Kevin Facer has joined the Maine DOE as its Visual and Performing Arts Specialist. In his new role, Facer will support districts in their implementation of best practices in visual and performing arts education, participate in the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative and serve as the regional representative for Washington and Hancock Counties.
New federal provisions on maintenance of effort requirement under IDEA
A provision included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act. 2014 (signed by the President in January) sets forth the level of effort a local educational agency (LEA) must meet under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), Part B in the year after it fails to maintain the level of local, or State and local, expenditures for the education of children with disabilities (known as LEA MOE). The provision is effective for the federal fiscal year 2014 Part B grants, which are awarded on July 1, 2014.
Continue reading “New federal provisions on maintenance of effort requirement under IDEA”
Financial education conference schedule for May 8
The Maine Jump$tart Coalition, the 2014 National Jump$tart Coalition State Coalition of the Year, will host its 5th Annual Fostering Financial Education in Maine Schools Conference on Thursday, May 8 at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.
Continue reading “Financial education conference schedule for May 8”
Maine DOE opens registration for free online AP classes
The offering of free Advanced Placement courses through AP4ALL is another way the Maine Department of Education provides digital learning opportunities to all Maine students
AUGUSTA – Student registration is now open for free online Advanced Placement courses that will start next September.
As part of its commitment to providing digital learning opportunities to all Maine students, the Maine Department of Education’s AP4ALL program allows all high school students who are educated at the public expense access to the year-long online Advanced Placement courses. The Department also covers the cost of books and materials.
Continue reading “Maine DOE opens registration for free online AP classes”
Maine DOE Monthly- March 25, 2014
Welcome to the March issue of the Maine DOE Monthly.
Our Department is often thought of as a regulatory agency, but in reality, so much of what we do here each day is centered on being or providing resources to Maine schools and students. The news we share in our weekly Commissioner’s Updates and summarize in this monthly roundup reflects our supporting role.
In March, we provided $500,000 to CTE centers to support the Bridge Year Program, opened registration for all Maine high school students to take free online Advanced Placement courses, offered schools an opportunity to apply for $1.7 million in improvement grants, and launched new resources for community literacy, ingratiating CTE and math, and implementing a proficiency-based diploma. We are also proud to recognize schools and students for their achievements. This month we announced the 39 Reward schools who have high performance or progress under our new ESEA accountability system and named the 22 students whose talented artwork will be showcased on tens of thousands of MLTI devices and throughout our Augusta offices.
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
Maine DOE bridges transition to college, careers with $500,000 in grants
AUGUSTA – As many as 225 students will earn approximately two semesters of college credit before they even graduate from high school, thanks to $500,000 from the Maine Department of Education to support the innovative Bridge Year Program. | More
Maine DOE recognizes reward schools for performance, progress
Just as Maine’s ESEA accountability systems allows our Department to identify schools that most need improvement support, it also recognizes those showing the greatest levels of improvement and performance. Through this process, we are pleased to announce that 19 schools have been named as a High Progress Reward School and 20 as a High Performance Reward School | More
Maine DOE selects student artwork for MLTI screensavers
AUGUSTA – Twenty-two young Maine artists will soon have an audience of tens of thousands of their fellow students and teachers for their artwork. | More
Education Commissioner applauds expansion of student learning opportunities
AUGUSTA – Education Commissioner Jim Rier released the following statement this week in response to the Maine Charter School Commission’s approval of the state’s first public virtual charter school. The unanimous approval authorizes the independent Commission to enter into contract negotiations with Maine Connections Academy, which plans to start serving as many as 300 students from across the state this fall. | More
Preliminary FY15 State subsidy printouts published
The Department is pleased to let you know that the FY 2015 (2014-15 school year) preliminary State subsidy printouts, known as ED 279s, are now available here on our website. It is important to remember that these printouts reflect the currently enacted biennial budget, and will no doubt be adjusted as the Legislature responds to current and projected budget shortfalls. | More
AP4ALL registration now open
Student registration is now open for AP4ALL, which provides online Advanced Placement courses free of charge to any student residing in a Maine school administrative unit who is educated at the public expense. | More
Priority schools invited to apply for $1.7 million in SIG support
For the fifth straight year, the Maine DOE has been awarded money from the U.S. Department of Education Title I School Improvement Grants (SIG) program to turn around our state’s persistently most struggling schools. | More
Literacy for ME offers community literacy webinars
The Maine DOE is providing a webinar series designed to support community literacy teams. This five-part monthly series began in January and will continue through May. | More
Project guides for integrating math and CTE available
The project guides in this publication are intended to give inspiration and guidance to teachers who are looking to develop collaborative units that include mathematics and CTE. They have the intended outcome of improving student engagement, participation and achievement and contain a wealth of resources that can be used as is or adapted to fit particular partnerships. | More
Maine DOE adds standards resources
The Maine DOE has recently added a new Standards in a Proficiency-Based Education page to its Getting to Proficiency website with resources intended to support educators as they make these local decisions. | More
More
Maine DOE releases elementary student assessment results
AUGUSTA – The majority of Maine’s elementary school students are still proficient in reading and math, but State Education Department officials say performance declines in all grade levels tested are a reminder of the importance of school-led improvement work continuing.
The performance of students in grades three through eight, as measured by the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) administered in October, comes just months after the Department announced proficiency in math and reading was on the rise again in Maine high schools, according to scores from the 2013 SAT.
Continue reading “Maine DOE releases elementary student assessment results”
Reminder regional calendars due May 1
Dear CTE Directors and Superintendents,
We are writing to remind you that school administrative units and private schools approved for tuition purposes are expected to establish regional school calendars, in coordination with their local secondary career and technical education school, by May 1.
Commissioner’s Update – March 20, 2014
From the Maine DOE
Yesterday, Governor LePage and I announced the 12 Career and Technical Education (CTE) Centers who will share in $500,000 granted by the Department to support the expansion of the innovative Bridge Year Program.
This funding will allow as many as 225 students to earn approximately two semesters of college credit before they even graduate from high school and develop technical and life skills for success in college, careers and civic life. More importantly, this program reflects an unprecedented collaboration between high schools, CTE centers, higher education and the workforce that will certainly change the lives of these students and the future of our state.
Notices and Reporting
- School Bus Purchase Report, due March 31
- Highly Qualified Teacher Data (Reminder), due March 31
- EPS April 1 Enrollment Reporting (Reminder), due April 15
- Private School April 1 Enrollment Reporting (Reminder), due April 30
- Regional School Calendars (Reminder), due May 1
- 2014 Maine Educator Talent Pool Recommendations (Reminder), due May 2
More Notices
Administrative Letters
Reporting Calendar
News & Views
Maine DOE selects student artwork for MLTI screensavers
AUGUSTA – Twenty-two young Maine artists, including Bangor High School junior Liam Reading’s whose painting is seen at right, will soon have an audience of tens of thousands of their fellow students and teachers for their artwork. | More
Schools to represent Maine at regional conference on education innovation
PORTLAND – Three Maine schools and one Maine school district—Ellsworth High School, Troy Howard Middle School, Westbrook High School and Regional School Unit 2—have been invited to represent their state at a regional conference on effective strategies for improving teaching and learning in the 21st century. | More
Maine DOE bridges transition to college, careers with $500,000 in grants
AUGUSTA – As many as 225 students will earn approximately two semesters of college credit before they even graduate from high school, thanks to $500,000 from the Maine Department of Education to support the innovative Bridge Year Program. | More
Priority schools invited to apply for $1.7 million in SIG support
For the fifth straight year, the Maine DOE has been awarded money from the U.S. Department of Education Title I School Improvement Grants (SIG) program to turn around our state’s persistently most struggling schools. | More
Project guides for integrating math, CTE available
The project guides in this publication are intended to give inspiration and guidance to teachers who are looking to develop collaborative units that include mathematics and CTE. They have the intended outcome of improving student engagement, participation and achievement and contain a wealth of resources that can be used as is or adapted to fit particular partnerships. | More
Maine’s PAEMST winners recognized in Washington, D.C.
Karen Jagonlinzer and Elizabeth Heidemann were among the 101 teachers recognized by President Obama earlier this month in Washington, D.C. as recipients of the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science (PAEMST). | More
Maine schools collaborate to support proficiency-based diploma implementation
Rather than grapple with these challenges on their own, many of Maine’s educators are recognizing the value in building collective intelligence about proficiency-based education. | More
Equipment grants available for Maine food service programs
Maine has received $73,808 in National School Lunch Program Equipment Assistance Grant funds to assist school food authorities (SFAs) in purchasing equipment needed to meet the new nutritional standards for schools as required by the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. | More
PD opportunities for math teachers, leaders
The Association of Teachers of Mathematics in Maine (ATOMIM) will host two events for math teachers, leaders and administrators in April at the University of Maine at Augusta. | More
Maine Student Film and Video Festival contest open
The Maine Student Film and Video Festival is seeking entries through June 1. | More
Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities
- Director of Budget
- ESEA Programs Specialist – Title VI-B (Rural Ed); Title I (Data)
- Substitute Teacher – Mt. View Youth Dev Ctr
- Connect ME Broadband Technical Assistance Initiative Volunteer Literacy Service Technology Grant
More
Innovative Bridge Year ensures college, career readiness
Yesterday, Governor LePage and I announced the 12 Career and Technical Education (CTE) Centers who will share in $500,000 granted by the Department to support the expansion of the innovative Bridge Year Program.
This funding will allow as many as 225 students to earn approximately two semesters of college credit before they even graduate from high school and develop technical and life skills for success in college, careers and civic life. More importantly, this program reflects an unprecedented collaboration between high schools, CTE centers, higher education and the workforce that will certainly change the lives of these students and the future of our state.
Continue reading “Innovative Bridge Year ensures college, career readiness”
Equipment grants available for Maine food service programs
Maine has received $73,808 in National School Lunch Program Equipment Assistance Grant funds. These funds from the United States Department of Agriculture will assist school food authorities (SFAs) in purchasing equipment needed to meet the new nutritional standards for schools as required by the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. Continue reading “Equipment grants available for Maine food service programs”
Maine DOE Newsroom 