Withdrawal of My Voice © SurveyOpportunity

INFORMATIONAL LETTER: 37
POLICY CODE: KCBB

TO: Superintendent of Schools and School Principals
FROM: Susan A. Gendron, Commissioner of Education
DATE: November 10, 2008
RE: Withdrawal of My Voice © SurveyOpportunity

On October 23, 2008, the Informational Letter #33 – My Voice Survey (http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/index.php?topic=edu_letters&id=63139&v=article )
was sent out to school superintendents and school principals inviting Maine schools to participate in the My Voice © Survey, developed by the Quaglia Institute for Student Aspirations.

With that invitation I announced that the Department of Education had committed funds to the My Voice © Survey project and that school administrative units that wished to participate in the Survey would be able to do so, on a first-come, first-serve basis, for no cost, until the funds allocated by the Department had been expended.

Unfortunately, due to the current budget climate and Governor Baldacci’s newest curtailment order, I must withdraw the My Voice © Survey opportunity. Pearson, the My Voice © Survey supplier, has been notified and we have requested that they cancel any and all orders that have not yet been shipped. Please know that if your school has already received your My Voice © Survey materials, the Department of Education will honor its promise and will cover the cost of your surveys. However, if you have not yet ordered or not yet received your order, the surveys will not be available to you.

It is my hope that the Department of Education will be able to provide this opportunity to schools sometime in the future, because I believe that the My Voice © Survey would provide Maine educators with a powerful tool for understanding both what motivates and what inspires students in Maine to achieve.

I appreciate your understanding and your continued good work on behalf of the students of Maine.