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<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Arial Black"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black"'>Welcome
to Maine Department of Education <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Arial Black"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black"'>English
Language Arts Listserv<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Arial Black"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>This service is an
attempt to keep <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Maine</st1:State></st1:place>
educators informed about current issues, upcoming opportunities and resources
in ELA. Please send any responses to: <a href="mailto:patsy.dunton@maine.gov">patsy.dunton@maine.gov</a>
or <a href="mailto:diana.dioron@maine.gov">diana.dioron@maine.gov</a> as this
is not a discussion forum.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Our goal is to post
information as needed but not more often than once a week. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>October 22, 2008 Update:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>The following critical information was released by the commissioner in
Informational Letter #31 which can be found at this link: <a
href="http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/index.php?topic=edu_letters&id=63022&v=article">http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/index.php?topic=edu_letters&id=63022&v=article</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Please read the full text of the letter. Here are the highlights:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>Due to budgetary considerations, several changes to the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Maine</st1:State></st1:place> Educational
Assessment (MEA) will occur in March 2009: <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<ul type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Writing will not be assessed at
grades 5 and 8 in either the standard MEA or the Personalized Alternate
Assessment Portfolio (PAAP). <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Computer-based assessment, the
MEA online, will not occur at grade 8. <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>We have proposed moving to the
NECAP assessment starting October 2009. <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>SAT will still be part of the
high school assessment system. <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></li>
</ul>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>For information on
the New England Comprehensive Assessment Program (NECAP), please go to <a
href="http://education.vermont.gov/new/html/pgm_assessment/necap/resources/released_items.html">http://education.vermont.gov/new/html/pgm_assessment/necap/resources/released_items.html</a>
to see released items. Please note that NECAP assesses writing quite
differently than MEA. You will find multiple choice items, not unlike the ones
which appear on the PSAT and SAT. You will also find short constructed
response items which require about a paragraph of writing as well as an
extended response prompt (longer essay). <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>If the decision to
join the NECAP states and participate in this assessment, further information
will soon follow. If you have specific questions, please contact us. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Have you signed up
for one of our <u>fall assessment workshops</u>? They are currently happening
across the state. Please see our last update for further information or visit
the DOE website. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Patsy Dunton</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>English Language Arts Specialist</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Grades 6 - diploma</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Midcoast Regional Representative</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Maine Department of Education</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>624-6625</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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