Amendment to ESSA State Plan

Based upon a deep data analysis and conversations with Maine school and district staff, public and private agencies and organizations serving students and the general public, Maine determined a purposeful and meaningful, non-punitive approach towards implementation of Maine’s Model of School Support would provide necessary supports to Maine’s most challenged schools. This well thought out and deliberate process solicited ongoing input from those implementing the work daily, Maine’s educators.

Below please find:

A timeline outlining the development and submission of Maine’s amendment to the ESSA State Plan.
A timeline outlining interactions and communication between the Maine Department of Education (DOE) and U.S. Department of Education (USED) staff regarding Maine’s amendment submission.

*Timeline*	*Action*
April 1, 2017	Maine’s ESSA State Plan submitted to USDOE for review.
August 31, 2017	Maine receives approval for the Maine ESSA State Plan from USDOE.
September 2017 – ongoing	Maine begins review of plan content and begins to identify and receive feedback around elements for revision and amendment as a result of 2016/17 Maine Educational Assessment (MEA) Data analysis.
July -November 2018	Receipt of 2017/18 Maine Educational Assessment Data from assessment vendors, Maine DOE review, SAU & Maine DOE validation. Small regional stakeholder group engagement and feedback regarding Maine’s Model of School Support.
November 14, 2018	USDOE released ESSA Plan amendment guidance via Dear Colleague Letter.
December 7, 2018	USDOE & Maine DOE staff participate in a face to face check in – Maine shares with USDOE staff an amendment will be forthcoming.
December 12, 2018	Call with US DOE – Maine outlines details of amendment plan to USDOE with no concerns raised.
December 14, 2018	Maine submits amendment to USDOE for review.

*Timeline*	*Action*	*Elements Identified for Review from USDOE*	*Response from Maine DOE*
March 1, 2019	Commissioner Makin reaches out to Assistant Secretary Brogan regarding the status of Maine’s ESSA plan amendment.
March 8, 2019	USDOE and Maine DOE staff participate in a phone call to provide clarifying and additional information	USDOE shared the purpose of the call was to gain further clarification of the proposed amendments within Maine’s ESSA plan. Questions posed related to: ELP growth targets Inclusion of the “all student group” in addition to individual student groups Weighting of academic related indicated in relation to SQSS indicators. Affirmation statement that Maine will identify at least 5% of Title I schools for Tier III (CSI) supports. Consistency of access for schools to DirigoStar.	The Maine team: Provided additional information and walked the USDOE team through how ELP growth targets are established and calculated. Shared the running of each individual student group through the model for each indicator is more meaningful to Maine given the limited demographics of the state. Maine shared utilizing and putting a greater emphasis on the “all student group” negates the performance of smaller minority student populations. Maine is focused on an equitable approach and the USDOE direction does not align with that approach and will mask the challenges that some student populations in Maine may be facing. Shared Maine did have increased emphasis on the academic related indicators as Maine’s proposed amended model examining academic achievement and growth for math and ELA separately for each student group. Verified DirigoStar is accessible to all schools in the state however schools receiving Tier III (CSI) supports will be required to use the tool.
March 15, 2019	Written feedback received from USDOE outlining the March 8, phone call via email at 4:33 pm.	Academic Achievement Long-Term Goals and Measurements of Interim Progress English Language Proficiency Long Term Goals and Measurements of Interim Progress and Indicator Other Academic Indicator for Elementary and Secondary Schools that are Not High Schools. System of Annual Meaningful Differentiation and Identification of Schools Exit criteria Report Cards Additional Programs – Title IC Migrant Programs	Maine begins constructing response document to USDOE based upon information provided in the March 8 call and subsequent March 15 email.
April 8, 2019	Maine DOE provides written response to USDOE.		Maine addresses all elements highlighted by the USDOE providing necessary clarification.
Timeline	Action	Elements Identified for Review from USDOE	Response from Maine DOE
May 10, 2019	Maine participates in a conference call with USDOE regarding resubmitted amendment.	Maine DOE and USDOE staff participate in a conference call to provide additional information and clarification related to the amendment submission. Topics discussed included: Guidance regarding the Tydings Amendment. The redline version including the measurements of interim progress must be provided in addition to the summary response document the Maine DOE had developed and submitted. Direction to include business rules outlining how Maine would ensure 5% of schools were identified for Tier III (CSI) supports. Direction to include language indicating that all eligible student groups includes the “all student group” and to list all applicable student groups. Clarification that the USDOE will not waive accountability related requirements and all schools must be included in the model.	Maine provided additional insight to answer posed questions, highlight information requested by USDOE that provided within the most amendment submission. Maine DOE demonstrated language regarding historically underperforming student populations was included in Maine DOE’s original amendment submission which met the needs of USDOE. Maine is informed that once all elements as discussed are incorporated into the redline version of the amendment, Maine will be in “good shape.”
May 14, 2019	Written feedback via email with a synopsis of the May 10 call and next steps received from USDOE at 3:37 pm.	USDOE seeks additional information related to the following elements within Maine’s ESSA plan: System of Annual Meaningful Differentiation and Identification of Schools Tydings Amendment Waiver information and clarification	Maine begins constructing responses based upon the most recent phone call and awaits formal written feedback.
May 31, 2019	Maine submits redline version of ESSA plan for review.		Maine addresses all elements highlighted by the USDOE in the May 10 call and subsequent May 14 email providing all necessary clarification. Maine initiated the public comment period for a Tydings Amendment waiver to extend the period of availability of Section 1003(a) funds (School Improvement)
June 18, 2019	Commissioner Makin reaches out to Assistant Secretary Brogan regarding a response to Maine’s May 31 amendment submission.
June 19, 2019	Maine receives written feedback from USDOE via email at 4:56 pm.	USDOE seeks additional information related to the following elements within Maine’s ESSA plan: Public comment General (timeline). Native Language Assessments Graduation Rate Long Term Goals Graduation Rate Indicator AMD/Weighting Alternate Methodology CSI- Lowest 5%. CSI- Not Exited TSI- Additional Targeted TSI – Consistently Underperforming Subgroups Annual Measurement of Achievement Disproportionate Rate of Access to Educators
Timeline	Action	Elements Identified for Review from USDOE	Response from Maine DOE
June 20, 2019	Maine submits Tydings Amendment Waiver to USDOE for consideration		Maine seeks a Tydings Amendment waiver submitted to request a one-year extension to the period of availability for 1003(a) funds through September 2020. Information related to public comment is included with all required documentation.
July 16, 2019	Maine DOE submits final redline version of Maine’s ESSA State Plan amendment document as the intent of the ESSA has been met.
August 2, 2019	Maine reaches out to USDOE regarding an update around Maine’s most recent submission for clarifying information.
August 9, 2019	Maine DOE receives email communication from the USDOE at 4:07 pm regarding additional questions and required clarification.	USDOE seeks additional information related to the following elements within Maine’s ESSA plan: AMD/Weighting CSI-Lowest 5% CSI/ATSI school identifications and their relationship. Disproportionate Rate of Access to Educators USDOE acknowledged Maine’s Tyding’s Amendment Waiver request submitted on June 20, 2019 remains under review for approval.	Maine reiterated language related to AMD/Weighting, lowest 5% and Disproportionate Rate of Access to Educators and amended language to ensure an affirmative statement was made in order to clarify additional confusion to the USDOE.
August 18, 2019	Commissioner Makin reaches out to Assistant Secretary Frank Brogan regarding the August 9 email and the request for additional information.
August 20, 2019	USDOE emails Commissioner Makin on behalf of Assistant Secretary Frank Brogan.	Clarification regarding school level and student level goals and the meeting of goals as indicated in Exhibit 18. Request for methodology regarding ensuring 5% of Title I schools are identified for Tier III (CSI) supports.
Timeline	Action	Elements Identified for Review from USDOE	Response from Maine DOE
August 21, 2019	Maine receives notification from USDOE the Tydings Amendment waiver request submitted June 20, 2019 is approved.	Formal notification of Tydings amendment waiver approval.	Maine has approval to use prior year funds to support Maine schools eligible to receive Tier III and I supports.
August 28, 2019	Maine provides a response to the August 20 communication received from USDOE on behalf of Assistant Secretary Frank Brogan.		Maine provided additional clarifying language regarding the school level goals. Maine reiterated that the academic achievement indicator examines both ELA and Math separately rather than consolidating both in a single measure. The 5% threshold in Maine equates to approximately 20 Title I Schools. Reviewing data by content area allows Maine to provide supports to ALL schools in either area depending upon school need.
September 19, 2019	Call with USDOE regarding Maine’s Title I, Part A, award condition & the availability of data related to ineffective teachers.	USDOE confirmed Maine is required to provide data or a description of the data regarding the number of ineffective teachers within Maine. This is the final data point required to satisfy the condition currently on Maine’s Title I, Part A funding award. USDOE confirmed Maine’s amendment has been moved forward to Assistant Secretary Brogan with the teams recommendations.	The Maine DOE team is developing a survey to provide to Maine school districts to collect the necessary data. Upon receipt, Maine will submit the data to USDOE as required. Approved ESSA Ammendment

Approved ESSA Amendment (DOC)

Maine.gov