Federal funding cuts affect Maine programs

On Oct. 5, 2011, the President signed a second FY 2012 Continuing Appropriations Resolution to provide funding for the federal government through Nov. 18, 2011.  Included in this resolution was a 1.5  percent rescission to funds appropriated for several educational programs, including programs funded under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), and the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act.

Continue reading “Federal funding cuts affect Maine programs” →

Bowen presents $25,000 Milken Award to Yarmouth teacher

Surprise! Morgan Cuthbert receives the prestigious award in front of students and colleagues

YARMOUTH – A seventh-grade mathematics and science teacher in his 12th year of teaching was honored at a surprise all-school assembly Monday afternoon with the presentation of a prestigious national teaching award, and a check for $25,000. Maine Department of Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen presented the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award to Morgan Cuthbert in front of students, colleagues, and local and state dignitaries at Frank H. Harrison Middle School in Yarmouth.

Continue reading “Bowen presents $25,000 Milken Award to Yarmouth teacher” →

State Ed Board member receives national honor

The following is a press release from the Maine State Board of Education

Nancy Perkins is awarded the Distinguished Service Award by NASBE

AUGUSTA – The national organization that represents state boards of education from across the United States has awarded Nancy Perkins, a member of the Maine State Board of Education, its 2011 Distinguished Service Award. The national award from the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) is given annually to a state board of education member in recognition of outstanding service to public education.

Continue reading “State Ed Board member receives national honor” →

Commissioner’s Update – Oct. 20, 2011

Newsletter image
Click the image to view the fully formatted Commissioner's Update.
Earlier this week, the Department of Education put an ambitious, yet achievable, plan for improving our state’s early learning programs into the mail. Now, it’s in the hands of the U.S. Department of Education to determine whether Maine’s Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge grant application is funded.

Staff members at the Maine DOE worked with colleagues at the Maine Department of Health and Human Services and with partners in higher education to craft a plan that sets consistent standards of quality for our current patchwork of early learning programs and offers the programs incentives to subscribe to those high standards. The plan also proposes improvements that will make it easier for families to make informed early childhood care and education decisions, and proposes significant investments in the resources available to train Maine’s workforce of early childhood educators.

If we’re fortunate enough to receive Race to the Top funding, the benefits will be widespread and longlasting. The funding will help us add to the solid foundation for early learning we already have in Maine.

And the results are something the professionals in our public schools will notice. The high-needs children who enter kindergarten with a solid educational foundation will enter our state’s schools ready to succeed.

Continue reading “Commissioner’s Update – Oct. 20, 2011” →