1. Overview and Update June 2018
Maine’s Alternative Certification and Mentoring Program (Maine’s Plan for Compliance with Fully Certified Special Educator requirement)
Overview and Update
June 2018

2. Maine’s Alternative Certification and Mentoring Program (MACM) is
Maine’s response to OSEP’s requirement for qualified special educators
A temporary project to help Maine meet this requirement
Intended ONLY for conditionally certified special educators in their FIRST year of teaching

3. Applies to the following certificates
282 (Teacher of Disabled Students)
286 (Teacher – Severely Impaired)
291 (Teacher-Visually Impaired),
292 (Teacher Deaf/Hearing Impaired)
Employed in
Public Schools, preschools, and charter schools
Special Purpose Private Schools

4. Changes:
Changes to existing rules and addition of alternative pathways
Beginning JULY , there will be TWO certifications: Professional, or Conditional
Conditional is good for a maximum of 3 years
During the 3 year period, the following things occur:
Required semester hours and topics
Praxis for HQ content knowledge
ONE YEAR of intensive coaching and mentoring through MACM, collaborating with district- level certification teams

5. MACM Program Timeline Mentors and Instructors notified by June 8
Mentors Trained August 1, 2, 3 of 2018
Mentors, mentees paired Summer, Fall 2018
Mentoring begins Fall 2018
Course sections begin September 2018
Teacher evaluations will continue to be conducted according to district’s existing plan
Participants will continue taking other courses needed for Professional Certification

6. Participants: Special Educators with Conditional Certification will…
Develop an Initial Action Plan with mentor with input from the school certification team
Participate in stand-alone special education course for up to 6 credit hours/1year (these fit into course requirements under the new rules)
Maintain weekly contact with mentor
Participate in 2 observations/Reflections per semester with mentor

7. Participants: Mentors will
Support up to 5 mentees (mentors who have retired from teaching; others will support 1-2 mentees)
Mentors will receive an stipend of $500 per mentee per 9 months
Observe mentees 2x/semester (may use video, distance technology) and maintain weekly contact

8. Stand-Alone Special Education Course
Designed as a “crash course” in special education specifically for the first year of teaching
Topics in the course will be addressed in depth in other courses required under new Chapter 115 rules
Will count toward professional certification

9. Stand-Alone Course Topics include

10. LEA Participation
District-level certification committee and MACM mentors work together on Action Plans, observations
Support SED 598 course costs with LE funds
Support participants at building level (i.e. release time for mentors to observe, assigning a building-level teacher to orient the mentee to school community, culture)
Conduct mentee evaluations (Building administrator and Special Ed administrator or district plan for Chapter 180) as needed for District Certification Team

11. Anticipated Outcomes and Long Term Goals
Conditionally certified special educators earn Professional Certification by the end of 3 year period
Cadre of well-trained, experienced special educator mentors will be developed across the state, available to districts in the future
Intensive support during critical induction period will increase the likelihood that new teachers will stay in the field beyond 3 years
MACM resources will be passed along to districts, regional collaboratives to assist in supporting new conditionally certified special educators

12. Can you help? YES!
As soon as you anticipate having an open special educator position,
AND/OR you know you intend to hire a newly conditionally certified teacher,
Please contact Valerie

13. Why? We currently have no data source for this information
Knowing where mentors might be needed increases the likelihood that we will have enough mentors in your geographic area
Information is power (?)

14. Comments? Constructive concerns?
Questions?
Comments?
Constructive concerns?

15. Maine’s Alternative Certification and Mentoring Program thanks you!
Please visit our website
For Project updates