The Maine DOE is encouraging schools to participate in an upcoming pilot of the State’s alternate assessment for students with significant cognitive disabilities.
Continue reading “Pilot participation, training offered on alternate assessment”
Maine DOE offers resources to support English Learners
Maine’s population of English Learners (ELs) continues to increase. The Maine DOE offers the following EL guidance and resources to support districts in effectively serving these students:
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Maine DOE publishes guidance for districts processing charter school invoices
The Department has posted documents clarifying the process for preparing or disputing charter school invoices to resident school administrative units (SAUs). Clarification on how to determine the amount payable by a SAU to a charter school can be found here.
Continue reading “Maine DOE publishes guidance for districts processing charter school invoices”
Annual notification of eligibility for schoolwide programs
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.”
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Commissioner’s Update – August 28, 2014
Featured Dispatch
Smarter Balanced digital library of formative assessment tools passes 1K item mark
Members of Maine’s Digital Library State Network of Educators were among 80 educators from the Smarter Balanced participating states that convened July 14-17 for a marathon work session to review and evaluate resources submitted to the Digital Library. Marilyn Joyce of Brewer and Sandra Cookson of RSU 87 along with Maine DOE specialist Morgan Dunton were on hand as the Digital Library count passed 1,000 items and kept climbing.
The Smarter Balanced Digital Library is a clearinghouse of instructional resources vetted by educators trained to recognized key criteria such as alignment to standards and elements of the formative assessment process. Each resource in the library underwent a rigorous review process. This peer-reviewed process included monitoring for essential elements as well as a quality criteria review.
During the four day work session, more than 600 items were approved through the review process raising the number of resources in the library to over 1200. That number is still climbing as the library preview period continues. The Digital Library preview will end on September 30 and is expected to go live later this fall. Specific details will be shared as soon as they are available.
Notices and Reporting
- Notice describing school IPM program, due September 1
- IPM Coordinator name and contact information report, due September 1
- Update of Maine Schools, due September 5
- FY14 Perkins Performance Report (Encumbered Obligations Report), due September 30
More Notices | Administrative Letters | Reporting Calendar
News & Views
9/11 Remembrance lesson plans available
The Corporation for National and Community Service is sharing free lesson plans focused on teaching 9/11 to children to bring the message of service and remembrance into the classroom. | More
Call for Senate Youth Program nominees
The Maine DOE is encouraging principals and headmasters in Maine schools to nominate one student for the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP). | More
Maine DOE hosts webinar on proficiency-based diplomas readiness
In response to requests, the Department is offering a webinar titled Proficiency-Based Diplomas: Extension or Confirmation on the morning of September 5 from 9-10:00. | More
FAQs on the piloting of PEPG systems
As educators across the state know, the last two years have been abundant with conversation, revision and activity related to developing and implementing Performance Evaluation and Professional Growth (PEPG) systems. | More
Student behavior management and update on restraint and seclusion rules
A recently-adopted rule regarding the use of restraint or seclusion in schools limits the use of restraint or seclusion to manage behavior to situations in which the health or safety of a student or others is at risk. | More
New Staff EPS FTE Reports by district available in NEO
The new Staff EPS FTE Reports provide information by SAU pertaining to current staff data as entered into the MEDMS staff reporting system and used in the EPS subsidy calculation. | More
Maine DOE applying for federal school nutrition pilot program
The Maine DOE is applying to be part of a pilot program that would enable local food service departments to utilize part of their USDA food entitlement funds (PAL) to purchase unprocessed products. | More
Upcoming Maine Security School Workshop
The Maine DOE is encouraging school staff to attend a Maine School Security Workshop to be held September 18 at Hampden Academy and September 19 at Westbrook Middle School. | More
More Dispatches | Press Releases | From the Commissioner
LATEST DOE Career/Project Opportunities
Smarter Balanced digital library of formative assessment tools passes 1K item mark
Members of Maine’s Digital Library State Network of Educators were among 80 educators from the Smarter Balanced participating states that convened July 14-17 for a marathon work session to review and evaluate resources submitted to the Digital Library. Marilyn Joyce of Brewer and Sandra Cookson of RSU 87 along with Maine DOE specialist Morgan Dunton were on hand as the Digital Library count passed 1,000 items and kept climbing.
9/11 Remembrance lesson plans available
The Corporation for National and Community Service is sharing free lesson plans focused on teaching 9/11 to children to bring the message of service and remembrance into the classroom. The plans are created by 9/11 Day, the nation’s largest annual day of charitable engagement, and provide teacher-inspired ideas for projects and activities for students.
Call for Senate Youth Program nominees
The Maine DOE is encouraging principals and headmasters in Maine schools to nominate one student for the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP). Nominees must be a junior or senior in a Maine School and serve in an elected or appointed leadership capacity.
Maine DOE hosts webinar on proficiency-based diplomas readiness
In response to requests, the Department is offering a webinar titled Proficiency-Based Diplomas: Extension or Confirmation on the morning of September 5 from 9-10:00.
Continue reading “Maine DOE hosts webinar on proficiency-based diplomas readiness”
FAQs on the piloting of PEPG systems
As educators across the state know, the last two years have been abundant with conversation, revision and activity related to developing and implementing Performance Evaluation and Professional Growth (PEPG) systems so that all students have access to effective teachers and principals.
Maine DOE Newsroom 