Update on status of teacher/principal evaluation rules

Dear Superintendents:

The Department provisionally adopted Chapter 180, the rules for implementing required teacher and principal evaluation systems, seven weeks ago today. A number of you have been asking me and other Department staff when you can expect the new rules on teacher effectiveness evaluations to go into effect. This is to update you on where that stands and why we have not been able to help you move forward with that work.

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Bowen praises improvement efforts at Indian Township and Caravel Middle Schools

CARMEL – Department of Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen commended regional sharing of resources as well as professional development efforts at Indian Township School in Princeton and Caravel Middle School (RSU 87/MSAD 23) in Carmel, which he visited Thursday and Friday as part of his Promising Practices Tour.

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Commissioner’s Update – May 9, 2013

From the Commissioner

It’s been over a week since Governor LePage and I released Maine’s School Performance Grading System. I continue to tour schools that are exemplifying promising practices, including several that have received grades on the lower end of the spectrum. Based on what I’ve seen, these schools are doing many of the right things to get their students invested in learning. It’s important that the Department be engaged with these schools to let them know they have support.

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Notices and Reporting

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Maine schools have Department support

It’s been over a week since Governor LePage and I released Maine’s School Performance Grading System. I continue to tour schools that are exemplifying promising practices, including several that have received grades on the lower end of the spectrum. Based on what I’ve seen, these schools are doing many of the right things to get their students invested in learning. It’s important that the Department be engaged with these schools to let them know they have support. That is why we’ll be hosting a webinar next Thursday to start a series of informative sessions for Maine educators. Continue reading “Maine schools have Department support”

Contribute to SBAC by joining Maine’s State Network of Educators

Update: The deadline for this application has been extended to June 14.

Maine, a member of the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, is seeking educators who have significant experience in formative assessment and deep knowledge of the Common Core State Standards to join Maine’s State Network of Educators (SNE). The Maine DOE invites K-12 teachers and administrators and higher educational professionals to apply if they have experience working with the following student populations: general education, gifted and talented, English language learners and students with disabilities. Continue reading “Contribute to SBAC by joining Maine’s State Network of Educators”

Nominate students, adults and organizations for leadership awards

Maine Youth Action Network would like to recognize the incredible efforts underway by young people and those who support them to make a positive impact in communities across Maine. If you know a young person, adult, group or organization that has demonstrated or supported strong youth leadership and engagement, consider nominating them for the annual MYAN ImpACT Awards.

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