Biddeford schools praised in state’s five-year review
By Gillian Graham
Staff Writer
Education officials praised the Biddeford School Department in its No Child Left Behind review.
Assistant Superintendent Jeff Porter gave the school committee an overview of the department’s No Child Left Behind review at the Oct. 17 meeting. Porter said each school district in Maine receives a review every five years; Biddeford’s review took place March 26.
The commendations, recommendations and citations were released by the Maine Department of Education. Porter said the district was commended for its “exemplary use of data” as a tool to support students. The district received praise for its “whatever it takes” approach to supporting professional learning communities for teachers and its collaborative relationship with St. James, a private school in Biddeford, he said.
Porter said the district also was commended for working with home school families, supporting a technology integrator position, professional teacher development, ESL programs, playing an active role in the Title II Consortium and its comprehensive substance abuse and violence prevention programs.
The review recommends district officials finalize a parent involvement policy. Porter said the policy will be sent to parents once it is approved by the school committee in the near future. The review also recommends the district develop strategies to ensure parental input has been collected; update parental notification plans; pursue additional professional development opportunities through the state; and raise awareness of substance abuse and violence prevention policies with students.
Porter said the review contained “only two minor citations.” The first citation says the school department must document “specific services or deliverables on contracts with providers including the documentation of staff participation in professional development activities.”
The deadline to create a reporting process was extended to Dec. 1 from Aug. 31 because the department currently is developing a comprehensive process to address the issue.
The second citation says the department must include a conflict of interest statement in the staff conduct statement or have the school committee adopt a specific policy to address conflict of interest. Porter said the school department does not yet have a policy but the policy committee is expected to approve one before the Dec. 1 deadline to take corrective action.
Staff Writer
Education officials praised the Biddeford School Department in its No Child Left Behind review.
Assistant Superintendent Jeff Porter gave the school committee an overview of the department’s No Child Left Behind review at the Oct. 17 meeting. Porter said each school district in Maine receives a review every five years; Biddeford’s review took place March 26.
The commendations, recommendations and citations were released by the Maine Department of Education. Porter said the district was commended for its “exemplary use of data” as a tool to support students. The district received praise for its “whatever it takes” approach to supporting professional learning communities for teachers and its collaborative relationship with St. James, a private school in Biddeford, he said.
Porter said the district also was commended for working with home school families, supporting a technology integrator position, professional teacher development, ESL programs, playing an active role in the Title II Consortium and its comprehensive substance abuse and violence prevention programs.
The review recommends district officials finalize a parent involvement policy. Porter said the policy will be sent to parents once it is approved by the school committee in the near future. The review also recommends the district develop strategies to ensure parental input has been collected; update parental notification plans; pursue additional professional development opportunities through the state; and raise awareness of substance abuse and violence prevention policies with students.
Porter said the review contained “only two minor citations.” The first citation says the school department must document “specific services or deliverables on contracts with providers including the documentation of staff participation in professional development activities.”
The deadline to create a reporting process was extended to Dec. 1 from Aug. 31 because the department currently is developing a comprehensive process to address the issue.
The second citation says the department must include a conflict of interest statement in the staff conduct statement or have the school committee adopt a specific policy to address conflict of interest. Porter said the school department does not yet have a policy but the policy committee is expected to approve one before the Dec. 1 deadline to take corrective action.
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