Seeking Input on Application for Federal Ed Funds

DOE to hold five regional meetings starting March 17

March 10, 2010

AUGUSTA – The Maine Department of Education will host five meetings throughout Maine to seek input as it develops Maine’s blueprint for education reform and its application for $75 million or more of federal funds under the Race to the Top initiative.

The meetings are open to all – school administrators, teachers, parents, business people, community members, and others who are interested – and will be working meetings designed to solicit input on education reforms that work and on the application. All meetings are scheduled for 4 to 7 p.m. It is not necessary to register for the meetings. Light refreshments will be available.

The meetings are scheduled as follows:

March 15, Westbrook Middle School - cafeteria
March 17, University of Maine, Orono - Wells Conference Center, Room #1
March 18, University of Maine, Farmington - Olson Student Center, North Dining Hall
March 24, Rose M. Gaffney School, Machias - gymnasium
March 25, University of Maine, Presque Isle - Campus Center, multi-purpose room

The Department has hired West Ed, using a grant from the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, to assist in the development and writing of the Race to the Top application. West Ed will also help facilitate discussion at these regional meetings in March. The application will be finalized and submitted to the U.S. Department of Education by June 1.

At the regional meetings Education Commissioner Sue Gendron will present a conceptual framework for Maine’s application. The Department is interested in ideas for bold action in schools, including bringing existing successful programs to scale and the possibility of implementing initiatives from other states.

These are working sessions – please come prepared to participate.

Following the five regional meetings, summaries of the information gathered at them will be made available on our Race to the Top website. The Department will also schedule several webinars so that school officials can learn about the final application and make decisions about whether and how their school administrative units will participate in the final application.

For more information, and to sign up for a new Race to the Top e-newsletter, go to: http://www.maine.gov/education/racetothetop .

If you have questions about the schedule of upcoming meetings, please contact Tammy Morrill at 207-624-6620 or Tammy.Morrill@Maine.gov .

For more information, visit the Maine Department of Education website: http://www.maine.gov/education

David Connerty-Marin | Director of Communications | Maine Department of Education | 207-624-6880 | David.Connerty-Marin@Maine.gov

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Seeking Input on Application for Federal Ed Funds