Revised dck 3/11/13

No Child Left Behind (NCLB)

The following message was sent, by email, to all Superintendents and NCLB Coordinators on March 5, 2013.

This communication serves as notice that the Maine Department of Education intends to submit an application to the U. S. Department of Education for Title I School Improvement Grants (SIG) program authorized by section 1003(g) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). This application includes Maine’s definition for “persistently lowest-achieving schools” and a request for waivers on behalf of all applicable SAUs. Comments related to this application and request for waivers should be sent to Rachelle Tome, Chief Academic Officer at rachelle.tome@maine.gov. Comments will be accepted through Friday, March 22, 2013.

Definition of Persistently Lowest achieving schools:

Maine defines “persistently lowest-achieving schools” as those schools ranking the lowest, based on a three year average of proficiency in Reading and Math combined from 2010-2012, and also demonstrating a level of progress less than the median rate of progress of all schools ranked. The level of progress is determined by calculating the change in the yearly averages for proficiency in Reading and Math from 2010 to 2011, 2011 to 2012. This definition will be used to generate a list schools identified as Tier I or Tier II schools eligible for school improvement funding through the Title I School Improvement Grants (SIG) program authorized by section 1003(g) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). Schools will be considered for eligibility under two categories, designated as Tier I and Tier II as follows;

Tier I schools are defined as any Title I school in improvement, corrective action, or restructuring that —

Is among the lowest-achieving five percent of Title I schools in improvement, corrective action, or restructuring or the lowest-achieving five Title I schools in improvement, corrective action, or restructuring in the State, whichever number of schools is greater; or
Is a high school that has had a graduation rate as defined in 34 C.F.R. § 200.19(b) that is less than 60 percent over a number of years;

Tier II schools are defined as any secondary school that is eligible for, but does not receive, Title I funds that —

Is among the lowest-achieving five percent of secondary schools or the lowest-achieving five secondary schools in the State that are eligible for, but do not receive, Title I funds, whichever number of schools is greater; or
Is a high school that has had a graduation rate as defined in 34 C.F.R. § 200.19(b) that is less than 60 percent over a number of years.

It should be noted that graduation rates, based on Maine’s transition rate as defined in 34 C.F.R. § 200.19(b), have been reviewed and there are currently no secondary schools having a graduation rate less than 60% over a number of years.

REQUEST FOR WAIVERS

As part of the application process for Title I School Improvement Grants (SIG) program, Maine will request the following waivers:

The requirement in section 1116(b)(12) of the ESEA to permit LEAs to allow their Tier I, Tier II and Tier III Title I participating schools that fully implement a turnaround or restart model beginning in the 2011-12 school year to “start over” in the school improvement timeline.

The requirement in section 1114(a)(1) of the ESEA to permit LEAs to implement a schoolwide program in a Tier I, Tier II and Tier III Title I participating schools that does not have a poverty percentage of 40 percent or greater and is fully implementing one of the four intervention models.

The Maine Department of Education will be providing additional guidance to eligible SAUs following approval of Maine’s application for Title I School Improvement Grants (SIG) program. If you have any questions regarding the Title I School Improvement Grant (SIG) program, please contact Rachelle Tome at 624-6705 or rachelle.tome@maine.gov.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The following message was sent, by email, to all Superintendents and NCLB Coordinators on March 8, 2013.

This communication serves as notice that the Maine Department of Education is requesting a waiver from the U. S. Department of Education from the requirement in Section 421(b) of the General Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. § 1225 (b)) to extend the availability of FY12 School Improvement Grant funds, with funds available for the SEA and all of its LEAs until September 30, 2016. Maine fully funded all approvable applications in cohort two using FY10 and FY11 allocations and will be conducting a new grant competition in spring of 2013. The State believes that the requested waiver and extension of time will increase its ability to implement the SIG program effectively in eligible schools in the State in order to improve the quality of instruction and improve the academic achievement of students in Tier I and Tier III schools.

Comments related to this waiver request should be sent to Rachelle Tome, Chief Academic Officer at rachelle.tome@maine.gov. Comments will be accepted through Friday, March 22nd.

Respectfully,

Rachelle Tome
Chief Academic Officer
Maine Department of Education

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The following message was sent, by email, to all Superintendents and NCLB Coordinators on January 5, 2013.

Dear Superintendents and NCLB Coordinators,

This communication serves as notice that the Maine Department of Education is requesting a waiver from the U. S. Department of Education from the requirement in Section 421(b) of the General Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. § 1225 (b)) to extend the availability of FY10 and FY11 School Improvement Grant funds, with FY10 funds available for the SEA and all of its LEAs until September 30, 2013 and FY11 funds available for the SEA and all of its LEAs until September 30, 2014. Maine received and reviewed all submitted applications from eligible LEAs in cohort two. The state fully funded all approvable applications in cohort two using FY10 and FY11 allocations. The State believes that the requested waiver and extension of time will increase its ability to implement the SIG program effectively in eligible schools in the State in order to improve the quality of instruction and improve the academic achievement of students in Tier I and Tier III schools.

Comments related to this waiver request should be sent to Rachelle Tome, ESEA Title I Director at rachelle.tome@maine.gov. Comments will be accepted through Tuesday, January 22nd.

Please let me know if I can provide further assistance.

Rachelle Tome

ESEA Federal Programs Director

Maine Department of Education

23 State House Station

Augusta, ME 04333

207-624-6705