The Margaret Chase Smith Library in Skowhegan invites high school seniors to submit essays proposing their plans for improving the American educational system.
Continue reading “HS seniors invited to enter essay contest, propose nationwide education plans”
This week I kicked off my third school tour at Deer Isle-Stonington High School, where it’s clear that Principal Todd West and his staff put student success at the center of every decision they make. The school has not only seen a significant increase in its graduation rate three years in a row, from 58 percent to 94 percent, but it has also launched professional learning communities, advisory periods, and student assistance teams to better their school—and it’s working. By sharing best practices like those at Deer Isle-Stonington, we as educators can learn a lot about improving our schools and doing what works.
While up at Deer-Isle Stonington, I also released the four-year graduation rate for Maine high schools. It rose for a third year in a row, to 85.34 percent for 2012—a rise of more than 1.5 percentage points from the previous year and nearly 5 percentage points since 2009.
Continue reading “Commissioner’s Update – February 28, 2013”
The Portland Symphony Orchestra invites administrators and teachers to participate in a survey that will influence the Symphony’s education and community programs. The Symphony intends to better serve the Maine community by enriching lives through music.
Continue reading “Help Portland Symphony Orchestra shape arts education programs”
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Office of Strategic Initiatives, Partnerships and Outreach is offering the public free, weekly webinars on the Summer Food Service Program. These webinars will review SFSP participation requirements, cover resources and available tools, and highlight successful programs and outreach practices from around the country. At the end of each webinar, FNS program experts will answer listeners’ questions. Listeners should contact the Maine DOE if they have additional questions.
The Maine Department of Education (NCLB Title II, Part B) has a requirement for new Mathematics and Science Partnership grant-funded projects to provide high quality professional development to teachers of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. In accordance with State procurement practices, the Department announces the publication of a Request for Proposals for the professional development.
Continue reading “Math and science partnership projects call for vendor proposals”
Career and Technical education students have access to a number of organizations that may help them develop leadership skills and offer the opportunity to compete in events showcasing their technical skills. These conferences are generally held during the spring of each year in a variety of locations throughout Maine.
Maine physics, physical science and math teachers are invited to attend the Annual High School Physics and Physical Science Teachers Meeting at UMaine in Orono. This event is hosted by the University of Maine Department of Physics and Astronomy, the Maine Center for Research in STEM Education (RiSE Center), and the University of Maine College of Education and Human Development.
Continue reading “Calling physics, physical science & math teachers for annual conference”
Commissioners Stephen Bowen and Mary Mayhew announced on Jan. 30, 2013, that they had signed a joint memorandum to form the State Agency Interdepartmental Early Learning team and to encourage the state’s entire early childhood system to take part in this effort.
Continue reading “New early learning website reflects interagency work”
“What can we all do to help you?”
Three years ago, the state labeled Deer Isle-Stonington High School as one of 10 “persistently low-achieving” schools in Maine. Now DISHS is drawing nothing but acclaim as a result of the dedication of principal Todd West and his faculty to school-wide improvement, from the ground up.
Being labeled one of the lowest-achieving schools impacted not only the reputation of DISHS, but also the students’ opinions of their education. “The damage that that did to the psyche of the school was incredible,” said Leslie Billings, special education/math teacher. “There’s got to be a better way. For many students, their thought process was, ‘If you’re going to be at the bottom, then what’s the point?’ For some of the students, there is no pride in the school because of that.”
Continue reading “Best practices, spirits improve at Deer Isle-Stonington HS”
The FY13 sequester is scheduled to go into effect March 1, 2013. Current calculations from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities project a 5.1 percent across-the-board cut to all nondefense discretionary programming, or roughly $2.5 billion from the U.S. Department of Education’s overall budget.
Continue reading “Sequestration of federal funds anticipated March 1”
Maine DOE Newsroom 