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Home > Rules & Legislation > Letters from the Commissioner > Informational Letters > Letter 26

 

INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO:  #26
POLICY CODE:  GCA

 

TO:                 Superintendents of Schools

FROM:            Susan A. Gendron, Commissioner

DATE:             September 26, 2006

SUBJECT:       Chapter 118 – Support Systems: Standards and Procedures for Operation (Proposed amended title: Purposes, Standards and Procedures for Educational Personnel Support Systems)


******** Please Forward to Support System Chairpersons ********


The State Board of Education is proposing amendments to Chapter 118 – Support Systems: Standards and Procedures for Operation (proposed amended title: Purposes, Standards, and Procedures for Educational Personnel Support Systems). This rule contains the requirements for educator certification support systems.  Among the amendments is the inclusion of required performance standards, “Maine’s Initial Teacher Certification Standards”.  The proposed amendments also include:

  • a “Statement of Purpose” to clarify the new “Professional Learning Community” model described;
  •  revised definitions;
  •  inclusion of educational specialists with other educational personnel;
  • the option of including educational technicians in the local support plan, at the discretion of the SAU;
  • procedures for use by local support systems which support educators in seeking higher certification;
  • a requirement for approved formal training for new teacher mentors;
  • use of the National Board for Professional Teacher Standards to receive master teacher certification;
  • a Teacher Action Plan based on “Maine’s Initial Teacher Certification Standards”; and
  • the requirement for a standards-based e-portfolio for movement from provisional to initial professional certification (full implementation of the portfolio requirement is planned for 2011 to give time for research and development). A copy of the original rule is available at:  http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/rules/05/chaps05.htm

A copy of the proposed rule is available at:  http://www.maine.gov/education/rulechanges.htm

A public hearing will be held on the proposed rule as follows:

Monday, October 16, 2006, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m., First Floor, Room 103, Burton M. Cross State Office Building, Augusta.

Individuals may participate in the hearing simultaneously using the Department’s Interactive Distance Learning Network from the following ATM locations:  Bangor Public Library, Bangor; Greely High School, Cumberland; and Presque Isle High School, Presque Isle.

Written comments on the proposed rule will be considered if received in the Department of Education by 5:00 p.m., November 6, 2006.  This can be accomplished by: delivering them to the receptionist on the 5th Floor of the Burton M. Cross State Office Building; mailing them to Daniel J. Conley, Distinguished Educator for Teacher Quality, 23 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0023; faxing them to Daniel J. Conley at 207-624-6639; or emailing them to dan.conley@maine.gov

We encourage public participation in this rule-making process.