RUMFORD – SAD 43 is one of nine school districts from throughout the state that will take part in a two-year grant aimed at improving the study of student assessment data.
The Center for Educational Services in Auburn, a nonprofit organization created to offer services to strengthen Maine schools, received a two-year $35,000 grant from the New York-based Betterment Fund. The foundation focuses on areas that improve Maine’s educational and health systems.
Gloria Jenkins, curriculum coordinator for SAD 43, said Wednesday that the grant will enable representatives from each of the pilot districts to participate in a series of three workshops this year, then others at a later time.
Mountain Valley High School Principal Matthew Gilbert and Meroby Elementary School Principal Scott Drown attended the first one last week. It was held in Waterville. Future workshops, also set for Waterville, take place on March 1 and April 5.
The grant allows participating districts to work together on student assessments. These include such things as changing the traditional letter grades to those that report how well students are meeting educational standards as prescribed by the Maine Learning Results. The workshops will also teach how schools can use technology for assessment work.
Jenkins said the Center for Educational Services has in the past helped districts work with technology.
“We’re trying to learn how to use all the data that is being collected,” she said.
Other districts taking part in the grant-funded workshops include Windham, Augusta, East Millinocket and Millinocket, Fort Kent, Presque Isle, Howland, Casco and Baileyville.
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