Education Commons^™

Research Innovation And Institutional Growth: Digital Humanities, Usm, And The University Of Maine System, Janet M. Billson, Katherine Bessey

Research Innovation and Institutional Growth

No abstract provided.

A Review Of Standardized Testing Practices And Perceptions In Maine, Janet C. Fairman Ph.D., Ian M. Mette Phd, Amy Johnson Ph.D, Garry Wickerd Ph.D, Sharon Labrie M.S.

State of Education

This report summarizes the resulting effort, which included a literature scan, document analysis, and surveys of two groups of school practitioners (testing administrators and teachers) to analyze the amount of time Maine students spend on testing, the types of tests administered, and whether the results are perceived as useful for practitioners.

Allocation Of Federal Title Ia Funds Under Essa: Issues And Recommendations, Amy F. Johnson Phd, Janet C. Fairman Ph.D.

State of Education

This report highlights some issues the Department may wish to consider in those future analyses and discussions. Concluding with suggestions for options to test out when more years of current assessment data are available, in addition to other suggestions from the ESSA Advisory Group that are already planned for future consideration.

Graduation Policies In A Public High School (A Case Study), Erika K. Stump, Erin Connor, Catherine Fallona, Bernadette Doykos

State of Education

This report shares research conducted in a case study of one higher performing high school to examine the practices, challenges and facilitators of implementing a standards-based curriculum and proficiency-based diploma systems.

Proficiency-Based High School Diploma Systems In Maine: Implications For Special Education And Career And Technical Education Programming And Student Populations, Erika K. Stump, Amy Johnson, Cathy Jacobs

State of Education

Document review and interviews were conducted with college admissions' personnel to gather data regarding alignment of proficiency-based diploma systems and college eligibility and entry requirements. In addition, leaders and representative personnel from and Maine businesses and the U.S. military were interviewed to identify postsecondary career entry requirements and attributes of high quality workers. Another area of inquiry in this phase of the study included analysis of data from interviews with leaders and educators in Special Education to examine the perceived challenges, benefits and impacts of this diploma policy on students with identified disabilities and special education programming provided by Maine's …

An Examination Of The Features Of Evidence-Based Teacher Credentialing Systems, Catherine Fallona Phd, Amy F. Johnson Phd

School Improvement

The first section provides background and context related to teacher preparation pathways, accountability and quality assurance at the state and national levels. This is followed by a brief description of the methods used for gathering evidence related to teacher credentials and quality teachers and teacher education. The remaining report sections provide an overview of the findings from the research literature and other published reports about the evidence base related to teacher and teacher preparation program quality. To aid in organization, the reviewed components are grouped into sections: teacher content knowledge, the clinical preparation of teachers, alternative teacher certification, and teacher …

A Preliminary Investigation Of Maine Virtual Charter School Costs Relative To The Essential Programs And Services Funding Model, Amy F. Johnson Phd, Fleur Hopper, James E. Sloan

School Funding - Essential Programs and Services (EPS)

In 2015, the Maine State Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs commissioned the Maine Education Policy Research Institute (MEPRI) to study the state’s Essential Program and Services (EPS) K-­‐12 education funding model in relationship to the funding for Maine’s two virtual charter schools. The study was initiated with a review of available literature and reports on virtual school funding in other states. Because the structure of Maine’s virtual schools differs from typical models in other states, most notably because core academic subject teachers are required to teach from one central physical location, further cost analysis was conducted …

Recommendations And Resources For Evaluating Community School Programs, Janet C. Fairman Ph.D., Amy F. Johnson Phd

School Improvement

The legislative definition of “community schools” is intentionally broad and anticipates the possibility that community schools might vary significantly in their locally-developed goals and intervention programs. The needs of students and their families may vary by community, as does the array of existing resources available in the surrounding area. This leads to a broad set of possible strategies that may imply different expected outcomes and evaluation processes.

The grant program requires pilot schools to meet certain application criteria. Applications require schools to submit an audit or needs assessment, a community resources assessment, an outline of plans and goals based on …

Proficiency-Based High School Diploma Systems In Maine: Local Implementation Of State Standards-Based Policy Phase Iv Policy Report, Erika K. Stump, Bernadette Doykos Phd, Catherine Fallona Phd

Proficiency-Based Education

In this current year, Phase IV, researchers collected new data from qualitative interviews and document analysis in six case study school districts in Maine, representing a range of demographics, geographic regions and implementation stages. Three of these districts had been involved in at least one year of Phase I-III of this study, allowing for exploration of ongoing implementation practices and comparing perceived challenges and benefits from initial implementation to later stages. Findings suggested that Maine's proficiency-based high school diploma mandate had mobilized PK-12 collaborative professional work, but there was an evident need for even greater professional time for full systemic …

Using Evidence-Based Criteria For Block Grant Funding Of Collaborative Time For Educator Professional Development, Janet C. Fairman Phd, A. James Artesani Edd

School Funding - Essential Programs and Services (EPS)

This report was prepared by the Maine Education Policy Research Institute (MEPRI) at the request of the Maine State Legislature to provide recommendations for the development of a block grant program of supplemental funding to school districts to support evidence-based professional development for educators and/ or leaders or instructional coaching support in schools and classrooms. The report provides guidance to inform decisions on pending legislation, LD 1394, “An Act to Implement the Recommendations of the Commission to Strengthen the Adequacy and Equity of Certain Cost Components of the School Funding Formula”.

The report builds on an earlier MEPRI report which …

An Examination Of Using Social Impact Bonds To Fund Education In Maine, Erika K. Stump Phd, Amy F. Johnson Phd

School Funding - Essential Programs and Services (EPS)

As resolved in H.P. 285 - L.D. 418 (Chapter 52) and requested by the Maine Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs, the Maine Education Policy Research Institute (MEPRI) has conducted a study with the purpose of examining current policies and investigating the feasibility of using Social Impact Bonds as a funding mechanism for public education programs in Maine.

Remedial Course Enrollments And Student Outcomes In Maine’S Public Higher Education Institutions, Amy F. Johnson Phd

Higher Education and College Readiness

College readiness remains a large policy challenge for both K-­‐12 schools and higher education institutions. Students who need to pursue remedial coursework before being able to enroll in introductory college requirements face financial and logistical challenges that create barriers to degree progression. In an effort to gain additional information about the scale and context of the problem the University of Maine System and Maine Community College Systems were required to prepare four annual reports with information about the students entering their colleges directly from a Maine high school. These reports provided information on the overall proportion of these students who …

Results Of A Pilot Analysis Of Actem Listserv Posts As A Tool For Examining Maine Learning Technology Initiative Program Implementation, Components Of The School Funding Formula

Education Technology

As part of its ongoing evaluation efforts of Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI), the Maine Education Policy Research Institute (MEPRI) staff examined the ACTEM listserv archives for the 2014 calendar year, which overlaps with two academic years, 2013-2014 and 2014-2015. The goal of this examination was to pilot a process for documenting and categorizing the listserv content and to determine the viability of this process in providing useful evidence of implementation of the MLTI program. The present report provides an overview of the quality and quantity of messages exchanged through the listserv and a discussion of this evidence.

Preliminary Examinations Of The Relationships Between The Use Levels Of Maine Learning Technology Initiative Devices And School-Level Poverty, Bernadette Doykos Phd, David L. Silvernail, Amy F. Johnson Phd

Education Technology

As MLTI extends into its second decade of operation, a number of questions have emerged that require increased attention to ensure that the needs of students and teachers are being met. For example: Is there evidence of a second “digital divide”—one of skills and use—across the state of Maine? Does the socioeconomic status of students and schools in Maine influence the level of technology integration? The purpose of the present Brief was to explore these questions. To accomplish this, we examine how students’ use of technology varies by schools’ free and reduced priced lunch (FRPL) by analyzing data from student …

Report Of The Commission To Study The Adequacy And Equity Of Certain Cost Components Of The School Funding Formula, Commission To Study The Adequacy And Equity Of Certain Cost Components Of The School Funding Formula

School Funding - Essential Programs and Services (EPS)

The Commission was created by Resolves 2014, chapter 114, legislation that originated with the Joint Standing Committee on Education of the 126th Maine Legislature. Five members were appointed by the President of the Maine Senate; seven members were appointed by the Speaker of the House. The final two members were the Commissioner of Education or designee, and the Chair of the State Board of Education or designee. The names of Commission members and the organizations they represent, are included in Appendix B.

What follows are descriptions and materials related to each section of the Resolve and the final recommendations made …

Summer Learning Loss For Maine Public School Elementary Students, David L. Silvernail Phd, Brian I. Mazjanis

School Improvement

The goal of this research was to determine if there are statistically significant differences in learning between different categories of students apart from the influences of school. The foundational assumption is that student academic achievement is a product of both in-school and out-of-school factors. While there are many breaks from schooling during the calendar year, the largest by far is the summer recess. This study examined student achievement data measured at the end of one school year and then again at the beginning of the next school year. The study took advantage of the natural experiment that arose when the …

Maine Learning Technology Initiative Program Evaluation Report 2013-14 Professional Development Programs, Caroline A. Pinkham, Bernadette Doykos

Education Technology

The purpose of this report is to explore the expansion of the MLTI program that occurred in the 2013‐2014 academic year. In June 2014, over 400 individuals from Maine public schools were solicited to participate in a survey examining their experiences with MLTI technology in their schools. In 2013‐2014, for the first time since the inception of MLTI in 2002, the program shifted to a multiple‐device solution, which offered schools the opportunity to select from a range of device choices, including a MacBook Air, iPad, or HP Probook. Both the MacBook Air and the HP Probook were traditionally formatted laptops, …

Factors Used In Maine Learning Technology Initiative (Mlti) Device Choice, Caroline A. Pinkham

Education Technology

This Brief describes how schools/districts determined their technology device choice. The purpose of the Brief is to gain a better understanding of the decision making processes regarding the technology device(s) that was chosen by districts in the summer of 2013 and how satisfied they were with those devices for the 2013 -2014 school year. Surveys were administered to Superintendents in the Summer of June 2014 regarding this purpose.

Mlti Summer 2014 Principal & Technology Personnel Survey, Bernadette Doykos Phd, Caroline A. Pinkham

Education Technology

The purpose of this report is to explore the expansion of the MLTI program that occurred in the 2013‐2014 academic year. In June 2014, over 400 individuals from Maine public schools were solicited to participate in a survey examining their experiences with MLTI technology in their schools. In 2013‐2014, for the first time since the inception of MLTI in 2002, the program shifted to a multiple‐device solution, which offered schools the opportunity to select from a range of device choices, including a MacBook Air, iPad, or HP Probook. Both the MacBook Air and the HP Probook were traditionally formatted laptops, …

Using Interactive Data Tools In Mathematics Professional Development Project Report, Pam Buffington Ph.D., Carlene Kaler

School Improvement

The goal of the Using Interactive Data Tools in Mathematics Professional Development Project was to develop, conduct, and test professional development for middle level educators to support the effective use of interactive technology for learning targeted data and statistics mathematics standards and practices as outlined in the Common Core State Standards. The professional development included embedded research-­‐based instructional strategies and approaches, as well as activities that used example student lesson materials. Project resources include brief pre/post assessments, interactive applets, student activities, teacher aids, and other materials. The assessments were designed to measure key aspects of the targeted data and statistics …

Developing College Readiness Indices For Maine High Schools: An Exploratory Study, David L. Silvernail Phd, James E. Sloan, Chelsea R. Paul, Sarah R. Linet

Higher Education and College Readiness

This Research Brief describes the results of an exploratory study of the development and potential uses of a set college readiness measures for Maine high schools. The study was designed to: (1) explore the viability of creating a series of school‐level college readiness indices; (2) examine the relationships between the indices and other school level input factors; and (3) explore how the indices may be used at the state and local levels in assessing college readiness of high schools’ graduates.

Pathways To Mathematics College Readiness In Maine, David L. Silvernail Phd, Ida A. Batista, James E. Sloan, Erika K. Stump Phd, Amy F. Johnson Phd

Higher Education and College Readiness

The goal of this study was to examine the pathways to being college ready in mathematics. Students who enter high school already having demonstrated mathematics proficiency on a standardized test in the 8th grade have already taken a significant step towards being college ready. The best scenario is to enter high school proficient in mathematics and having already completed Algebra I, then to complete at least Algebra II and Calculus before graduating from high school. Students completing this pathway are virtually guaranteed to be college ready in mathematics.

Challenges Faced By Maine School Districts In Providing High Quality Public Education, David L. Silvernail Phd, Sarah R. Linet

State of Education

The goal of this study was to: (1) identify challenges faced by Maine school districts in providing high quality public education; (2) describe the magnitude of the challenges; and (3) identify areas where school districts were experiencing some success in meeting these challenges. The School Districts Challenge Survey was distributed online to all Maine’s public school district superintendents. Survey responses were collected from 68 superintendents representing leadership of both rural and non-rural school districts and districts of varying size.

The Impacts Of Public Charter Schools On Students And Traditional Public Schools: What Does The Empirical Evidence Tell Us?, David L. Silvernail Phd, Amy F. Johnson Phd

School Funding - Essential Programs and Services (EPS)

The goal of this BRIEF was to compile and analyze the available evidence of the impacts of public charter schools on students and schools. Using a series of five common claims made by proponents and opponents of public charter schools as an organizer, the existing empirical evidence was reviewed. The analysis revealed that student performance in charter schools is very mixed. In some cases studies have found positive effects in achievement, others negative effects, and still others no effects. The presence of charter schools has resulted in positive changes in some traditional public schools, while in other cases there appear …

The Relationship Between School Poverty And Student Achievement In Maine., David L. Silvernail Phd, James E. Sloan, Chelsea R. Paul, Amy F. Johnson Phd, Erika K. Stump Phd

School Funding - Essential Programs and Services (EPS)

This Brief presents the findings from a series of analyses designed to explore the connections between poverty and student achievement in Maine schools. It explores how poverty and performance are related, and examines other school and student characteristics that may be connected to student performance.

Implementation Of A Proficiency‐Based Diploma System In Maine: Phase Ii ‐ District Level Analysis, David L. Silvernail Phd, Erika K. Stump Phd, Anita Stewart Mccafferty, Kathryn M. Hawes

School Funding - Essential Programs and Services (EPS)

This report describes the findings from Phase II of a study of Maine's implementation of a proficiency‐based diploma system. At the request of the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs of the Maine Legislature, the Maine Policy Research Institute (MEPRI) has conducted a two‐phased study of the implementation of Maine law LD 1422: An Act to Prepare Maine People for the Future Economy. Phase I of the study in 2012‐2013 reported on the preliminary development, costs and impacts of standards‐based school programs in Maine. Phase II of the study focused on examining school districts in Maine implementing a …

College Participation Rates Of Maine’S Recent High School Graduates: Examining The Claims (Updated Report), David L. Silvernail Phd, James E. Sloan, Amy F. Johnson Phd

Higher Education and College Readiness

What follows are the findings from a preliminary analysis of the performance and characteristics of a recent class of Maine high school graduates who have enrolled in college the fall after high school graduation. To examine Claims 1 and 2, we used data provided by the National Student Clearinghouse (NCS) on the cohort of students who graduated high school in Spring 2010 (2010 NCSC). The NCS tracks approximately 90% of high school graduates who enroll in a United States college or university each year. However, the data available from NCS is limited. Thus, to examine Claims 3‐6 we limited our …

Lessons Learned At Selected 1:1 Ipad High Schools, School Year 2012-2013, Amy F. Johnson Phd, Caroline A. Pinkham

Education Technology

In the spring of 2013, the Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) adopted a new approach to its 1:1 device selection process. Rather than choosing a single vendor to provide a uniform statewide technology implementation, the Maine Department of Education opted to select a preferred solution and allowed schools the autonomy to choose from among four other approved bids. In anticipation that a number of schools would choose to provide iPads to students, the Maine Education Policy Research Institute (MEPRI) at the University of Southern Maine surveyed teachers at three Maine high schools currently using 1:1 iPads with their students.

To …

Preliminary Implementation Of Maine's Proficiency-Based Diploma Program, David L. Silvernail, Erika K. Stump Phd, Angela Atkinson Duina, Lori Moran Gunn

Proficiency-Based Education

The Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs of the Maine Legislature requested that the Maine Education Policy Research Institute (MEPRI) undertake a study designed to compile data on the preliminary development, costs, and impacts of standards-based school programs and to report back to the committee in 2013 on the progress Maine schools and school districts were making in transitioning to the new education system. To that end, MEPRI researchers and analysts have conducted a study of a select sample of Maine schools and school districts.

Spring 2013 Teacher Survey: Mepri/Mlti Middle And High School Technology Report, Caroline A. Pinkham, Amy F. Johnson Phd

Education Technology

In the spring of 2013, the Maine Education Policy Research Institute (MEPRI) at the University of Southern Maine administered the annual Statewide Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) teacher survey. In addition to gathering data on continuing trends of Maine teachers’ technology implementation, new goals were identified to respond to the Maine Department of Education (MDOE) preferred solution initiative in the spring of 2013. The MDOE opted to select a preferred solution which allowed schools the autonomy to choose from among four other approved bids. In anticipation that a number of schools would choose to provide an alternative technology solution to …