Education officials seek input on application for funds
AUGUSTA – The Maine Department of Education will host five meetings throughout the state 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 4-7 p.m. It is not necessary to register for the meetings. Light refreshments will be available.
In Aroostook County, the meeting will be held Thursday, March 25 at the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Campus Center in the 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 Susan 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; attendees are urged to come prepared to participate.
Following the five regional meetings, summaries of the information gathered will be made available on the Department’s Race to the Top Web site. 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, log onto the Maine Department of Education’s Web site at http://www.maine.gov/education.
