Notice of proposed rule changes to Chapter 115

On Sept. 15, 2012, Rule Chapter 114 (“Purpose, Standards and Procedures for the Review and Approval of Educational Personnel Preparation Programs”) underwent changes. Among the approved amendments included the addition of a course in special education law to administrative certificates already requiring federal and Maine civil rights and education law. Accordingly, Chapter 115, Part II, must now be opened to revise the corresponding certification rules. Continue reading “Notice of proposed rule changes to Chapter 115”

Revisions to federal grant reimbursement system

Subrecipients were notified that starting Sept. 1, 2013 reimbursements will be subject to during-the-award monitoring through the federal grant reimbursement system.  This monitoring consists of uploading supporting documentation with invoices to provide evidence that the request for reimbursement is a reimbursement and is allocable, allowable, and reasonable and necessary under the federal grant award. Continue reading “Revisions to federal grant reimbursement system”

Request purchase of new schools buses by Nov. 25

Each year, new school bus purchase applications open on Nov. 1 and close on Nov.  25.  The due date and instructions are found here on the Maine DOE Reporting Calendar.

On Nov. 1, the Department in collaboration with the Office of Information Technology launched the first design phase of a new school transportation data system called NEO Transportation. During this first design phase public school districts submit their requests for approval to purchase new school buses.  Continue reading “Request purchase of new schools buses by Nov. 25”

Commissioner’s Update – November 14, 2013

From the Maine DOE

There has recently been widespread national media coverage about the rush for test-takers to complete their GED before a new version of the high school equivalency exam is released in January and their previous scores are deleted.

That news has made some Mainers nervous, but they shouldn’t be.

Continue reading →

Notices and Reporting

Continue reading “Commissioner’s Update – November 14, 2013”

GED completion by year’s end encouraged, but not necessary

There has recently been widespread national media coverage about the rush for test-takers to complete their GED before a new version of the high school equivalency exam is released in January and their previous scores are deleted.

That news has made some Mainers nervous, but they shouldn’t be.

Continue reading “GED completion by year’s end encouraged, but not necessary”

Assessing the Guiding Principles

Educators develop performance assessments
Maine educators developed performance assessments at a workshop at Husson University.

As part of its work to support schools in their awarding of proficiency-based diplomas, the Maine DOE is developing sample performance assessments of Maine’s Guiding Principles. The goal of this work is to create a repository of performance assessments that provide student demonstrations of proficiency across a variety of content areas.

Continue reading “Assessing the Guiding Principles”

Record number of Mainers earning high school credential

As Maine moves to a new high school equivalency exam, thousands looking to advance their career and post-secondary aspirations are completing the current GED® this year though doing so before 2014 is not required

AUGUSTA – A record high number of Mainers have earned their high school equivalency credential this year in advance of the State moving to a new exam provider starting in 2014.

Already in the first 10 months of 2013, 2,699 Mainers have successful completed their GED®, a significant increase over the 1,878 who did so in 2012 and the 2,258 who did so in 2011.

Continue reading “Record number of Mainers earning high school credential”

Hour of Code campaign comes to Maine

Sixteen Maine schools have already pledged to participate, and Project>Login will host an Hour-of-Code Dojo at the Augusta Civic Center on Dec. 14

More than 5,000 Maine students from 16 schools will join a national campaign to demystify computer science during the Hour of Code campaign in December – and additional schools may register through Nov. 15. The event is scheduled to coincide with Computer Science Week from Dec. 9-15, during which Project>Login will also host Maine’s first statewide Hour of Code Dojo.

Continue reading “Hour of Code campaign comes to Maine”