Narrowing down the process

The Standardized Assessment Task Force and a few hundred stakeholders and educators all weighed in as the Maine DOE crafted a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking a new vendor for the 2015-16 administration of the MEA for math and ELA/literacy. The comments and feedback were crucial to the process and helped inform the writing of the document that is in its final stages. The finalized RFP goes to the Maine State Bureau of Purchases and Sales for approval, which includes securing the Governor’s approval. After that, Maine DOE will make the RFP publicly available.

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Deadline is nearing to report proficiency-based implementation progress

The following priority notice was sent today to district administrators as a reminder to complete the 2014-15 proficiency-based learning implementation survey.

The month-long window for completing the 2014-2015 Progress Report: Implementing Proficiency-Based Learning and Proficiency-Based Diplomas is closing on August 27. This 38 question survey released on July 27 provides Maine districts a way to report vital data to the Maine DOE regarding the progress made from July 1, 2014 to July 31, 2015. Many districts say the survey has served as a reflective tool as they set goals and metrics to measure progress.

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Mentoring workshops offered for educators of gifted and talented

New and experienced gifted and talented educators will have an opportunity to learn new skills and practices at upcoming mentoring workshops in Augusta and Bangor sponsored by the Maine DOE.

The workshop will consist of two strands: a full-day strand for new educators and an advanced strand for experienced teachers and administrators in the afternoon only.

The new educator strand will consist of a question-and-answer workshop designed for teachers and administrators who have been working in the field of gifted and talented education for only one or two years, or for those in a newly restructured district. Teachers and administrators are encouraged to come with questions and to share resources. The workshop topics will include identification tools; curriculum options; organizing and managing G/T programs; evaluating program effectiveness; and reviewing the application and budget forms new this year. Patti Drapeau, educational consultant in gifted education for the Maine DOE, will be the facilitator for this strand. For more information, contact her at ptdrapeau@aol.com.

The advanced strand will be meeting concurrently with the new educator strand in the afternoon only. It will address particular questions, concerns and challenges that the participants bring to the workshop. The topics should be far-reaching given that experienced attendees will be coming from rural and urban communities, small and large schools, and new or established programs. Examples of topics include dual exceptionalities, K-2 programming, consultation and changing the focus of an established program. Lee Worcester, consultant in gifted education for the Maine DOE, will be the facilitator for this strand. For more information or to suggest a topic for discussion (by Sept. 14), contact her at lee.worcester@yahoo.com or 943-8804 by Sept. 14.

The one-day mentoring workshops will be held on Sept. 24 and 28, free of charge. The same information will be presented on both workshop days. Choose one of the following events:

  • Thursday, Sept. 24, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. New educator strand 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Advanced strand 1 – 3 p.m. ONLY Burton Cross Office Building 111 Sewall Street Augusta
  • Monday, Sept. 28, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. New educator strand 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Advanced strand 1 – 3 p.m. ONLY United Technologies Center 200 Hogan Road Bangor (morning coffee provided)

To register by the Sept. 17 deadline, please complete this online form. Lunch will not be provided at either workshop.

Resources

Commissioner’s Update – August 20, 2015

From the Maine Department of Education

Results from the spring 2015 Maine Educational Assessment (MEA) for mathematics and English language arts/literacy are being carefully rolled out. The steps in that process include:

Online Reporting System: Since mid-July, preliminary results have been available to schools/SAUs in the Online Reporting System (ORS) of the assessment portal at me.portal.airast.org. These reports have students placed as they were in the Test Information Distribution System (TIDE), and not necessarily aggregated according to Maine’s decision rules (e.g., exclusion of home-schooled students, outplaced students included with sending district, exclusion of students with special considerations). Access to these results is controlled by the permissions structure in TIDE, which allows for different levels of access. Permissions begin with the superintendent’s designation of a District/System Administrator (DSA). If administration changes have taken place which necessitate the assignment of a new DSA, the current superintendent needs to send an email identifying the designated DSA to the Department’s Bethany Dodge at bethany.l.dodge@maine.gov.

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Notices and Reporting

More Notices | Administrative Letters | Reporting Calendar

News & Views

NCLB Report Cards now available

The 2014-15 NCLB Report Cards, showing levels of performance at Maine schools for the 2013-14 school year, are now available through the Maine DOE Data Warehouse. | More

Maine DOE awarded flexibility from Feds

The Maine Department of Education received a three-year waiver allowing flexibility regarding specific requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).  | More

Funds to support proficiency-based diploma transition

Maine school administrative units (SAUs), that operate public schools, will receive targeted funds to support the transition to a proficiency-based diploma again this year. | More

Maine DOE accomplishments for the first half of the year

The first six months of 2015 saw great success for the Maine DOE including these highlights. | More

Reminder to districts: protocol for reviewing invoices for special education services

As of July 1 all of Maine DOE’s contracts with agencies and persons providing special education services to state agency clients stipulate that invoices for those services be sent to the school administrative unit. | More

Professional standards for food service

Starting July 1, local food service directors or the individual completing director’s duties must now meet the minimum hiring requirements. | More

Salary supplement available to eligible educators and school staff

Maine educators and school staff may be eligible for a salary supplement for the 2015-16 school year. | More

Educators encouraged to apply for certification scholarship program

Maine educators are encouraged to apply to and enroll in the certification program offered by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. | More

Maine Teacher of the Year candidates nearing end of reviews

Eight teachers in the running for the 2016 Maine Teacher of the Year title presented to and answered questions from members of the State review panel last week. | More

Conference focuses on effective teaching with an emphasis on tech and social media

On August 6 and 7, a conference entitled “ECET2 Maine Teacher Leadership Summit” (Elevating and Celebrating Effective Teaching and Teachers) was held at Colby College in Waterville. | More

Pilot training of a kindergarten entry assessment

Fifteen Maine kindergarten teachers spent three days last week learning how to pilot a Kindergarten Entry Assessment (KEA). | More

Blue Hill teacher receives week-long learning in nation’s capital

A local teacher’s passion for the Civil War and his collaboration with his school librarian and local historical society, led to a week of learning this summer. | More

Horatio Alger Scholarship now open

Maine students are invited to apply for the 2016 Horatio Alger Association Scholarship Program. | More

Maine DOE staff changes and additions

While many take time to relax over the summer, some folks at Maine DOE have done little of that while embracing their new positions with the Department. | More

Schools invited to host dangers of texting while driving program

Maine schools are invited to host the AT&T “It Can Wait” program, a national initiative designed to educate youth about the dangers of texting while driving. | More

Third annual National Anthem sing-a-long

In Maine, and across the nation, students are invited to sing in unity our National Anthem on September 11. | More

Maine schools invited to study and track weather

Are you a WeatherBug? Maine Schools can now connect more closely with the communities they serve through studying and tracking weather. | More

More Dispatches | Press Releases | From the Commissioner

LATEST DOE Career/Project Opportunities

Conference focuses on effective teaching with an emphasis on tech and social media

On August 6 and 7, a conference entitled “ECET2 Maine Teacher Leadership Summit” (Elevating and Celebrating Effective Teaching and Teachers) was held at Colby College in Waterville. It was organized by the Maine Teacher of the Year Association, and Maine DOE’s Learning Through Technology Team (LTTT) joined in offering support with social media.

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