Regional Forums

INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO: 74
POLICY CODE: IKF

TO: Superintendents, Principals, Curriculum Leaders, CTE Directors, Teachers, Community Members, Community College and University Administrators and Faculty
FROM: Susan A. Gendron, Commissioner
DATE: January 24, 2008
SUBJECT: Regional Forums

The Maine Department of Education is hosting regional forums across the State to gather input from superintendents, curriculum leaders, principals, teachers, parents, school board members, college representatives, and community members on our framework for developing regulations for the implementation of Maine Learning Results. Before we develop the changes needed for Chapter 125: Basic Approval Standards: Public Schools and School Administrative Units and Chapter 127: Instructional Program, Assessment and Diploma Requirements we are asking for feedback to inform our work.

The framework is based on the following premises:

All students should aspire to high levels of learning;
Achievement should be assessed in a variety of ways; and
Completion of public school should have common meaning throughout the State.

My staff will be asking for your input, your reactions and your creative ideas for re-imagining how we prepare students for this 21st Century.

Once the forums are completed, I will use the information to refine my recommendations for graduation requirements and for the implementation of curriculum and assessment in order to provide all students in Maine equitable and quality educational opportunities regardless of where they attend school.

Each forum will follow a similar agenda with some flexibility to accommodate the needs within the region and to ensure that each person’s comments and views are captured. The times and location of each forum are listed below and a general forum agenda follows on the next page. You will also find a flyer with this information at:
http://www.maine.gov/education/regionalforumflyer.pdf
or
http://www.maine.gov/education/regionalforumflyer.rtf

We encourage you to use the flyer at link to forward the information to your staff and your community.

Please contact Wanda Monthey at wanda.monthey@maine.gov or the Department of Education Contact listed below if you have any questions.

Dates and times for each forum are listed below:

Date	Location and Time	Maine Department of Education Contact Person
January 29, 2008	University of Maine, Machias 4-8 p.m.	Tad Johnston tad.johnston@maine.gov
January 29, 2008	Westbrook High School 4-8 p.m.	Anita Bernhardt anita.bernhardt@maine.gov
January 30, 2008	Hermon High School 4-8 p.m.	Dan Hupp dan.hupp@maine.gov
February 5, 2008	Sanford High School 4-8 p.m.	Jana Boody jana.boody@maine.gov
February 11, 2008	Capital Area Technical Center, Augusta 4-8 p.m.	Don Reutershan don.reutershan@maine.gov
February 11, 2008	Caribou Middle School 6-9 p.m.	Diana Doiron diana.doiron@maine.gov
February, 2008 (date to be determined)	Auburn Middle School 4-8 p.m.	Barbara Moody barbara.moody@maine.gov

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