Maine DOE Monthly – May 27, 2014

Welcome to the May issue of the Maine DOE Monthly.

Spring is a season of celebrations, and in keeping with that, we spent much of the month celebrating the students, teachers and improvements at Maine schools.

We released the 2014 school report cards, and recognized the 121 A and B schools as well as those that showed great growth with certificates of achievement signed by Governor LePage and Commissioner Rier. In conjunction with the report card rollout, we also spent the week visiting several of the 100 or so schools that improved by at least one letter grade so we could congratulate their progress and learn more about what they are doing to inspire students and raise performance levels.

Earlier this month, we also recognized the new County Teachers of the Year at a State House ceremony during Teacher Appreciation Week and tonight, Commissioner Rier will honor diploma recipients at the first of three Adult Education graduations he’ll speak at, reflecting our commitment to education and workforce development.

If you’re curious about what’s worth celebrating in your local school, then visit our Education Data Warehouse to see their report card and dozens of data points. Since the grades went public earlier in May, thousands of Mainers have visited this free Maine DOE resource to learn about the many positive things happening in their schools and what opportunities exist for supporting improvement. You can watch a short webinar on how to use the warehouse here.

As always, read on for a roundup of other recent updates from the Department and stay tuned to our Newsroom and weekly Commissioner’s Updates for the latest news you can use from the Maine DOE.

Dispatches & Press Releases

State releases 2014 report cards, congratulates high performing and high progress schools

AUGUSTA –The 2014 school report cards are out and certificates of achievement signed by Governor Paul R. LePage and Education Commissioner Jim Rier are in the mail for 121 schools that earned an A or B grade. | More

Commissioner celebrates Washington County school improvements on first day of report card rollout tour

MACHIAS – Maine’s Commissioner of Education spent Monday in Washington County, recognizing two schools there for raising their grades on the 2014 school report cards that will be released to the public on Thursday. | More

Maine DOE report cards offer learning opportunities

Just as we teach our kids to be lifelong learners, we have to be too. The school report cards released by the Department provide a learning opportunity for us all. Some will be quick to dismiss the grades and the Department that delivers them. Others will use them exactly as Maine DOE intended, seeing them as a snapshot of a school’s performance and a springboard for diving into the data to learn more about a school’s strengths and where there are opportunities for improvement. | More

Commissioner Rier commends Adult Education, graduates at three ceremonies

TOPSHAM – Maine’s Education Commissioner will celebrate the 57 students who have earned their high school degree at the Merrymeeting Adult Education graduation tonight. He will participate in two other adult education graduations this spring, including the RSU 52 Adult and Community Education graduation in Turner on May 30 and the Windham/Raymond Adult Education graduation in Windham on June 12. | More

Education Commissioner recognizes County Teachers of the Year

This Teacher Appreciation Week, I had the honor on behalf of the Department and the LePage Administration of recognizing the first-ever Maine County Teachers of the Year. | More

Students, educators to showcase technology as learning tool at annual MLTI conference

ORONO – Students from 44 schools will gather at UMaine on Thursday to showcase how technology provided by the Maine Department of Education is transforming their learning and better preparing them for classroom and career success. | More

Maine DOE strengthens educator effectiveness

The Department has adopted Rule Chapter 180, which establishes standards and procedures for the implementation of performance evaluation and professional growth systems that improve educator effectiveness by establishing clear expectations and providing actionable feedback and support to help educators meet them. | More

More

Dispatches
Press Releases
From the Commissioner

Commissioner to speak at Merrymeeting Adult Ed graduation

TOPSHAM – Maine’s Education Commissioner will celebrate the 57 students who have earned their high school degree at the Merrymeeting Adult Education graduation this Tuesday.

Commissioner Jim Rier, who lives in Topsham where the program is based, will join Class of 2014 student speakers Kylie Patterson and Precene Louis, SAD 75 Superintendent Bradley Smith, Brunswick School District Superintendent Paul Perzanowski and Merrymeeting Adult Education Director Diana McCain in delivering remarks at the ceremony. Continue reading “Commissioner to speak at Merrymeeting Adult Ed graduation” →

Commissioner’s Update – May 22, 2014

From the Maine DOE

Following several changes by the Maine Legislature, I am pleased to say that the Department has finally adopted Rule Chapter 180, which establishes standards and procedures for the implementation of performance evaluation and professional growth systems (known as PE/PG systems) that each school administrative unit (SAU) is required to have implemented by the 2015-16 school year. PE/PG systems for teachers and principals improve educator effectiveness by establishing clear expectations for professional practice and student learning/growth and providing actionable feedback and support to help educators meet them.

The Department outlined the changes it made through the public rulemaking process last fall in a previous Commissioner’s Update dispatch. It is important to note that during the Legislature’s review this spring of Maine DOE’s provisionally-adopted rule, there was agreement that student growth measures should be a significant factor in determining a teacher or principal effectiveness rating and that local school boards have the authority and responsibility to approve or reject the stakeholder group’s proposed PE/PG system plan. Additionally, the Legislature maintained that the Maine DOE will still have to approve PE/PG system plans and that there are contingencies if local stakeholder groups can’t reach consensus, including adoption of a State model.

Notices and Reporting

More Notices Administrative Letters Reporting Calendar

News & Views

State releases 2014 report cards, congratulates high performing and high progress schools

AUGUSTA – The 2014 school report cards are out and certificates of achievement signed by Governor Paul R. LePage and Education Commissioner Jim Rier are in the mail for 121 schools that earned an A or B grade. | More

Students, educators to celebrate technology as learning tool at annual MLTI conference

ORONO – Students from 44 schools will gather at UMaine on Thursday to showcase how technology provided by the Maine Department of Education is transforming their learning and better preparing them for classroom and career success. | More

Maine DOE proposes rules for suicide awareness and prevention

The enactment of PL 2013, Chapter 53, (LD 609), An Act To Increase Suicide Awareness and Prevention in Maine Public Schools, requires all Maine school personnel to be trained in suicide awareness and prevention. It further requires all school administrative units (SAU) to put supports in place to help prevent suicide. | More

Maine DOE releases professional practice model survey results

The development and implementation of Performance Evaluation and Professional Growth (PE/PG) systems has prompted many school administrators to look for opportunities to share ideas and resources. | More

Maine DOE reminds districts of new military identifier for fall reporting

The Maine DOE is reminding superintendents, Infinite Campus (IC) data managers, building administrators and school office personnel of the state-wide implementation of the military-dependent child identifier responses in Infinite Campus expected in the upcoming October upload. | More

Maine DOE announces 2014 summer literacy institute

The Maine DOE is inviting teams of educators to attend the 2014 Summer Literacy Institute to be held August 12-13 at Thomas College in Waterville. The two-day event will feature members of the Vermont Writing Collaborative sharing its book Writing for Understanding. Presenters will explain the Writing for Understanding approach which describes a method of teaching writing that clearly matches the purpose and supports inclusion of strong evidence to support the main ideas. | More

Members sought for deaf or hard of hearing commission

The Maine Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened (CDHHLD) is seeking nominations to fill vacancies on the Commission. Students, parents, educators and community members with knowledge and experience related to hearing loss are especially important to the work the Commission does to implement positive changes for Maine’s deaf and hard of hearing citizens. | More

Department reminds SAU’S of additional 2013-14 HQT data collection requirement

Maine is required by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) to conduct a second “Highly Qualified” Teacher (HQT) data collection for the 2013-14 school year. | More

LATEST DOE Career/Project Opportunities

More

Dispatches Press Releases From the Commissioner

Maine DOE strengthens educator effectiveness

Following several changes by the Maine Legislature, I am pleased to say that the Department has finally adopted Rule Chapter 180, which establishes standards and procedures for the implementation of performance evaluation and professional growth systems (known as PE/PG systems) that each school administrative unit (SAU) is required to have implemented by the 2015-16 school year. PE/PG systems for teachers and principals improve educator effectiveness by establishing clear expectations for professional practice and student learning/growth and providing actionable feedback and support to help educators meet them.

The Department outlined the changes it made through the public rulemaking process last fall in a previous Commissioner’s Update dispatch. It is important to note that during the Legislature’s review this spring of Maine DOE’s provisionally-adopted rule, there was agreement that student growth measures should be a significant factor in determining a teacher or principal effectiveness rating and that local school boards have the authority and responsibility to approve or reject the stakeholder group’s proposed PE/PG system plan. Additionally, the Legislature maintained that the Maine DOE will still have to approve PE/PG system plans and that there are contingencies if local stakeholder groups can’t reach consensus, including adoption of a State model.

Continue reading “Maine DOE strengthens educator effectiveness” →

Maine DOE proposes rules for suicide awareness and prevention

The enactment of PL 2013, Chapter 53, (LD 609), An Act To Increase Suicide Awareness and Prevention in Maine Public Schools, requires all Maine school personnel to be trained in suicide awareness and prevention. It further requires all school administrative units (SAU) to put supports in place to help prevent suicide.

Continue reading “Maine DOE proposes rules for suicide awareness and prevention” →

Maine DOE announces 2014 summer literacy institute

The Maine DOE is inviting teams of educators to attend the 2014 Summer Literacy Institute to be held August 12-13 at Thomas College in Waterville. The two-day event will feature members of the Vermont Writing Collaborative sharing its book Writing for Understanding. Presenters will explain the Writing for Understanding approach which describes a method of teaching writing that clearly matches the purpose and supports inclusion of strong evidence to support the main ideas.

Continue reading “Maine DOE announces 2014 summer literacy institute” →

Members sought for deaf or hard of hearing commission

The Maine Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened (CDHHLD) is seeking nominations to fill vacancies on the Commission. Students, parents, educators and community members with knowledge and experience related to hearing loss are especially important to the work the Commission does to implement positive changes for Maine’s deaf and hard of hearing citizens.

Continue reading “Members sought for deaf or hard of hearing commission” →

Maine DOE reminds districts of new military identifier for fall reporting

The Maine DOE is reminding superintendents, Infinite Campus (IC) data managers, building administrators and school office personnel of the state-wide implementation of the military-dependent child identifier responses in Infinite Campus expected in the upcoming October upload.

Continue reading “Maine DOE reminds districts of new military identifier for fall reporting” →