The University of Maine System is eliminating out-of-pocket tuition and fees at four of its campuses next fall for any first-year Maine student who qualifies for a need-based federal Pell grant. The new financial aid program will be available to students at University of Maine at Presque Isle, Fort Kent, Augusta, and Machias, officials said […]
education
Posted inMaine, sj-web
USM seeks to put school in reach with $15M plan
PORTLAND (AP) — Officials at the University of Southern Maine say they’re rolling out a $15 million plan to help provide a four-year college education for disadvantaged students in the state. USM President Glenn Cummings says the “Promise Scholars” program is a major piece of the university’s future. The school says it will fund half […]
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Special ed preschool services could shift to local schools
The new law: The Sun Journal asked the Maine Department of Education Tuesday about the new law that reduces state subsidies and returns money to districts that create regional service centers. DOE spokeswoman Rachel Paling said in a written statement that the department is in the process of training facilitators to help districts that want to […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Standardized testing results show Maine students struggle in math
PORTLAND (AP) — Standardized testing results for Maine are in and while students scored high in English and science, fewer than half scored proficiently in math. The Portland Press Herald reported (http://bit.ly/2hqIGqs ) the results include students in third through eighth grades and juniors in high school who took the SAT. Test results show 53 […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
No new Maine charter schools likely this school year or next
PORTLAND (AP) — No new charter schools are expected to open in Maine this school year or next due to a lack of applications, the Maine charter school commission said. There were no serious contenders to open a 10th charter school by the late August state deadline despite some existing charters having waitlists because of […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Paul LePage says classroom teachers are 'a dime a dozen'
PITTSFIELD (AP) — Maine Gov. Paul LePage has criticized traditional education during the unveiling of a new vocational school, describing classroom teachers as “a dime a dozen.” The Morning Sentinel reports the Republican governor made the comments Thursday at the new Cianbro workforce development center, called the Cianbro Institute. The center offers classes such as […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine panel told some parts of new rules for H.S. diplomas confusing
AUGUSTA (AP) — Advocates for Maine students with disabilities and disadvantaged backgrounds told state regulators Monday that proposed new rules for high school diplomas could make it harder for those youth to graduate. A 2012 Maine law says that by 2018, all graduating students should show proficiency in eight subjects. Maine and Vermont are the […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston: It's back to school as summer programs begin
LEWISTON — Less than two weeks after school let out for the summer, Damien Gould, Hamda Mohsin and hundreds of other Lewiston students were back in class Wednesday for Lewiston School Department’s summer programs. More than 1,100 students – nearly 20 percent of the district’s enrollment – are enrolled in programs that have one of […]
Posted inMaine
House blocks statewide teacher contract proposal sought by Paul LePage
AUGUSTA — A proposal to allow the state to negotiate a uniform teacher contract throughout Maine fell short in the House on Tuesday. By an 80-68 vote, lawmakers declined to create a pilot program that would let school districts choose to rely on a contract the state would negotiate with teachers. Rep. David McCrea, D-Fort […]
Posted inMaine
Senate overrides LePage veto of school truancy measure
AUGUSTA — The Senate unanimously opted Tuesday to override Gov. Paul LePage’s veto of a measure that would let educators extend truancy enforcement rules to 5- and 6-year-old students enrolled in public school. LePage said a better answer to truancy should be to make schools so inspiring and exciting that students want to show up […]