Request to Amend Accountability Plans – Maine June 1, 2009 letter – NCLB Policy Letters to States
June 1, 2009
The Honorable Susan A. Gendron
Commissioner of Education
Maine Department of Education
23 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0023
Dear Commissioner Gendron:
On behalf of Secretary Duncan, I want to thank you for your hard work in implementing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). As you may know, the Secretary is traveling the country and listening to officials in states and school districts, as well as other stakeholders, to talk about the ways in which the ESEA can be improved. These conversations will inform the next reauthorization of the statute. In the meantime, we will push towards our reform goals under the authority of, and in accordance with, the existing statute and regulations.
I am writing in response to Maine’s request to amend its state accountability plan under Title I of the ESEA. Following discussions between the Department and your staff, you made several non-substantive changes to Maine’s accountability plan, which are now included in the amended plan that Maine submitted to the Department on January 16, 2009. I am pleased to approve Maine’s amended plan, which we will post on the Department’s website. A summary of Maine’s amendment is enclosed with this letter. As you know, any further requests to amend Maine’s accountability plan must be submitted to the Department for review and approval as required by section 1111(f)(2) of Title I of the ESEA.
Please also be aware that approval of Maine’s accountability plan for Title I, including the amendment approved herein, does not indicate that the plan complies with Federal civil rights requirements, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
I am confident that Maine will continue to advance its efforts to hold schools and school districts accountable for the achievement of all students. If you need any additional assistance to implement the standards, assessment, and accountability provisions of the ESEA, please do not hesitate to contact Vicki.Robinson@ed.gov or Collette.Roney@ed.gov of my staff.
Sincerely,
Joseph C. Conaty
Enclosure
cc: Governor John Baldacci
Valerie Seaberg
Jackie Soychak
Amendments to Maine’s Accountability Plan
The following is a summary of Maine’s amendment request. Please refer to the Department’s website http://www.ed.govhttps://www2.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/index.html for Maine’s complete accountability plan.
Acceptable amendment
The following amendment is aligned with the statute and regulations.
General clean-up (Elements 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 6.1, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 8.1, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 10.1, 10.2)
Revision: Maine made non-substantive changes throughout its workbook in order to reflect current practices in the state.
