MDIschools.net

July 21

• [MDI, Lamoine, Hancock, Ellsworth] RSU 24 Board Approves Debt Service Payment to MDI High School, Jacqueline Weaver, Ellsworth American
• Many States Adopt National Standards for Their Schools, Tamar Lewin, New York Tines

July 20

• Maine’s Race to the Top Application – the Final Analysis, Steve Bowen, Maine Freedom Forum
• [Blue Hill, Penobscot, Brooksville, Castine, Deer Isle, Stonington, Sedgwick, Brooklin, Surry] School Consolidation Effort Dropped, James Straub, Ellsworth American

July 19

• Penquis area school districts to revisit consolidation, Diana Bowley, Bangor Daily News
• Graduation rate drops as state changes calculation, Matthew Stone, Press Herald
• Maine Releases 2008-09 Graduation Rates, DoE press release
• Inside Maine's Race to the Top application, Part 14: "Competition Priorities", Steve Bowen, Maine Freedom Forum
• [...so goes Massachusetts] Towns turn to school mergers, Peter Schworm, Boston Globe

July 18

• A Popular Principal, Wounded by Government's Good Intentions, Michael Winerip, New York Times
• Mitchell tries once again to turn insider success into a win with statewide voters, Jeffery Clark, Pine Tree Watchdog

July 16

• [Blue Hill, Castine, Brooksville, Penobscot, Deer Isle, Stonington, Brooklin, Sedgwick, Surry] Consolidation group to discuss cost sharing, Rich Hewitt, Bangor Daily News

July 15

• Union Endorsement Transparency, Drek Viger, Pine Tree Politics
• Voters opt to close Palmyra school, Christopher Cousins, Bangor Daily News
• Inside Maine's Race to the Top application, Part 13: "state-implemented policies favoring reform", Steve Bowen, Maine Freedom Forum
• New Evaluation Laws Split Teachers Even More, Larry Abramson, NPR
• State to get $13.3M to improve schools, Rich Hewitt, Bangor daily News

July 14

• Garrulous Mr. Gates, Arthur Goldstein, Gotham Schools
• An updated student-teacher ratio, and updated inconsistencies, Matthew Stone, Report Card

July 13

• Maine student-teacher ratio goes up to over 12-to-1, MSMA
• Inside Maine's Race to the Top application, Part 12: 'funding, charters, and innovation', Steve Bowen, Maine Freedom Forum

July 12

• Maine Application Receives Final Approval: Major infusion of funds for seven schools, DoE press release

July 10

• Goodbye Grade Levels, Derek Viger, Pinetree Politics
• [Arundel, Kennebunk] Arbitrator steps in on Thornton dispute, Edward D. Murphy, Press Herald

July 9

• Reformist v. status quo, and a tempering force, Matthew Stone, Report Card
• [$40M less] Baldacci Targets Cuts to Make up for Budget Shortfall, MPBN
• Good vs. Great Teachers: My Ravitch Response, Eric Sheninger, A Principal's Reflections
• Inside Maines Race to the Top application, Part 11: "turning around the lowest-achieving schools", Steve Bowen, Maine Freedom Forum
• [Rx: Vats of carrot soup and standardized tests for Livermore Falls] RSU 36 awarded $1.2M grant to improve education at high school, Donna M. Perry, Sun Journal

July 8

• [Maine Governor's race] The Educational Debate Heats Up, Derek Viger, Pine Tree Politics
• [Annals of choice: Arundel, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport] RSU 21 decision a touchy subject, Ann S. Kim, Press Herald
• Diane Ravitch: NCLB and Race to the Top are killing public schools, Gerald Weinand, Dirigoblue.com

July 7

• Conservative Candidates Take Aim at Federal K-12 Role, Alyson Klein, Ed Week

July 6

• Education issues to take center stage in Governors race?, Steve Bowen, Maine Freedom Forum
• Maine lower than all of New England on per-pupil spending, MSMA
  • Education Spending Per Child, Stephan Burklin, Maine.watchdog.org
• Improving classrooms in Maine, Libby Mitchell, Bangor Daily News
• [Sanford vs. Rockland] Advocates fight about mega-school proposals, Matthew Stone, Kennebec Journal

July 5

• [Public officials taking votes by secret ballot?]
  • [Jay] Superintendent requested to check public official law, Donna M. Perry, Sun Journal
  • [Rockland, Thomaston] Hohfeld to continue as Regional School Unit 13 chairwoman, Stephen Betts, Herald Gazette

July 4

• [View from New Jersey] Diminishing state aid prompts Glen Ridge officials to consider converting schools to private, charter, Philip Read, Star-Ledger
• NEA Convention 2010: NEA Vote No Confidence in Race to the Top, Mike Antonucci, Intercepts
• NEA's Delegates Vote 'No Confidence' in Race to the Top, Stephen Sawchuk, Teacher Beat
• Schools need more money, not less, Brian Lipsett, Sunday Telegram

July 2

• [Rockland, Thomaston] St. George to look at alternatives to Regional School Unit 13, Stephen Betts, Herald-Gazette
• [Blue Hill, Castine, Penobscot, Brooksville, Brooklin, Sedgwick, Deer Isle-Stonington, Surry] Revised School Consolidation Plan on Tap for Western Hancock County Towns, James Straub, Ellsworth American
• Inside Maines Race to the Top application, Part 10: "improving teacher and administrator preparation programs", Steve Bowen, Maine Fredom Forum
• Talk centers on teachers, not students, Eliot Cutler, Bangor Daily News
• An Alternative Look at the Census Financial Data, SchoolFinance101

July 1

• Derailed FMAP May Trigger Education Cuts, Stephan Burklin, mainewatchdog.org
• Despite Veto Threat, House Passes Edujobs With Race to the Top Cut, Alyson Klein, Politics K-12
• Some State Officials Worried About Race to Top Cut, Alyson Klein, Politics K-12
• [Lubec] Revamp the school construction list?, Doug Rooks, Times Record
• John Bapst to launch boarding program, Eric Russell, Bangor Daily News
• [Dept of the magic 8-ball] Harmony voters approve school budget just under wire, Morning Sentinel

Education Money Lost and Money Gained, Derek Viger, Pine Tree Politics

June 30

• Moderate Democrats Push Back on Cuts to Race to the Top, TIF, Alyson Klein, Politics K-12
• Diane Ravitch on what's wrong with federal ed policy (video), Bridging Differences: What Works in Schools, May 4, 2010
• Charters: Will the Free Market Improve Education?, Claus von Zastrow, Public School Insights
• Voters Back School Tuition Surcharge, Dick Broom, MDIslander
• Could Race to the Top shrink?, Matthew Stone, Report Card
• Inside Maines Race to the Top application, Part 9: "ensuring equitable distribution of effective teachers and principals,", Steve Bowen, Maine Freedom Forum
• A Pastoral Letter on Federal Policy in Public Education: An Ecumenical Call for Justice, National Council of the Churches of Christ
• [Jay, Livermore, Livermore Falls] School consolidation plans made, Donna M. Perry, Sun Journal

June 29

• [Bethel] School Board opposes state's use of student social security numbers, Alison Aloisio, Bethel Citizen
• Smart report on teacher evaluations, Educated Guess
• [Reading First] In Their Own Words: Looking at What Duncan and Company Are Up To, SusanOhanian.org
• Study Finds No Clear Edge for Charter Schools, Lesli A. Maxwell, Ed Week
  • The Evaluation of Charter School Impacts: Executive Summary, IES
  • Bill Gates: Charters Should Lead Innovation, Dakarai Aarons, Ed Week
• Annals of reorganization and school choice:
  • [Kennebunk, Kennbunkport, Arundel] RSU 21 terminates Thornton middle school contract, Kristen Schulze Muzynski, Journal Tribune
  • Lamoine Vote on High School Tuition: informational sheet

June 28

• [...so goes Vermont] Vermont school consolidation talks begin, Burlington Free Press
  ...governor, Jim Douglas, wanted to make consolidation mandatory, but allowed the voluntary merger bill to become law without signing it.
• Improving education will involve re-evaluating the entire system, Rep. Stephen D. Lovejoy, Press Herald

[Rhode Island] A Funding Formula For Success?, National Jounral

June 25

• Hard Choices in Lubec, Editorial, Bangor Daily News
• Way of life ends as Cornville school closes, Sandra Belanger, Morning Senrinel

June 24

• [SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium] Three Groups Apply for Race to Top Test Grants, Stephen Sawchuk, Ed Week
• Lubec high school to close this fall, Rich Hewitt, Bangor Daily News
• Inside Maines Race to the Top application, Part 8: "improving teacher and principal effectiveness based on performance", Steve Bowen, Maine Freedon Forum
• What the heck is Maine's student-teacher ratio?, Matthew Stone, Report Card
• MEA to announce its gubernatorial pick, Matthew Stone, Report Card
  • MEA endorses Mitchell for governor, Kelley Bouchard, Press Herald
• Wales school closing, Matthew Stone, Kennebec Journal

June 23

• Inside Maines Race to the Top application, Part 7: "providing high-quality pathways for aspiring teachers and principals", Steve Bowen, Maine Freedom Forum
• State Reading ScoresL Are all America's Children Really Above Average?, Voices, Children's Leadership Council
  • Executive Summary
• Rejecting & replacing 'Professional Learning Communities', Alfie Kohn
• [Arundel, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport] RSU 21 board: End Thornton contract, Ann S. Kim, Press Herald

June 22

• Small NYC high schools found to boost achievement, Karen Matthews, AP
• Inside Maines Race to the Top application, Part 6: data systems, Steve Bowen, Maine Freedom Forum
• Latest student-teacher ratio based on wrong numbers, MSMA
• Class-Size Policies, Kyle Zinth, Education Commission of the States
• Strengthening education crucial to attain sustainable prosperity, J. Duke Albanese, Kennebec Journal

June 18

• [North Anson, Embden, Solon, Carrabec] Axed teachers have hundreds of fans

June 17

• Six new regional districts formed before July 1 deadline, MSMA
• Inside Maines Race to the Top application, Part 5: "standards and assessments", Steve Bowen, Maine Freedom Forum
• [Richmond, Hallowell, Farmingdale] RSU 2's 'standards-based' grading to get oversight, Matthew Stone, Kennebec Journal
• Education Related Legislation Enacted by the 124th Maine Legislature Second Regular Session, DoE

June 16

• The Importance of Class Size, Derek Viger, Pine Tree Politics
• Inside Maines Race to the Top application, Part 4: "improving student achievement and closing student achievement gaps", Steve Bowen, Maine Freedom Forum
• [Greenbush, Burlington, Edinburg, Enfield, Howland, Maxfield, Passadumkeag] Greenbush voters reject consolidation with SAD 31, Nick Sambides Jr., Bangor Daily News
• [Straks] Voters close school, Morning Sentinel
• Vermont-NEA survey: Poverty a large factor in student achievement, press release, VTdigger.org
• Lamoine Residents at Hearing Favor Preserving School Choice, Jacqueline Weaver, Ellsworth American (on-line only)

June 15

• MDI School Board Calls Lamoines Bluff, Dick Broom, MDIslander
• [...So goes Vermont: Quantifying closing rural schools to increase student-teacher ratios] Charting a course for education? Two analyses, two different answers to cost conundrum, Anne Galloway, VTdigger.org
  ..."Is it realistic to close all these schools? Absolutely not," James said. "Can you close some of them? Probably, but its not the states mandate to close schools. Its really an illustration more than anything else to (show) that Vermont isnt like a lot of the rest of the country. And neither is North Dakota or South Dakota.
  • Effect of Closing Schools on Student / Teacher Ratio, VT-DoE
• [Starks] School's future up for vote today, Erin Rhoda, Morning Sentinel
• Maine should take fresh look at teacher tenure, Editorial, Sun Journal
• On buy-in, below average, Matthew Stone, Report Card
• Inside Maines Race to the Top application, Part 3: "capacity to implement reform", Steve Bowen, Maine Freedom Forum

June 14

• Cross-Country Evidence on Teacher Performance Pay, Ludger Woessmann, PEPG Conference: Merit Pay: Will It Work? Is It Politically Viable?, Harvard Kennedy School

June 12

• Students aren't products and don't roll off assembly lines, Mark Schwartz, Press Herald
• [Pittsfield, Burnham, Detroit] SAD 53 renamed after failed efforts to consolidate, Christopher Cousins, Bangor Daily News

June 11

• Inside Maines Race to the Top application, Part 2"achievement goals, stakeholder support, translating into broad statewide impact", Steve Bowen, Maine Freedom Forum
• [Incentives gone wild] Under Pressure, Teachers Tamper With Test Scores, Trip Gabriel, New York Times
• Restoring Our Schools, Linda Darling-Hammond, The Nation
• Why I Changed My Mind, Diane Ravitch, The Nation
• Lubec group fights against school closure, Sharon Kiley Mack, Bangor Daily News

June 10

• Notice of Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) Grant Opportunity, DoE informational letter
• Inside Maines Race to the Top application, Part 1: overview of reform agenda, Steve Bowen, Maine Freedom Forum
• Talmadge, Waite vote down consolidation effort, Nick Sambides Jr., Bangor Daily News
• DOE grants Acton 'doughnut hole' status; town no longer needs to join with another school district, Ellen W. Todd, Sanford News
• [Guilford] State education officials outline alternatives to consolidation, Shelia Grant , SV Weekly

June 9

• Initial thoughts on a LePage v. Mitchell match-up, Matthew Stone, Report Card
• Global firm to pay Montgomery, Md., schools millions for elementary curriculum, Michael Birnbaum, Washington Post
• Millinocket residents reject school budget, Nick Sambides Jr., Bangor Daily News
• After 50 years, Durham school to close, Connie Footman, Sun Journal
• Embden Elementary School to close doors, Morning Sentinel

June 8

• Otis Votes to Go It Alone, Jacqueline Weaver, Ellsworth American
• Innovations that don't fit the national mold: Maine and Race to the Top, Matthew Stone, Report Card
• Lawmakers question after-school reductions, Matthew Stone, Kennebec Journal
• Education officials searching for funds after error, Abigail Curtis, Bangor Daily News
• Lake Region SAT effort paying off, Kelley Bouchard, Press Herald

June 7

• Live Blogging the Education Committees June meeting, Steve Bowen, Maine Freedom Forum
• Performance-based evaluations from the bottom up, Matthew Stone, Report Card
• Performance-Pay Model Shows No Achievement Edge, Stephen Sawchuk, Ed Week
• Common state standards are no more than part of the answer, Valerie Strauss, Washington Post
• Susan Gendron Named Senior Fellow for the International Center for Leadership in Education, press release, Earth Times

June 6

• Scarcelli Offers Plan to Boost Teacher Salaries, Dennis Bailey, Dirigo Blue
• Penquis region rethinks school consolidation, Diana Bowley, Bangor Daily News

June 5

• Educational reform should be focused on students, not teachers, Christopher M. Easton, Press Herald
• Penquis region school officials expected to resume consolidation discussions, Diana Bowley, Bangor Daily News

June 4

• [...So goes Vermont] Governor has school consolidation blues, Louis Porter, Times Argus
• Vermont panel looks at school redistrict, Lisa Rathke, Burlington Free Press
• Saco, Dayton officials call for defeat of school budget, Edward D. Murphy, Press Herald
• St. George eighth-graders to be reassigned, Stephen Betts, Herald Gazette
• [Lee, Springfield, Webster, Winn, Lakeville, Carroll, Drew, Macwahoc, Reed, Codyville, Topsville, Cooper, Grand Lake Stream Plantation, Meddybemps, Princeton, Talmadge, Waite] Residents to vote on school consolidation, Nick Sambides Jr., Bangor Daily News

June 2

• Choice phrasing in Race to the Top, Matthew Stone, Report Card
• Statement from Acting Commissioner Angela Faherty regarding the release of the final Common Core State Standards, DoE press release
• National Governors Association and State Education Chiefs Launch Common State Academic Standards, CCSSI press release
• [Edgecomb, Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Southport] Union 49 Voters Approve Rocky Channels School System, J.W. Oliver, Lincoln County News
• Maine applies for $75 million in school funds, AP
• [Fort Fairfield, Mars Hill, Blaine, Bridgewater] Voters and Education Commissioner Approve Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS) - Mid-County School System (MCSS), Carl Young, Fort Fairfled Chamber of Commerce

June 1

• Maine Submits Race to the Top Application, DoE press release