Accountabilty & Improvement System

Crafting a System That Works for Maine

The Maine Department of Education has started the work of crafting an accountability and improvement system that's thoughtful, fair and constructive; a system that considers multiple valid measures in determining the performance of students and schools; and a system that helps struggling schools improve rather than feel stigmatized.

As the development of this system begins, the Maine Department of Education is depending on the state's educators, students, parents, school board members and others to participate in this important work by offering their input and serving on designated work groups.

This page will detail Maine's process for constructing a new accountabilty and improvement system, starting with a letter sent to U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Feb. 13, 2012, that lays out the state's plans for crafting a new accountability and improvement system.

Maine is building this new accountability and improvement system in advance of a September 2012 deadline for submitting a request to the federal government for flexibility in implementing the decade-old No Child Left Behind law.

Check this page regularly for updates.

Have Your Say

The Maine Department of Education wants to hear from you as the work to build a new accountability system progresses. The Department is looking for ideas on measuring school and teacher effectiveness, and crafting a system that holds schools accountable and rewards success.

Online

• Join the Discussion. Visit the Maine DOE Newsroom to share your thoughts in an ongoing online discussion about a new accountability and improvement system for the state's schools.
• Stay Informed. Receive the weekly Commissioner's Update from the Department of Education to stay on top of the news.
• Contact Us. Send us your thoughts, or let us know if you'd like to be a part of one of the work groups that will be formed to develop the accountability and improvement system.

Timeline

March 19, 2012

• Request to Hold Accountability Targets Steady. The Maine Department of Education sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Education requesting a waiver that will allow Maine to hold its accountability targets -- the percentage of students expected to reach proficiency on state math and reading assessments in order for a school to make "adequate yearly progress" -- at the 2010-11 levels for another year. The Department is holding its targets at the same level as it works with stakeholders to craft a new system for holding schools accountable and helping them to improve.
• Accompanying documentation: Notice provided for public comment | Achievement gap and graduation rate data | Proof of adoption of college- and career-ready standards (See Chapters 131 and 132.)

Feb. 13, 2012

• Maine DOE makes plans for improved accountability, Maine DOE Newsroom
• Starting the serious work of crafting a new accountability system, Blog entry from Commissioner Bowen
• Letter to U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Signed by Maine Commissioner Bowen and New Hampshire Commissioner Barry

Dec. 14, 2011

• Portland forum focuses on fair, accurate assessment, Maine DOE Newsroom
• Students seek voice in accountability, Maine DOE Newsroom

Dec. 13, 2011

• Online forum on ESEA (Requires Flash*). Watch the webinar: Commissioner Bowen hosted an online forum to collect feedback in preparation for Maine's request for ESEA Flexibility. | Download Commissioner Bowen's presentation (PDF, 1.49MB) | A transcript will be posted soon
• Participants join online ESEA flexibility forum, Maine DOE Newsroom

Dec. 8, 2011

• First forum yields ideas on ESEA flexibility, Maine DOE Newsroom
• Students offer thoughts on accountability, Maine DOE Newsroom

Dec. 5, 2011

• Ed Commissioner asks public for ideas on school accountability and recognition, Press Release, Maine DOE Newsroom

Dec. 1, 2011

• ESEA Flexibility Webinar (Requires Flash*). Watch the webinar: Commissioner Bowen, Rachelle Tome and David Connerty-Marin of the Maine Department of Education updated superintendents on Maine's plans to apply for ESEA flexibility and asked them for their input. | Download Commissioner Bowen's webinar presentation (PDF, 1.57MB) | A transcript will be posted soon
• ESEA Flexibility Application Checklist. Adapted from U.S. Department of Education documents, this checklist outlines the crucial components of a state's application for flexibility from No Child Left Behind.

Nov. 30, 2011

• The upside of not being first, Blog entry from Commissioner Bowen

Sept. 28, 2011

• Welcome news and a special opportunity, Blog entry from Commissioner Bowen

Sept. 27, 2011

• AYP and NCLB Flexibility Webinar (Requires Flash*). Watch the webinar: Commissioner Bowen and Rachelle Tome of the Maine Department of Education shared preliminary information about No Child Left Behind flexibility during an online presentation. | Transcript of the webinar | PowerPoint from the Webinar (PDF, 501KB)

National Resources

• ESEA Flexibility Document, U.S. Department of Education (Microsoft Word, 1.8 MB). Download this 23-page document for an overview of the U.S. Department of Education's ESEA Flexibility program. | Microsoft Word download (1.8MB) | Accessible Microsoft Word download (1.8MB)
• ESEA Flexibility Web Page, U.S. Department of Education. Download and read the ESEA Flexibility applications from the 11 states that submitted them in November 2011 (Look for "ESEA Flexibility Requests Received" heading). Also, this website offers numerous resources and guidance documents to help states put together their flexibility applications.
• Teacher & Leader Evaluation Framework, CCSSO (PDF, 535KB). The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) assembled this overview of teacher and administrator evaluation policies and components to help states put together models to include in their flexibility applications.
• State-by-State Breakdown of Flexibility Plans, Center on Education Policy. The Center on Education Policy offers a listing of each state's publicly announced plans for seeking flexibility from No Child Left Behind.

 

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Updated 02/13/2012