Approximately 250 high school students enrolled in a Career and Technical Education (CTE) program will earn nearly 3,000 postsecondary credits during the 2015-16 school year due to continued funding from Governor Paul LePage and the Maine Legislature for the Bridge Year Program. Nearly 40 percent of these students are in their second year of the program and are on course to graduate high school, in June of 2016, with up to 30 college credits. This will put them well on their way to earning an associate degree within 12 months after graduation.
Grants awarded in adult education
AUGUSTA – Making close to 500 adult students hirable is the focus of $319,000 Integrated Education and Training Pilot Grant that will be evenly split between five adult education programs spanning from Androscoggin County to Hancock and Aroostook Counties.
Commissioner’s Update – September 17, 2015
From the Maine Department of Education
During the month of August, over 400 PK-12 educators from across Maine attended two-day professional development institutes offered in Presque Isle, Brewer, Lewiston and Saco. The Pathways to Proficiency institute was designed to help teams of educators strengthen their understanding of Maine’s English language arts standards while also bolstering their knowledge of highly effective instructional strategies that support students in achieving proficiency.
Educators expanded their understanding of learning transfer, cognitive rigor and text complexity as they learned instructional strategies for close reading, writing from sources and vocabulary development. Participants also learned how to construct integrated units of study with text sets that focused on ELA and content-area standards.
Notices and Reporting
- Maine Schools Update, due Sept. 28 (Reminder)
- Gifted & Talented Annual Program Approval, due Sept. 30 (Reminder)
- Request for Special Education Contract Approval (EF-S-03) Original Report, due Oct. 15
- EPS October 1 Enrollment Reporting, due Oct. 31
More Notices | Administrative Letters | Reporting Calendar
News & Views
Standardized Assessment Scores for 2014-15
The 2014-15 Smarter Balanced Assessment scores in English language arts and mathematics for grades 3 through 8 and the third year of high school are available. | More
Maine is one of 16 states to gain federal approval on Educator Equity Plan
The U. S. Department of Education has approved Maine’s Educator Equity Plan aimed at increasing access to excellent educators. | More
Maine DOE issues RFP for math & ELA/literacy assessment
The Maine DOE has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking bids to provide statewide assessments online for mathematics & English language arts/literacy. | More
Annual notification of schoolwide program options
Schools that receive federal Title I funds, have poverty rates of at least 40 percent and have approved Title IA Schoolwide Plans are eligible to use their Title I funds – and funds from other sources – to develop “schoolwide programs.” | More
Harvest Lunch Week contest and local food on school menus
Maine Harvest Lunch Week will be celebrated by school districts across the state this year from Sept. 21-25, with the Maine School Garden Open House taking place on Sept. 26. | More
Maine DOE provides $1M in grant funds to CTE schools
Maine DOE is pleased to announce 27 Career and Technical Education schools will receive their share of $1 million in grant funds in FY 2016. | More
Academic eligibility policy
The Maine DOE has posted an example policy on academic eligibility for athletic and co-curricular participation. | More
Maine DOE to host schoolwide training
All Title I schools interested in developing a schoolwide plan are invited to attend two training sessions hosted by the Department this fall. | More
Maine DOE seeks social studies information
The Maine DOE is conducting a survey for social studies educators in prekindergarten through grade 12 to provide a snapshot of programming across the state and inform the Department’s work. | More
Reminder: Certification on Constitutionally Protected Prayer
Maine DOE is reminding school administrative units to complete and submit the Certification on Constitutionally Protected Prayer statement to the Department by Oct. 1. | More
Promoting school attendance
September is Attendance Awareness Month, a national event designed to bring attention to the connection between school attendance and academic achievement. | More
Maine DOE legislative summary available
Maine DOE has prepared a summary of major laws related to education enacted by the First Regular Session of the 127th Maine Legislature. | More
More Dispatches | Press Releases | From the Commissioner
LATEST DOE Career/Project Opportunities
- Education Specialist II – Career and Technical Education
- Request for Proposals: COOP – Alternate Assessments based on Alternate Achievement Standards
- Request for Proposals: Maine Educational Assessment Mathematics & English Language Arts/Literacy
- Request for Proposals: Annual Conference and Meeting Management
- View current Child Development Services employment opportunities here
Maine DOE legislative summary available
Maine DOE has prepared a summary of major laws related to education enacted by the First Regular Session of the 127th Maine Legislature. This information may prove helpful to educators when planning for the 2015-16 school year.
Reminder: Certification on Constitutionally Protected Prayer
Maine DOE is reminding school administrative units to complete and submit the Certification on Constitutionally Protected Prayer statement to the Department by Oct. 1 as required by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).
Continue reading “Reminder: Certification on Constitutionally Protected Prayer”
Promoting school attendance
September is Attendance Awareness Month, a national event designed to bring attention to the connection between school attendance and academic achievement. Studies have shown the importance of building good attendance habits in the early grades and continuing through middle and high school.
Maine DOE provides $1M in grant funds to CTE schools
Maine DOE is pleased to announce 27 Career and Technical Education schools will receive their share of $1 million in grant funds in FY 2016. These funds may be used for upgrading equipment needed to complete the standards, certifying programs and teachers to be able to offer Industry Recognized Credentials (IRCs) and for student skill assessments related to the mandated standards. The grant fulfills the CTE standards requirement required in Title 20-A, section 8306-B.
Continue reading “Maine DOE provides $1M in grant funds to CTE schools”
Annual notification of schoolwide program options
Schools that receive federal Title I funds, have poverty rates of at least 40 percent and have approved Title IA Schoolwide Plans are eligible to use their Title I funds – and funds from other sources – to develop “schoolwide programs.”
Continue reading “Annual notification of schoolwide program options”
Harvest Lunch Week contest and local food on school menus
Maine Harvest Lunch Week will be celebrated by school districts across the state this year from Sept. 21-25, with the Maine School Garden Open House taking place on Sept. 26. This year’s theme is “A Fresh Take on School Meals.”
Continue reading “Harvest Lunch Week contest and local food on school menus”
Maine DOE seeks social studies information
The Maine DOE is conducting a survey for social studies educators in prekindergarten through grade 12 to provide a snapshot of programming across the state and inform the Department’s work. The survey is open now through Sept. 30. Click here to take the survey.
Continue reading “Maine DOE seeks social studies information”
Maine DOE Newsroom 