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March 10

• State changes rules to win U.S. grants, Matthew Stone, Kennebec Journal
• Governors, state school superintendents to propose common academic standards, Nick Anderson, Washington Post
• Union again calls for tax increase, Matthew Stone, Kennebec Journal
• State changes rules to win U.S. grants, Matthew Stone, Kennebec Journal
• State lists ‘lowest-achieving’ schools, Christopher Cousins, Bangor Daily News
• [Machias, Jonesboro, Marshfield, Northfield, Wesley, Roque Bluffs, Whitneyville, Cutler, Whiting, Machiasport, East Machias] Committee approves consolidating 11 towns, Sharon Kiley Mack, Bangor Daily News
• Merger moves to join Fayette, Winthrop units, Betty Adams, Kennebec Journal
• 10 schools branded as 'lowest-achieving' in Maine, Kelley Bouchard, Press Herald
• Penalizing towns cannot be justified, Gordon Donaldson, Bangor Daily News

March 9

• Preparing for another charter schools battle, Matthew Stone, The Report Card
• Liveblogging the Education Committee's Work Session on the Race to the Top bills, Steve Bowen, MHPC
• [The List] Federal Funds Available for "Persistently Low Achieving" Schools, DoE release
• Will Maine stand a chance in Race to the Top?, Matthew Stone, The Report Card
• South Portland school board cuts 25 jobs, Ann Kim, Press Herald
• [Livermore, Livermore Falls] RSU 36 budget cuts staff, administration, Donna M. Perry, Sun Journal
• Brewer school budget forecast includes layoffs, no tax increase, Nok-Noi Ricker, Bangor Daily News

March 8

• [Ellsworth, Sullivan] Sumner Memorial High School Among 10 Lowest-performing Schools in Maine, Ellsworth American
• Building a Better Teacher, Elizabeth Green, New York Times Magazine (3/02/2010)
• [Machias, Jonesboro, Marshfield, Northfield, Wesley, Roque Bluffs, Whitneyville, Cutler, Whiting, Machiasport, East Machias] 11 town boards to gather for school meeting, Sharon Kiley Mack, Bangor Daily News
• Middle school, freshman sports could suffer under budget cuts, Kelley Bouchard, Press Herald

March 6

• 'Race to the Top's' 10 false assumptions, Marion Brady, Washington Post
• Changes to merger legislation advance, Matthew Stone, Kennebec Journal

March 5

• Committee unanimously endorses consolidation law changes, MSMA
• Discussion of teacher performance evaluations following MEA RttT testimony
• Educators lukewarm about 'federal blackmail', Matthew Stone, Kennebec Journal
• [Dept of real consolidation] Closing Schools, Editorial, Bangor Daily News
• [Windham, Raymond] New state money raises questions for schools, Editorial, Press Herald
• School budget cuts aren't going to be pretty, Joshua Shea, Independent

March 4

• [...So goes Vermont] Addison school district consolidation hailed, Molly Walsh, Burlington Free Press
  ...“It’s not going to happen because the state says so. If you look at Maine and what’s happened over there, it’s just chaos. ...Schools are not the kind of thing you can top-down.”
• [North Anson, Anson, Solon, Embden, New Portland] SAD 74 weighs staff cuts to stay within budget, Erin Rhoda, Morning Sentinel

March 3

• [Annals of school choice: Kennebunk, Kennbunkport, Arundel] Thornton Academy: Middle school choice for Arundel is 'breach of contract', Kristen Schulze Muszynski, Journal Tribune
• [Belfast, Frankfort, Swanville, Stockton Springs, Searsport] School closures eyed for savings, Steve Fuller, Republican Journal
• Talk of the Nation: Teachers Feel Ignored In Education Debate, NPR
  • Primary Sources: America's Teachers on America's Schools, Scholastic. Gates Foundation
• Survey: Supportive leadership helps retain top teachers, Nick Anderson, Washington Post
• [Gov's 2nd budget change package] Changes to Education Subsidies, DoE informational letter
  • Updated GPA distribution spreadsheet
• Sing along if you know the words: Duncan Covers Familiar Territory in ESEA hearing, Alyson Klein, Politics K-12
• [+$20M for schools] Governor Presents Changes to Proposed 2010-11 Budget, Governor's press release
• Spare change? Brunswick school chief hopes residents will donate it, Steve Mistler, Forecaster
• Survey: Supportive leadership helps retain top teachers, Nick Anderson, Washington Post
• Scholar’s School Reform U-Turn Shakes Up Debate, Sam Dillon, New York Times
• MEABT rates for next year, Tom Major, South Portland Teachers Association

March 2

• Resolution Seeking Fair, Equitable, and Transparent Funding of Education In Maine, Falmouth, Cape Elizabeth, Falmouth, Portland, Scarborough, South Portland and Yarmouth
• Re: Race to the Top, We Regret to Inform You..., Michele McNeil, Ed Week
  • [Arkansas, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin] Senators to Duncan: Don't Forget Rural Schools, Alyson Klein, Ed Week
• Aid to education on the way?, WSCH
• Maine’s worst schools could get $11M boost, Christopher Cousins, Bangor Daily News
• [Fear and Loathing in RI] Obama wrong, Weingarten right, Jay Mathews, Washington Post
• [Manchester, Mount Vernon, Readfield, Wayne] Maranacook goes to towns, seeking $730,000, Matthew Stone, Kennebec Journal
• [Pittsfield, Burnham, Detroit] SAD 53 board supports school closure, Christopher Cousins, Bangor Daily News
• [...So goes Ohio] Timing is right in Ohio for smart district consolidation, Eric Ulas, Flypaper

February 27

The $92M Killing Floor
• [Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Arundel] A detailed look at proposed RSU 21 cuts, Laura Dolce, York County Coast Star
• South Portland school cuts target 31 jobs, 1 middle school, Randy Billings, Forecaster
• [Bath region] Two RSU 1 schools to lose sixth grades, Seth Koenig, Times Record
• Proposed Scarborough school budget would eliminate 43 jobs, Linda Maule, Forecaster
• [Rockland, Thomaston] Several Regional School Unit 13 teachers accept retirement incentives, Stephen Betts, Herald Gazette
• [Corinna, Hartland, Newport, Palmyra, Plymouth, St. Albans, Etna, Dixmont] RSU 19: Job cuts, school closure possible, Christopher Cousins, Bangor Daily News
• [Belfast, Belmont, Frankfort, Morrill, Northport, Searsmont, Searsport, Stockton Springs, Swanville] RSU 20 board may close schools to balance budget, Abigail Curtis, Bangor Daily News
• [Milbridge, Cherryfield, Harrington, Columbia, Columbia Falls, Addison] Down East's SAD 37 board rejects plan to close school, Sharon Kiley Mack, Bangor Daily News

February 26

• [Dept. of More Streamlined Piping]
  • Educators learn about new system, Abigail Curtis, Bangor Daily News
    ...“The object of the game is not to use the exams to sort students out. ...We are talking about making it crystal clear to kids what skills they need to pursue their dream and to be successful.”
  • Rethinking High School, Editorial, Bangor Daily News
• Notes from today's Ed Committee work sessions, Brian Hubbell
• [Dept of Pie] LD 1801: An Act To Promote the Establishment of Innovative Schools, Governor's bill
• MEPRI reports on EPS funding formula components
• Review of Small School Adjustment in the Essential Programs and SSFM, Oct. 2009 data (includes terms of "high perforning" and "efficient" schools)
• Review of Staff Ratio Components in EPS Model, (Feb. 2010)
• EPS Salary Matrices Review and Update, Oct. 2009 Data (Feb 2010)
• EPS Benefits Percentages Review (Feb 2010)
• Review of Transportation Cost Component, February 2010

February 25

• Sanford School Committee members not fans of NECAP test, Ellen W. Todd, Sanford News
• [...So goes Vermont] Windham school officials weigh in on merger plans, Bennington Banner

February 24

• MEPRI reports to Ed Committee on EPS funding model
  • Impacts of the School Funding Formula on the State Subsidy Received by School Administrative Units, MEPRI
  • Analysis of the Impacts of Including Income in Determining Community Wealth in the Maine K12 School Funding Formula, MEPRI
  • Review of the Small School Adjustment in the Essential Programs and Services Funding Model, MEPRA
  • notes from briefing, Brian Hubbell
• [Dept of the the Glass Half Upside Down] Fear & Loathing in RI
  • A Vote to Fire All Teachers at a Failing High School, Katie Zezima, New York Times
  • Hysteria Around Turnarounds, Vander Ark / Ratcliff
    ...up to half will be rehired.
  • 'Turnaround' Not Only Policy Issue in R.I. Teacher Firings, Stephen Sawchuk, Teacher Beat, Ed Week
• Portland schools chief plans leadership shake-up, Kelley Bouchard, Press Herald
  • draft organization chart
• State revenue picture improving, forecasters say, MSMA

February 23

• Currents in merit pay: Alternative compensation and performance review
  • Houston's Teacher Evaluation Policy (and responses), Eliza Krigman, NationalJournal.com (2/16/2010)
  • Should Teacher Salaries be Linked to Student Performance?, Maurice Elias, Edutopia (2/19/2010)
  • Denver Public Schools teacher evaluations don't mirror quality, group says, Jeremy P. Meyer, Denver Post (2/19/2010)
  • Boston gets an F in teacher appraisals, James Vaznis, Boston Globe
• [...So goes Ohio] Playing to mixed reviews: Try this: Fewer school districts, Alan Johnson, Columbus Dispatch
  ...A Brookings study on Maine a few years ago called for voluntary consolidation. The proposal was incorporated into the state budget passed in 2007.
       When the dust settled, 75 of 290 districts had been eliminated or consolidated, saving the state about $36 million a year and more at the local level, said David Connerty-Marin, director of communication for the Maine Department of Education.
       Districts that opt out of consolidation get the stick: a 2 percent reduction in state funding.
       There haven't been as many mergers as state officials hoped, but there have been benefits, Connerty-Marin said. Some districts have added pre-kindergarten, language and advanced-placement programs.
• State spending limits treat localities far differently than schools, Chris Galgay, Press Herald
• Early graduation plan needs more explanation, Editorial, Kennebec Journal
• Teachers, students should emerge from schools, get into community, Susan E. Melcher, Kennebec Journal
• Portland teachers union: Bargaining needed before new schedule is adopted, Randy Billings, Forecaster

February 22

• K-12 education needs to be revamped, so here's a plan to get it done, David Flanagan, Press Herald
  ...questionable statistics about the SATs

February 21

• Radio Address: Race to the Top, Governor Baldacci
  ...These (innovative) schools ...will have flexibility in instruction design, staff selection, school calendars and assessments of professional development.

February 20

• Dueling educators: four papers on the school funding crisis
• Did the reorganization law succeed in reorganizing Maine's least efficient school districts?, Gordon Donaldson, UMaine, 2/15/2010 (*.pdf)
  (Noncompliant districts cost the state less per pupil than those exempt from reorganization.)
• Truth or Consequences, Superintendent Paul Stearns, MSAD 4, Guilford, 2/17/2010 (*.pdf)
  (Penalty money from districts which educate near the EPS rate shouldn't be redistributed to districts in wealthy communities that significantly overspend EPS.)
• Bold Initiatives, Superintendent Mark Eastman, MSAD 17, Oxford Hills, 2/17/2010 (*.ppt)
  (Detailed emergency suggestions for raising revenue and reducing staff.)
• Food for thought, Superintendent Bill Webster, RSU 24, Ellsworth, 2/19/2010 (*.ppt)
  (Even after curtailments, state subsidy is higher than it was in 2004. Time to tighten the belts.)
• Official: FBI probing Pa. school webcam spy case, Maryclaire Dale, Washington Post

February 19

• Snide*ness Alert!, Downeast Schoolhouse
• Brunswick schools Aid cut sparks spat, Beth Brogan, Times Record

February 18

• 6 votes kill South Portland plan to save $140K, Randy Billings, Forecaster
• [Taping over the MacBook's iSight]
• Suit: Pa. school used webcams to spy on students, AP
• Lower Merion School District response to 'invasion of privacy' allegation, news release

[Cradle to workforce: Revisioning the educational pipeline for more laminar flow]

• High Schools to Offer Plan to Graduate 2 Years Early, Sam Dillon, New York Times
• 'Tough Choices’ Education Initiative Grows with the Addition of Three States and a Newly-Announced NEA-Business Coalition, Skills of the American Work Force Commission
• Executive Summary, 'Tough Choices or Tough Times
• [David Flanagan of Central Maine Power, Superintendent Morse and Mark Gray of the MEA] Analysts: School funding crisis an opportunity for change, Randy Billings, Forecaster
  ..."We have a mentality in public education that we're in the happiness business. ...We're not in the happiness business. We're in the business of giving kids the skill sets in order to be successful leaders for Maine and the future."
• Grants to Develop, Test Next-Generation Teaching Tools in Math and Literacy, Gates Foundation
• Maine schools join plan allowing early entry to college, Abigail Curtis, Bangor Daily News
• Maine high schools to offer early graduation, Bonnie Washuk, Sun Journal
• Invitation to Briefing on Board Examination Systems, DoE informational letter
• Rep. Sarty Details Proposal to Let School Districts Self-insure, Maine House Republicans news release

February 17

• [Dept. of curtailments: The Shorter Pipeline] Pilot Project to Test Early College for Maine Students, Josie Huang, MPBN
• [Dept of botched salutations to the House Speaker] Brunswick School Board chairman, legislators spar over aid cuts, e-mail remarks, Steve Mistler, Forecaster
• Machias-area educators upbeat on repeal of school penalties, allowance for new alternative school organizations: Legislative panel unanimously backs amendments proposed by Small Schools Coalition, Fred Hastings, Downeast Coastal Press (not on-line)
• Don't sacrifice the lessons in real life, Editorial, Sun Journal
• [Alfred, Limerick, Lyman, Newfield, Shapleigh, Waterboro] RSU 57 to appeal state subsidy cut, Dan Bustard, keepmecurrent.com

February 16

• [Dept of relentless flogging] Consolidation Consequences, Editorial, Bangor Daily News
  [On-line response]
     The logic of this editorial seems flawed.
     First, was the consolidation law good for the districts that reorganized or was it bad for them?
     If it was good for them -- if they now are enjoying the necessary relief and advertised benefits of the policy -- how are they harmed whether or not the districts which found no benefit from the law are penalized?
     And, if it was bad for them -- if, in fact, the penalties rather than educational and cost benefits were what forced them into bad policy decisions -- then why is the harm done to them compelling reason to apply the same harm more broadly?
  

     Further, the editorial concludes that, because 40% of the state budget goes to support schools, the state should get to set the rules.
     But there are non-compliant towns in which school spending represents over 90% of the local tax assessment.
     Following the editorial's reasoning, should this give these towns more than twice the authority of the state?

February 15

• [Dept. of curtailments: the shorter long view] In Utah, a plan to cut 12th grade -- altogether, DeeDee Correll, LA Times
• In response to the PPH editorial supporting penatlies, comments continue.

February 14

• School districts that won't merge should pay the price, Editorial, Sunday Telegram
  • ...Wrong

February 13

• Facing debt, towns eye property tax, Kevin Miller, Bangor Daily News

February 12

• (Washington) County schools face $4.3 million loss in subsidy, Susan Esposito, Quoddy Tides
• [Annals of consolidation] But That Trick Never Works, Mike Antonucci, EIA
  • Kansas
  • Georgia
  • Vermont
• [Dept of test-teaching synergies] Company that produces standardized tests based in NH, Ashley Smith, Nashua Telegraph
  ...In the meantime, the company is concentrating on other projects, including a partnership with the Nashua School District to help the high schools better align their curriculum to testing standards. Nashua is the only district in the state that has this kind of partnership, although the company is in talks with others.
     “Nashua is a very forward-thinking district,” said Diane Bailey, national assessment consultant for Measured Progress.
• Legislation puts flexibility in school consolidation law, MSMA
• Schools hit hard Down East: Some districts find state aid cut in half, Sharon Kiley Mack, Bangor Daily News
  ...Lubec is one of the hardest hit. Its subsidy for school year 2009-2010 was $601,908. The 2010-11 subsidy will be $29,107.
• [Scarborough, South Portland, Cape Elizabeth] Schools demand more state aid, Tess Nacelewicz, keepmecurrent.com
• Caribou RSU fears staffing reductions, Jen Lynds, Bangor Daily News
• Machias not suffering big school subsidy cuts, Sharon Kiley Mack, Bangor Daily News
• Policy advocate starts Web site on school funds, Jessica Bloch, Bangor Daily News
• [Livermore, Livermore Falls] School board majority backs merger with Jay, Sun Journal
• Plan to Ease Consolidation for Smaller School Districts Moves Forward, A.J. Higgins, MPBN
• [Oxford Hills] School plan gets hearing in Otisfield, M. Dirk Langeveld, Sun Journal

February 11

• [Déjà vu: Approps trumps Policy] Legislative Committees Spar Over Education Funds, A.J. Higgins, MPBN
• Education Committee 2/11 agenda
  • Committee votes out LD570 OTP: Report from today's work session
• [So goes Vermont] Scheuermann proposes elimination of supervisory unions, creation of “educational districts”, Rep. Heidi E. Scheuermann, VTdigger.org
• [Amity, Cary Plantation, Haynesville, Hodgdon, Linneus, Ludlow, New Limerick] SAD 70 schools see $312,000 loss in state aid, Jen Lynds, Bangor Daily News
• [Pittsfield, Burnham, Detroit] SAD 53 to air cost-cutting ideas, Scott Monroe, Morning Sentinel
• [Bingham, Moscow] Money woes smack district, Erin Rhoda, Morning Sentinel
• [Saco, Dayton, Old Orchard Beach] A surprise for district: smaller cut in state aid, Edward D. Murphy, Press Herald
• [Tooting the NECAPs] A bright spot during trying times for RSU 21, Editorial, York County Coast Star
• Angry Brunswick officials demand explanation, action from lawmakers, Beth Brogan, Times Record
• [Ellsworth] RSU 24 Superintendent Says Consolidation Saving Classrooms, Jennifer Osborn, Ellsworth American

February 10

• Two views of AP
  • AP Participation, Successes Increase: Maine exceeds nation in percentage of students scoring 3 or above, Maine Department of Education
  • Sixty-nine percent of Vermont AP exams taken by high school seniors were scored at three or higher, Vermont Department of Education
  • Maine Students Improve Performance in AP Placement Exams, Maine Public Radio
• [Dept. of the Subjunctive Passive Pluperfect] Merged schools go hat in hand to Capitol, Susan M. Cover, Kennebec Journal
  ..."This is about addressing the short-term assistance that was calculated into the planning, anticipated, and never arrived."

[Annals of diminished school choice] [Arundel, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport] RSU 21 middle schoolers may leave Thornton, Edward D. Murphy, Press Herald

• Yarmouth schools face $1.1M subsidy loss, Amy Anderson, Forecaster
• Falmouth schools fare better than expected in state funding, Peggy Roberts, Forecaster
• [Bethel, Andover, Woodstock, Greenwood, Newry] Bethel school district faces job losses, building closures, Eileen M. Adams, Sun Journal
• [West Paris, Paris, Waterford, Norway, Otisfield, Oxford, Harrison, Hebron] SAD 17 'cluster concept' goes on the road, Duke Harrington, Oxford Bear
• SAD 75, Brunswick schools hit hard by state; RSU 1 fares better, ALex Lear, Forecaster
• [Starks, Madison, Athens] Starks to send students elsewhere, Erin Rhoda, Morning Sentinel
• New Website Tracks Education Data -- and Promotes an Agenda, Anne Mostue, MPBN

February 9

• Using LD1 report to bash school districts is insulting, Christopher Galgay, Ashley O’Brien and Shannon Welsh, Bangor Daily News
• [Richmond, Dresden, Monmouth, Farmingdale, Hallowell] RSU 2 board to weigh staff cuts Wednesday, Times Record
• Georgetown mulls Boothbay alliance, Seth Koenig, Times Record
• Georgetown studies school busing options, Seth Koenig, Times Record
• [Brunswick] Deeper school aid cuts loom, Beth Brogan, Times Record

February 8

• Maine well-positioned for federal Race to the Top educational funding, Susan Gendron, Press Herald
  ...working to establish "innovative public schools" with charter-like flexibility, but run by public school boards and with certified teachers.
• The EPS Model and School Spending, Dogulas Rooks, Maine Townsman (January, 2010)

February 7

• Aspiration or Abandonment, Bruce Bourgoine, Kennebec Country Democratic Committee

February 6

• President Obama's quest for a renewed, tougher No Child Left Behind, Editorial, Washington Post
• Scarborough schools facing $2 million loss, Edward D. Murphy, Press Herald
• Portland a pioneer in examination of special ed programs, Senator Bill Diamond, Press Herald
• Board OKs Rockland-St. George consolidation, Heather Steeves, Bangor Daily News
• [Western Foothills, Dixfield, Rumford] RSU 10 superintendent: Aid cut could have been worse, Eileen Adams, Sun Journal

February 5

• [Dept of blood money wars]
  • Panel alters way penalty money distributed, Susan M. Cover, Kennebec Journal
  • Lawmakers Upet by Penalties in School Subsidy List, MPBN
  • GPA 2010-11: updated to remove penalties
  • School Funding Battle Brewing, Laurie Costigan, Mount Desert Islander
  • State releases alternate school subsidy figures, mainetoday.com
• Members of school board assess criticism of special ed, Kelley Bouchard, Press Herald
• [Freeport, Pownal, Durham] School district may contract out bus service, Dennis Hoey, Press Herald
• [Wales, Litchfield, Sabattus] RSU 4 sets forum on school status, Betty Adams, Kennebec Journal
• [Rockland, Thomaston, St. George] 'Devastating' cuts face Regional School Unit 13, Stephen Betts, Herald Gazette
• [Waldoboro] SAD 40 board declines to support Many Flags, Andrew Benore, Herald Gazette
• Teachers' union responds: THEY'RE LYING!, Tony Payne, Herald Gazette
• School Subsidy Spreadsheet Released for FY 2011, MMA Legislative Bulletin

February 4

• [Dept. of the magic 8-ball] Lawmakers Consider Change to School Consolidation Law, Josie Huang, MPBN
• Ed Committee votes to delay reorganization penalties
• Education Committee schedule
• City schools sweeten retirement incentive, Kelley Bouchard, Press Herald
• [Hallowell, Farmingdale, Dresden, Richmond, Monmouth] RSU 2 cut among state's largest, Meghan V. Malloy, Kennebec Journal
• Too late for Chelsea to get divorce from RSU 12?, Jil Crochere, Kennebec Journal
• [Canaan, Cornville, Mercer, Norridgewock, Skowhegan, Smithfield] School budget outlook bleak, Doug Harlow, Morning Sentinel
• SAD 54 panel to discuss Cornville school closing, Robert Gauvin, Morning Sentinel
• [Jay] No special town meeting needed for school's use of money, Donna M. Perry, Sun Journal
• [Dover-Foxcroft, Charleston, Monson, Sebec, Greenville, Guilford, Sangerville, Abbot, Parkman, Wellington, Cambridge] Schools look to offset reduced state subsidies, Diana Bowley, Bangor Daily News
• How Unions Work, Megan McArdle, The Atlantic

February 3

• $92M School Funding Drop, Redistribution Causing Tensions, Laurie Costigan, Ellsworth American
• Rankings of the States 2009 and Estimates of School Statistics 2010, NEA
• Education spending, not tax cuts, best job creator, Greg Kesich, Press Herald
• [Kennebunk, Kennebunkport] RSU 21, Wells-Ogunquit students fare well on NECAP tests, Deborah Mcdermott, seacoastonline.com
• [The (50-year) view from Kansas] Kansas school consolidation: it won’t be the first time, Bob Weeks
  ...“A bunch of school districts got together and filed a lawsuit against the State claiming not enough state aid,” and the Legislature responded by establishing a mechanism requiring unification of smaller weaker school districts.
• [View from Vermont] Consolidation or Merger?, Rep. Peter Peltz, vtdigger.org
• Hancock County loses $3.9M in school funds, Rich Hewitt, Bangor Daily News
• Test results in for Maine’s students, Keith Edwards, Kennebec Journal
• State: Students' test scores 'sound', Kelley Bouchard, Press Herald
• State funding for school districts varies widely, Bonnie Washuk, Sun Journal
• [Alfred, Limerick, Lyman, Newfield, Shapleigh, Waterboro] RSU 57 towns want school budget cut, Dan Bustard, keepmecurrent.com
• [Cumberland, North Yarmouth] School chief: 'Everything on the table' in SAD 51 budget, including jobs, buildings, Alex Lear, Forecaster
• Falmouth sports boosters see threat in pay-to-play proposal, Peggy Roberts, Forecaster
• Brunswick schools face $2.8M loss from state; staff cuts, larger classes loom, Steve Mistler, Forecaster
• Bar Harbor facing $2 million deficit, Mac Smith, Bar Harbor Times
• [Waldoboro] SAD 40's draft budget combines classes, cuts staff, Andrew Benore, Herald Gazette

February 2

• Reorganization Penalties Must Go, Gordon Donaldson, Maine Small Schools Coalition
• GPA 2010-11 in spreadsheet formats (preliminary, 2/01/2010)
• [Rumbles from Cumberland Co.] 7 school boards in greater Portland call for new state funding formula, Randy Billings, Forecaster
• Maine October 2009 NECAP Test Results
• President Obama seeks to revamp No Child Left Behind teaching standards, Nick Anderson, Washington Post
• States Rush to Join Testing Consortia, Stephen Sawchuk, Ed Week
  • Letter to state school chiefs, Susan Gendron, CCCSO
• Education Hell: Rhetoric vs. Reality, Edurati
• [National Board Certified Teachers] State right to dump teacher salary subsidy, Editorial, Press Herald
• [Augusta] Au revoir, francais?, Karlene Hale, Capital Weekly
• Most Maine school districts to lose state aid, AP
• Oxford Hills proposes cutting principals, Leslie H. Dixon, Sun Journal
• Cuts in aid deep for schools, Scott Monroe, Morning Sentinel
• [Dept. of the magic 8-ball] RSU 12 To Seek Legal Advice On Fifth Budget Attempt, Lucy L. Martin, Lincoln County News

February 1

• Funding Outlook and Financial Strategies, DoE
  • [Dept. of excellent visual representations] 100% EPS, GPA, local share, & ARRA - FY05-13, Jim Rier, DoE
• Preliminary FY11 General Purpose Aid for Local Schools, DoE
• Spreadsheet shows GPA cuts and consolidation penalties, MSMA
• [Teachers' health insurance] Probing Politics: Intentional or just a multi-million dollar mistake?, Tony Payne, Forecaster
• Muncipalites meet LD 1 challenge, MMA, Legislative Bulletin
• [Topsham] SAD 75 budget picture darkens, Darcie Moore, Times Record
• [Dept of the magic 8-ball] Error in Alna; RSU 12 budget actually defeated, John Hale, Capital Weekly

• live audio

• live audio

• Review of Small School Adjustment in the Essential Programs and SSFM, Oct. 2009 data
• Review of Staff Ratio Components in EPS Model, (Feb. 2010)
• EPS Salary Matrices Review and Update, Oct. 2009 Data (Feb 2010)
• EPS Benefits Percentages Review (Feb 2010)
• Review of Transportation Cost Component, February 2010