Governor’s Education Conference to be aired on Maine Public Broadcasting Network’s Capitol Connection

Update: Part four of the conference will air Thursday, March 28, at noon. Dr. Tony Bennett’s keynote speech will air Friday, March 29, at noon, or immediately following legislative hearings.

The following is a news release from the Governor’s Office.

Coverage begins Monday; for air times, visit MPBN.net

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage would like to thank the more than 200 people who attended the Governor’s Education Conference: Putting Students First on Friday.

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Governor’s Conference on Education leads to positive discussions about student-focused reform

Headshot of Florida Education Commissioner Tony Bennet.
Florida Education Commissioner Tony Bennett gave the keynote address at the first Governor’s Conference on Education.

The following is a news release from the Governor’s Office.

Everyone agrees putting students first is most important

AUGUSTA – Invited to Maine by Gov. Paul R. LePage, education policy leaders from around the country shared practices, models and innovative reforms with more than 200 legislators, business leaders, educators and others at Cony High School Friday at the Governor’s Conference on Education: Putting Students First.

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LePage brings education reform to forefront with student-focused conference

The following is a news release from the Governor’s Office.

Governor’s Conference on Education: Putting Students First

AUGUSTA – On Friday, Governor Paul R. LePage will hold his first education conference at Cony High School in Augusta featuring best practices and innovative reforms with education leaders from across the country.

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Commissioner’s Update – March 21, 2013

From the Commissioner

I had the chance last week to talk with five students at Lewiston High School who are taking advantage of an early college opportunity that will save them money, expose them to the college experience, and could lead them to future careers. I picked LHS for the second stop on my Promising Practices tour because the kids I talked to are among 68 juniors and seniors who are taking college classes for credit at institutions like the University of Southern Maine and Central Maine Community College.

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Notices and Reporting

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Weatherbee School gets community involved in Maine Day

Fourth grade student Colin Trudelle uses a microscope to study fiber investigation.
Weatherbee School fourth grade student Colin Trudelle focuses on fiber investigation during a Maine Day paper making workshop (hosted by the Maine Discovery Museum).

George B. Weatherbee School in Hampden recently celebrated its second annual “Maine Day,” a tribute to Maine Statehood Day, by offering dozens of state-themed workshops to its third through fifth grade students on Monday, March 18.

This year’s event featured over 40 presenters, half of whom were outside visitors from the community. Presenters taught workshops that focused on Maine’s slogan: The Way Life Should Be.  Teachers assigned third grade students to workshops, but fourth and fifth graders could sign-up for the workshops that most appealed to them. Workshops included: “A Wicked Good Guide to Maine Language,” in which kids listened to a true Mainer speak and translated to people from afar; “Mission of the Maine Warden Services,” which explained game wardens’ role in protecting fish and wildlife; “Whoopie Pies,” in which students heard about the official state treat; and “Aroostook County,” a brief overview of the area and potato harvesting.

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Register for Maine schoolsite wellness conference

Note: The application due date for the Maine Schoolsite Health Promotion Program (Wellness) Conference has been extended to Thursday, May 9, 2013. The late fee has been reduced to only $205 per participant. This conference is a fabulous professional development opportunity that is the foundation for a year-long schoolsite health promotion program for school staff, students and communities.

The Maine Department of Education invites all Maine school personnel and community participants to attend the 2013 Maine Schoolsite Health Promotion Program “Wellness” Conference. The event will be held Monday, June 24, through Wednesday, June 26. The cost is $195 per person for three full days of the conference.

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AP4ALL registration now open

Student registration 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, opens Wednesday, March 20, at 8 a.m. By offering online Advanced Placement courses at no charge, AP4ALL provides equity of access to any student residing in a Maine public high school regardless of where they live and the limits of resources available in their local school.

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Meeting offered for parents of children with autism spectrum disorders

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders are invited to attend the Critical Decisions: The Journey to Adulthood for Your Son/Daughter with ASD meeting, sponsored by the Maine DOE and the University of Maine College of Education and Human Development. This meeting will be held Monday, April 8, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the University of Maine, Orono in the Union.

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USED announces Equitable Services Implementation Plan

The U.S. Department of Education recently announced a plan for improving the implementation of equitable services requirements under applicable programs authorized by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The plan, which aligns with current statutory and regulatory requirements, demonstrates the U.S. DOE’s commitment to ensure effective implementation of these equitable services provisions. Continue reading “USED announces Equitable Services Implementation Plan”