School transportation directors, supervisors, mechanics, bus drivers, and computer technicians from all over Maine will be traveling to Sugarloaf Mountain for the annual intensive training on school transportation.
Continue reading “Safety top focus at school transportation conference”
The Maine DOE reminds district administrators that health care plans developed for students who require services during the school year must be reviewed if those students are attending extended school year (ESY) programming. The plans must be reviewed and revised by the school nurse, parent and primary care provider as needed for these summer learning opportunities. If the students required nursing services during the school year, the same is true for ESY.
The Office of Special Services is responsible for the state’s oversight and support for the delivery of all special education services provided in Maine under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). A new rule adoption, Chapter 101: Maine Unified Special Education Regulation Birth to Age 20, goes into effect on July 19. Continue reading “New rule adoption”
With the legislative enactment of LD 1276 An Act to Improve Educational Assessments of Maine Students, approved by the governor on June 16, now Private and Special Law 2015, Chapter 10, “Directs the Department of Education to terminate the State’s membership in the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium.” The discontinuation of membership in the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium means that we will not be able to use the Smarter Balanced Assessment in future years. It also terminates Maine’s access to the Smarter Balanced Digital Library.
In case you missed the 104th Annual Commissioner’s Conference, here is a recap with valuable links.
Acting Commissioner of Education, Thomas Desjardin opened and closed the conference at Sunday River with timely updates on the ongoing FY16 budget discussions and voting at the State House at the time. He also acknowledged the ever changing educational climate and the hard work and successes of school leaders and Maine DOE’s support through its multi-faceted services.
The following Priority Notice was distributed to school superintendents and business managers today regarding updated FY 2016 ED 279s:
Dear Superintendents and Business Managers,
The Department is pleased to let you know that we have just posted updated FY 2016 (2015-16 school year) State subsidy printouts, known as ED 279s, here on our website.
Continue reading “Message to districts: Updated ED 279s posted for FY 2016”
AUGUSTA – Media is focusing narrowly on just one aspect of State funding to Good Will-Hinckley; specifically, the $530,000 allocated each year to an account for the “Center for Excellence for At-Risk Students,” an account established in 2009 to support Good Will-Hinckley (GWH), but not funded until 2011. However, this is not the only funding the school receives from the State of Maine.
The Maine DOE will accept applications for funding of school renovation projects through the School Revolving Renovation Fund. The Department will be able to approve approximately $10 million in SRRF loans. A portion of each loan will be considered a grant and will be forgiven, and the remaining portion will be paid back over five or 10 years at zero percent interest.
The Summer Food Services Program kicked off in Bangor and Portland on June 19 and is in full swing throughout the state this month. In Bangor, five sites are open keeping students nourished through a cooperative effort of the Good Shepherd Food Bank, Bangor School District, Bangor Housing Authority, USDA, and Maine DOE’s Child Nutrition Services.
Under Maine law, a school administrative unit must offer meals if it has 50 percent or more of its students qualifying for free and reduced school meals, but many sites, like in Bangor, are also offering more than a meal. The kick off included a bounce house and a garden where students learn about seeds and plant growth. The Bangor Boys & Girls Club, who works closely with Bangor Housing Authority, also joined in along with Senator Susan Collins and the media in promoting the program.
More Notices | Administrative Letters | Reporting Calendar
The Maine DOE Certification Office announces new resources, in-person hours, policy for processing in-person applications and more. | More
Child Nutrition Programs of the Maine DOE has a new ride and it’s the first in the Northeast. | More
The Maine DOE continues to provide guidance to Title I schools as they complete their Annual Schoolwide Plan Review, due July 1. | More
The Maine DOE is offering face-to-face training in July to provide guidance to new NCLB Coordinators. | More
This year marked the 12th anniversary of Maine Centers for Women, Work and Community’s free day-long conference, Totally Trades. | More
The tentative Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B Local Entitlement allocations for FY16 funds are available. | More
The Maine DOE Office of Special Services has completed revisions of forms and are available on the website. | More
Students who are placed by their school administrative unit in a special purpose private school must be assured of a pathway to graduation from that SAU. | More
The Competitive Skills Scholarship Program, designed to help Maine residents learn new skills and succeed in a changing economy, is currently accepting applications. | More
More Dispatches | Press Releases | From the Commissioner
The Summer Food Services Program kicked off in Bangor and Portland on June 19 and is in full swing throughout the state this month. In Bangor, five sites are open keeping students nourished through a cooperative effort of the Good Shepherd Food Bank, Bangor School District, Bangor Housing Authority, USDA, and Maine DOE’s Child Nutrition Services.
Maine DOE Newsroom 