Reminder: Maine Department of Education Regulation 118, Purposes, Standards and Procedures for Educational Personnel Support Systems

INFORMATIONAL LETTER: 9
POLICY CODE: GCFC
TO:Superintendents of Schools, Principals, and Certification Chairs
FROM:Susan Gendron, Commissioner
DATE:August 6, 2009
RE:REMINDER: Maine Department of Education Regulation 118, PURPOSES, STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES FOR EDUCATIONAL PERSONNEL SUPPORT SYSTEMS
On July 11, 2007, the State Board of Education adopted amendments to Maine Department of Education Regulation 118, following a public rule-making process. The Secretary of State approved those amendments on July 17, 2007. Informational Letter #20, dated September 21, 2007, detailed these amendments and available workshops and resources (see new workshop schedule at end of letter).
Local certification support system committees (termed the Professional Learning Community Support System, or PLCSS, in the new regulation) must submit a revised certification support system plan by December 31, 2009 in order to continue to be an approved Support System (authorized to recommend teachers for recertification). We strongly recommend that the reorganization work in your region be considered before rewriting these action plans.
The following is a reminder of the major revisions included in the 2007 amendments to Maine Department of Education Regulation 118:

Submission, by the administrative unit, of a plan pursuant to the new Maine Department of Education Regulation 118 no later than December 31, 2009;
One trained mentor to replace the three member support teams;
Maine Department of Education-approved mentor training required of mentors;
Earning of the initial professional certificate to be based on demonstration of Maine’s Initial Teacher Certification Standards through the Teacher Action Plan;
A certification support system committee that includes professionally certified educators, one administrator, and as an option, educational technicians;
A Professional Recertification Action Plan based on “Maine’s Initial Teacher Certification Standards”;
Inclusion of educational technicians in the support system if the support system plan allows it (optional at the discretion of the SAU);
Local demonstration of the National Board Standards, or attainment of National Board Certification, for the recommendation for a Master Teacher Certificate;
Implementation of the local revised certification support system plan contingent upon the receipt of appropriate additional funding through the EPS formula;
Private schools with a current approved certification support system plan to submit a new plan pursuant to the new Maine Department of Education Regulation 118. Their current approved support system plans expire August 1, 2010.
Private schools that do not have an approved certification support system plan may submit a plan using the new Maine Department of Education Regulation 118 rules at any time.
Private schools that do not have an approved certification support system plan by August 2010 will no longer be able to recommend teachers and educational specialists for professional certificates.

More information is available on the Maine Teacher Induction website, including a “Guidance” document containing sample PLCSS policies, procedures, and forms. These materials now include samples of newly approved Professional Learning Community Support System (PLCSS) plans. These samples and resources can be found at:
http://www.maine.gov/education/teacherinduction/ch118.html
There are currently over 255 Mentor Trainers representing every region in Maine who are prepared to train mentors using the Maine Model. Lists of these mentor trainers, their region, and their contact information can be accessed at the website below. Educators interested in becoming mentor trainers should complete an online application, as further workshops will be scheduled based on regional needs. Registration information for these workshops is also available at the following website:
http://www.maine.gov/education/teacherinduction/workshops.html
Between 2005 and 2009, twenty (20) “Regional Informational Sessions” were advertised and held across the State of Maine. Further informational workshops will be offered regionally during the 2009-2010 school year via “Webinar”. These workshops are designed to help local certification teams assess their current structure and create action plans based on the amendments to the rule, and meet the requirements for training in Section 2.5 (f) of the revised Rule You can log on to the upcoming Chapter 118 Webinar at the following link:
Meeting Name: Chapter 118 Informational Session
Invited By: DOE- PK20-1
To join the meeting:
http://stateofmaine.na4.acrobat.com/ch118/
Date: September 9, 2009 Time: 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Conference Number: 1-866-910-4857
Participant Code: 140893
If you require additional information or consultation, please contact Dan Conley at 624-6639, or email at: dan.conley@maine.gov