nov. 20.
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Regional Title I parent involvement sessions
Maine DOE will conduct regional roundtable meetings in November to support and assist districts in understanding Title I requirements of parent involvement as required by the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Sessions will be held in Houlton, Ellsworth and Lewiston.
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2016 Maine Teacher of the Year
When you ask Talya Edlund’s students what they think of their third grade teacher, you will hear words like, “stupendous, epic, amazing, and fantastic.” When you ask the principal of Pond Cove Elementary School in Cape Elizabeth of this 15 year veteran educator, you hear the term “top-tier educator.”
Cape Elizabeth teacher named Maine’s 2016 Teacher of the Year
Talya Edlund was selected from over 300 nominees as Maine’s top teacher
CAPE ELIZABETH – Today in a surprise assembly at Pond Cove Elementary School in Cape Elizabeth, Acting Deputy Commissioner of Education Rachelle Tome announced Talya Edlund had been selected as the 2016 Maine Teacher of the Year.
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Commissioner’s Update – October 1, 2015
From the Maine Department of Education
Coastal Ridge Elementary School in York and Minot Consolidated School in RSU 16 were among 335 public and private schools across the country named 2015 National Blue Ribbon Schools by U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan.
The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools where students demonstrate high achievement learning standards or are making notable improvements in closing the achievement gap. The award affirms the hard work of students, educators, families, and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging content.
Each year, the Maine Department of Education is invited to nominate schools for this recognition. Acting Commissioner of Education Tom Desjardin says, “These nominees need to meet specific national criteria, and the process is quite detailed, so congratulations to Coastal Ridge Elementary and Minot Consolidated in being recognized as exemplary high performing schools; this is a huge honor.”
Notices and Reporting
- Request for Special Education Contract Approval (EF-S-03) Original Report, due Oct. 15 (Reminder)
- NCLB Title IA Carryover Percentage Certification, due Oct. 15 (Reminder)
- EF-M-43 Report Transportation Data for Out-of-District Special Education Students, Homeless Students and Career & Technical Education Students, due Oct. 15 (Reminder)
- EF-M-240 Year End Report of Private Schools, due Oct. 15 (Reminder)
- Qualified Zone Academy Bond (QZAB), due Oct. 15 (Reminder)
More Notices | Administrative Letters | Reporting Calendar
News & Views
Maine DOE no longer provides support for College Board assessments
For the 2015-16 school year, Maine DOE is not providing support for assessments beyond what is state-required, which is still being determined through the RFP process. | More
Changes regarding the upcoming Special Education Child Count
School administrative units are advised to verify the “Special Education Students for Federal Count” report in Infinite Campus and ensure that all student records in ICSE are updated by Oct. 15. | More
Be safe in sharing the road with school buses
In Maine, about 80 percent of students ride the school bus, and this ridership is high compared to 50 percent national student ridership. | More
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certified Teacher Salary Supplement – due Oct. 15
Superintendents are being reminded that Maine educators, who attained National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (or its successor organization) certification prior to July 1, may be eligible for a salary supplement for the 2015-16 school year. | More
Maine DOE implements fiscal risk assessment for SAUs receiving IDEA funds
Beginning with the FY 16 grant year, and due to the recent adoption of Uniform Guidance for federal grants (UG), Maine DOE Special Services has implemented a fiscal risk assessment tool. | More
Department releases 2016 leased space approvals
The Department has completed its review of FY 2016 leased space applications and posted the results online here. | More
Maine DOE seeks social studies teachers to become regional leaders
Maine DOE is inviting current social studies teachers of all grades and geographic regions of the state to be part of the inaugural Social Studies Community Teacher-Leader Group. | More
Educators invited to attend Social Studies DBQ Workshop series
Maine DOE is inviting teachers of grades 6-12 to participate in a two-part social studies workshop series scheduled for Nov. 5 and March 15 in Waterville. | More
Registration open for ATMNE regional math conference
Maine DOE and the Association of Teachers of Mathematics in Maine will welcome math educators from across New England this month for the regional Association of Teachers of Mathematics in New England conference. | More
Spirit of Community Awards open for grades 5-12
Maine students in grades 5-12 who have made meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service in the past year are invited to apply for a Prudential Spirit of Community Award. | More
More Dispatches | Press Releases | From the Commissioner
LATEST DOE Career/Project Opportunities
- Education Specialist II – Consultant for Children with Disabilities
- Education Specialist II – Special Education – Special Purpose Schools and Out of District Placements (State Wards/State Agency Clients)
- Request for Proposals: Annual Conference and Meeting Management
- View current Child Development Services employment opportunities here
Maine DOE implements fiscal risk assessment tool for SAUs receiving IDEA funds
Beginning with the FY 16 grant year, and due to the recent adoption of Uniform Guidance for federal grants (UG), Maine DOE Special Services has implemented a fiscal risk assessment tool for all Maine school administrative units (SAUs) receiving Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), PART B – 611 or 619 funds. The assessment calculates fiscal risk by assigning weighted numeric values to multiple measures impacting federal grant management resulting in a total risk value. Examples of measures used in the calculation of the total risk value include:
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Be safe in sharing the road with school buses
In Maine, about 80 percent of students ride the school bus, and this ridership is high compared to 50 percent national student ridership. During the school year in Maine, about 140,000 children are transported on 3,000 school buses by 2,200 school bus drivers over 30 million miles of urban and rural roads. To add to this, Maine traditionally has one of the best safety records in the nation.
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National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certified Teacher Salary Supplement – due Oct. 15
Superintendents are being reminded that Maine educators, who attained National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (or its successor organization) certification prior to July 1, may be eligible for a salary supplement for the 2015-16 school year.
Maine DOE Newsroom 