Downeast students earn passing grade from Marine Resources Commissioner for winter flounder project

More than 50 students from coastal high schools presented their preliminary findings on their winter flounder project to Maine Commissioner of Marine Resources Patrick Keliher last week. Continue reading “Downeast students earn passing grade from Marine Resources Commissioner for winter flounder project” →

Maine DOE announces preview period for Smarter Balanced digital resources

The Smarter Balanced Digital Library preview launched on June 3.These on-demand materials are aligned to the Smarter Balanced assessment targets and will be an important resource for Maine teachers to understand progress in student learning. Continue reading “Maine DOE announces preview period for Smarter Balanced digital resources” →

Maine mathematics educators honored

seadogs
Left to right: Jackie Mitchell (1999-retired), Marilyn Curtis (2013-retired), Donna Hardt (2014-RSU 13), Ellen Greeke (2003-retired), Marshalyn Baker (2000-retired), Pam Rawson (2011-Baxter Academy for Technology and Science, Portland), Shawn Towle (2008-Falmouth Middle School), Jenny Jorgensen (2012-Harrison Middle School, Yarmouth) and David Heckman (2002-retired).

The Portland Sea Dogs recently recognized the current and several past recipients of the Jacqueline Mitchell Mathematics Educator Award. The award is given to an outstanding mathematics educator who demonstrates a commitment to Maine’s mathematical community through dedicated service.

Since its inception in 1999, 15 Maine educators have received the award given annually by the Association of the Teachers of Mathematics in Maine (ATOMIM). Eight honorees were in attendance at the game along with Jackie Mitchell, the former Maine Mathematics Specialist for whom the award was named. The honorees were celebrated on the field and Marilyn Curtis, a retired mathematics educator and the 2013 recipient of the award, tossed out the first pitch.

Maine music educators hold conference

Maine music teachers and students gathered at the University of Maine in Orono for the Maine Music Educators Association’s (MMEA) In-Service Conference last month. The conference offered performances from chorus, band, strings and jazz, and also provided professional development opportunities on proficiency and student assessment methods specific to each area of instruction. The workshops focused on the value of music education and musicianship and were presented by university and K-12 faculty, conductors, professional musicians and band directors.   Continue reading “Maine music educators hold conference” →

Maine FFA student officers receive leadership training

Trainers from the National FFA Organization (formerly known as “Future Farmers of America”) traveled to Aroostook County last week to prepare the new team of Maine FFA State Officers for their responsibilities in overseeing the duties of the student-run leadership organization for secondary and middle school students enrolled in agriculture and natural resource classes.  Continue reading “Maine FFA student officers receive leadership training” →

New toll-free fax number for MEDMS helpdesk

The Maine DOE is pleased to share that the Maine Education Data Management System (MEDMS) Helpdesk has a new toll-free fax number: 866-219-8344. Please be advised this new number replaces 207-512-1150 and do not send faxes to that number any longer.

MEDMS helpdesk staff are additionally available to provide technical assistance at MEDMS.helpdesk@maine.gov or 207-624-6896.

Maine DOE to implement new school staff survey

Please note that this notification is different from the NEO based HQT data collection requirement discussed in a recent Commissioner’s Update.

Maine school administrative units (SAUs) have been completing the Educator Quality and Effectiveness Survey initiated by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) annually since 2010. The survey data has been collected through the Maine Education Data Management System (MEDMS).   Certain data elements of this survey are required for the Department’s annual federal reporting and other elements related to teacher and principal performance evaluation and professional growth (PE/PG) are now being collected by the Department’s educator effectiveness coordinator.  As a result and building upon the feedback collected from previous year’s surveys, the Department is implementing a new process for the data collection. Continue reading “Maine DOE to implement new school staff survey” →

Commissioner’s Update – May 29, 2014

From the Maine DOE

There is perhaps no greater opportunity to ensure Maine students graduate college and career ready than the transition to proficiency-based diplomas now underway in our state.

That’s why our Department supported the 2012 law making it mandatory that schools award these diplomas starting in 2018 and why we have worked hard in the two years since to be a resource to districts as they make this significant shift. It is also why earlier this week, the Department previewed the options it was offering Maine school administrative units (SAUs) who need more time in meeting this requirement.

The decision to use the authority I have under a provision in Maine’s Basic School Approval Law to grant school units waivers from the proficiency-based diploma requirement through July 1, 2020 was not one I took lightly.

Notices and Reporting

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News & Views

State supports proficiency-based diplomas, offers districts implementation flexibility

AUGUSTA – The Maine Department of Education affirmed its commitment to the state’s students being awarded diplomas based on proficiency but announced today it would give school districts more flexibility in meeting a requirement to do so by 2018.  | More

Maine DOE provides Q & A on educator effectiveness system development

Earlier this month, the Maine DOE announced the final adoption of rule Chapter 180, which governs the development and implementation of Performance Evaluation and Professional Growth (PE/PG) systems that improve teacher and principal effectiveness. | More

Maine DOE offers training to new ESEA/NCLB coordinators

The Maine DOE is inviting new coordinators of Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)/No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Title Programs to a free training session in Augusta on July 10. | More

Maine teachers chosen for summer humanities institute

PORTLAND– Five Maine teachers have been selected as National Endowment for the Humanities (NEW) Summer Scholars from a national applicant pool to attend an Acadian culture summer institute. | More

Maine DOE offers facilities, maintenance staff training

The Maine DOE and the Educational Plant Maintenance Association of Maine invite school administrators, facilities directors, business managers, maintenance teams and custodial staff to the 46th Annual School Facilities Conference at Colby College on June 23-25. Registration to the multi-track conference on leadership, maintenance and custodial care is free to public school staff. | More

Guidance on transportation for special education students and equivalent school days

Maine Unified Special Education Regulations (MUSER) §VI.2.L state that “[i]t is the full expectation that children eligible under this Chapter will attend school the equivalent amount of time per day as children without disabilities in the same school and/or program.”  | More

New mentor reading program opportunity for schools

Funding is now available to Maine schools from the Barbara Bush Foundation to offer a Teen Trendsetters™ program for their students. | More

Maine FFA Association holds annual convention

Students in the Maine FFA Association (formerly known as “Future Farmers of America”) celebrated another year of accomplishments during their State Convention at the University of Maine, Orono earlier this month. | More

LATEST DOE Career/Project Opportunities

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