Latest news with #MaineDOE
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
USDA freeze impacting school nutrition staff, other grants
Apr. 4—Federal funding for Maine's school nutrition staff has been frozen under a wider pause to education programs in the state that was announced Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Anna Korsen, the director of Full Plates Full Potential, a nonprofit that supports child nutrition programs in Maine, called the move "cruel," noting that even if the USDA didn't restrict funding for school meals themselves, it will make it impossible for them to keep working. The freeze was the latest jab at Maine education from the Trump administration since a dispute between Trump and Gov. Janet Mills over the state's transgender athlete policies erupted in February. In the letter, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said the federal funding freeze would impact "administrative and technological functions in schools" but would not touch student nutrition or direct assistance for Mainers. The DOE had said it would not impact federal feeding programs, but Maine is now unable to access funds for the staff who operate those programs. A spokesperson for the Maine Department of Education later said the agency received about $92.7 million from the USDA in fiscal year 2024. Of that, $86.6 million represents direct reimbursements for school meals. "The Maine DOE can confirm that, at this time, funding to cover the cost of food itself for school nutrition programs remains accessible," Chloe Teboe, a spokesperson for the Maine department, said Friday afternoon. "Not presently accessible to the Maine DOE, however, is USDA funding that supports Maine DOE administrative staff who operate school nutrition programs, as well as funding for certain other grant programs that take place outside of schools." She said the state has not received any further communication from the USDA since Wednesday's letter. Teboe did not provide details about what those other grant programs might be. She said the department is "continuing to assess impacts and evaluate options in light of these actions." Full Plates Full Potential works closely with its administrative staff and Korsen said that her organization received notice of the freeze from the state's DOE, which said it will pay for some of those staff temporarily. "These people are absolutely critical partners in the work to see kids in Maine, and freezing this funding — while technically it wasn't the funding that goes directly to feed the kids — it will make it impossible to continue to see kids if the funding isn't reinstated," Korsen said. She said the money spent on the state's child nutrition team is such a small fraction of the USDA's budget, but a significant cost to the state government. "This move by USDA was really cruel," Korsen said. "They are going to be keeping food from kids." Copy the Story Link
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New memo gives Maine schools 10 days to remove DEI programming or lose federal money
Apr. 3—The federal Department of Education is giving states 10 days to confirm they have ended diversity, equity and inclusion programs in school or else lose federal funding. A memo issued Thursday stems from a Feb. 14 "Dear Colleague" letter sent to state education leaders, which instructed schools to remove DEI programming to comply with both Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, and the Supreme Court ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, the 2023 case that overturned affirmative action in college admissions. In that letter, acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor wrote that the ruling can be broadly applied to any educational program that treats people differently based on race, including scholarships, financial aid, administrative support, housing and graduation ceremonies. He said the department would "vigorously enforce" that interpretation of the law, and districts that don't comply could lose federal funding. "Federal financial assistance is a privilege, not a right. When state education commissioners accept federal funds, they agree to abide by federal antidiscrimination requirements," Trainor said Thursday. "Unfortunately, we have seen too many schools flout or outright violate these obligations, including by using DEI programs to discriminate against one group of Americans to favor another based on identity characteristics in clear violation of Title VI." The latest federal action does not target Maine specifically, and is unrelated to the Trump administration's dispute with Maine Gov. Janet Mills over transgender sports policies. Many Maine schools do have DEI programs, however. And Maine K-12 schools received $250 million in federal funds this school year. That money supports students with disabilities through the Individuals with Disabilities Act, and provides funding for economically disadvantaged students and rural schools through title funding. Districts like Lewiston and Portland receive millions to support their most vulnerable students through those federal funding sources. Chloe Teboe, a spokesperson for the Maine DOE, confirmed in an email Thursday evening that the department received the letter alongside counterparts in every state, but said the state agency "has not provided a response." Chloe Teboe, a spokesperson for the Maine DOE, confirmed in an email Thursday evening that the department received the letter alongside counterparts in every state, but said the state agency "has not provided a response." The "Dear Colleague" letter gave districts until Feb. 28 to comply, although that date seemingly came and went with no consequences. Thursday's memo gives states 10 days to sign and return a document assuring compliance with Title VI and the Harvard ruling, and requires state leaders to collect "certification responses" from local districts. In the months since Trump took office, many Maine school districts, including Portland and South Portland, have publicly affirmed their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. "We are a great district because of our diversity. It is who we are," Portland Superintendent Ryan Scallon said in a speech at a March 18 school board meeting. "Our vision and mission have not changed. We are focused on ensuring that all students leave us prepared and empowered and that requires that we provide programming that meets students' specific needs in an environment that is joyful and celebrates the diversity of our community." Trump signed an executive order March 20 to dismantle the federal Department of Education, a step toward a campaign promise to eliminate the agency entirely. The department laid off half its workforce, a move which was swiftly met with a lawsuit from 20 states, including Maine. The department is also investigating Maine over the state's transgender athletes policies, and issued a "final warning" last week after the state Department of Education declined to sign an agreement to change state policy. Copy the Story Link
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
In uproar over low test scores, Republicans try to shift blame to DEI, social emotional learning
Billy Bob Faulkingham, Republican minority leader in the Maine House of Representatives, during a joint House-Senate debate on the justice system. Feb. 25, 2025. (Photo: Jim Neuger/ Maine Morning Star) The national fight over diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in schools has reached Maine, with some Republican lawmakers blaming the state Department of Education for prioritizing instruction that elevates a diversity of perspectives over traditional curriculum, which they connected to students' poor assessment scores. DEI practices span a wide range of curriculum and policies, including lessons, books and learning materials that highlight inclusivity as well as trainings for educators in anti-racism. The Maine DOE supports these practices by providing resources and encouraging Black and Indigenous history lessons, for example, and celebrating various languages, cultures, histories, and identities of students and staff, according to the DOE website. Maine does not have any mandated DEI curriculums or educator training, but the state has committed to the practices, backed by research, since 2020. The department also offers trainings and resources for educators to implement social-emotional learning — which is intended to develop students' interpersonal skills and help them manage their emotions. In a press conference on Tuesday, two Republican lawmakers said schools should shift their focus away from DEI and toward learning 'the basics,' which they defined as English, math and science curricula. 'Schools should be teaching these subjects, not all this DEI stuff,' said House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham of Winter Harbor. 'Maine can be a leader once again if we reject the failed policies that have corrupted our education system and move on to things like reading, writing and arithmetic.' Rep. Barbara Bagshaw of Windham, a recently retired teacher, said she has heard complaints from parents who are pulling students out of public school because they aren't sufficiently educating their children. She said that's happening because the Maine DOE seems to 'ignore the basic measures of learning and instead, it's focusing on things that cannot be tested.' 'DEI and gender identity not only detracts from traditional learning, it often leads to kids in schools being bullied,' she said. Maine students haven't recovered academically post-pandemic. Here's why Similarly, Rep. Sheila Lyman (R-Livermore Falls) said in a House GOP radio address that the administrations of former President Joe Biden and Gov. Janet Mills have pushed a political agenda by supporting inclusive education, curricula and offering trainings for teachers to support all students. 'Many Maine teachers do not want to teach sex or politics, especially when it is not age appropriate,' she said. Lyman, a retired teacher, also said in an interview earlier this month with WVOM host Ric Tyler, that she 'dealt with social emotional learning every day' in the classroom, but that she thought it has gone too far recently. 'The level of what they're bringing into the schools now, that is not necessary,' she said. 'It's not the public schools' job to address some of these issues … leave the parenting to the parents, focus on the academics for the school.' Republicans have been pointing to recent national assessment scores that showed Maine students are still not fully recovered from the pandemic. However, experts said that while poor performance can be attributed to a lot of factors, DEI and a focus on social-emotional learning are not among them. Rachel Brown-Chidsey, a professor of educational and school psychology at the University of Southern Maine who consults with several school districts on academic progress, said this sort of rhetoric ignores research that shows the academic benefits of this approach. 'I think that's a convenient political argument that has nothing to do with current outcomes,' said Brown-Chidsey. 'In fact, I would make a strong argument that if we use effective instructional programs, we would increase learning outcomes across all subgroups.' As Brown-Chidsey notes, a broad range of educational and mental health experts and organizations have found that when students feel supported and have the skills to express themselves, interact with others and treat everyone well, they are more equipped to learn. Maine's poor academic recovery has also been attributed to districts not using evidence-based literacy and math programs, the strong prioritization of local control that leaves curricular decisions— including academic recovery strategies — up to each district, as well as the need for further investment in public education. The Maine DOE has so far resisted the push from Republican lawmakers, including the Trump administration, to walk back DEI efforts in K-12 schools, citing the Maine Human Rights Act, which protects students from discrimination based on race, sex, gender identity and sexual orientation. Last month, the Trump administration gave America's schools and universities two weeks to eliminate diversity initiatives or risk losing federal money — a move that is facing several legal challenges. In a 'Dear Colleague' letter on Feb. 14, Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for Civil Rights for the U.S. Department of Education, warned institutions receiving federal funds against considering race as a factor for hiring, educator training and financial aid. He also directly criticized DEI programs, which he said 'frequently preference certain racial groups and teach students that certain racial groups bear unique moral burdens that others do not.' Maine DOE pushes back on Republicans' call to end gender support in schools 'In recent years, American educational institutions have discriminated against students on the basis of race, including white and Asian students, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds and low-income families,' he said. He said that institutions' 'embrace of pervasive and repugnant race-based preferences and other forms of racial discrimination have emanated throughout every facet of academia.' Following up on that directive, the U.S. Department of Education announced last week $600 million in cuts to institutions and nonprofits that were 'using taxpayer funds to train teachers and education agencies on divisive ideologies.' It's hard to know how much is spent on teacher training for DEI, or how widespread inclusive curricula or diverse learning materials are in Maine schools, but as of this week the state DOE website still includes educator resources on inclusive teaching practices. That could change as the state reviews guidance from the federal government. 'The Maine DOE is reviewing the Dear Colleague letter and monitoring its implementation, which will include assessing any forthcoming legal guidance from the [U.S. DOE] and its interaction with existing state of Maine law,' Chloe Teboe, the state department's spokesperson, said last week. With changing guidance, schools are in an increasingly difficult position of how best to serve all students, explained Steven Bailey, executive director of the Maine School Management Association. Exclusively focusing on reading and math while ignoring the benefits of incorporating holistic supports such as DEI and social-emotional initiatives would be doing students a disservice, he said. 'It's a difficult position to be in, to make its daily choices in terms of what's needed today: Is it math? Reading? Or something that would help a student develop more and gain more confidence?' he said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Maine DOE pushes back on Republicans' call to end gender support in schools
Participants in the Portland Pride Parade on Congress Street on June 15, 2024. (Photo by Jim Neuger/ Maine Morning Star) The Maine Department of Education will continue adhering to state laws that ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity amid a nationwide crackdown on equity practices and pushback from Maine Republicans. President Donald Trump has long opposed diversity, equity and inclusion in education, and after taking office on Jan. 2 issued several executive orders to dismantle initiatives that bolster the rights of trans, nonbinary and gender fluid students, as well as equitable curriculum that focuses on accurate history. Among the provisions of the gender order, it requires federal agencies and employees to recognize only two sexes, reject 'gender ideology' that allows people to identify with their gender identity rather than sex assigned at birth, and cuts federal funding to agencies that recognize gender identity separate from biological sex. These actions align with bans on books and equity-driven education signed into law in several Republican-led states. Maine, however, has largely remained steady in its commitment to equity in education by protecting rights of LGBTQ+ students through the Maine Human Rights Act, and prioritizing African American and Wabanaki studies. In a notice sent last week, the Maine DOE clarified that Trump's order, titled 'Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,' applies only to federal agencies and 'does not inhibit the force of Maine law or locally-adopted school board policies.' The department also emphasized protected classes under the Maine Human Rights Act, which bans discrimination on the basis of race, color, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation (which includes gender identity and expression), physical or mental disability and religion. On Wednesday, 29 Maine House Republicans sent a letter responding to the guidance, calling on the department to 'face reality and walk back its ill-advised guidance to Maine schools on harmful Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and gender ideology initiatives.' Failure to do so could result in school funding losses and federal lawsuits, the letter warned. 'We strongly support these important steps to protect our children, preserve fairness, maintain the integrity of sex-based distinctions, and renew the focus on education and not indoctrination,' the lawmakers continued. 'These Executive Orders are crucial in ensuring that the well-being of our children is safeguarded from policies that seek to divide, sow discontent, and contradict biological reality.' Chloe Teboe, spokesperson for the Maine DOE, said it is not accurate for Republicans to suggest that the department has advised schools to disregard the president's orders. 'The role of the Maine DOE is to provide guidance to school administrative units about the scope of federal directives and any applicable state laws,' she said. 'In its priority notice, the Maine DOE simply stated the fact that the President's Executive Order applies to federal government agencies — and that applicable Maine state law in this case is the Maine Human Rights Act, which Maine schools — like all Maine people — must abide by.' Since Maine is a local control state, school boards usually have the autonomy to determine local policy as long as it is consistent with state law. The department's website offers research and resources for schools to support LGBTQ+ students. On Wednesday, Trump signed another sweeping executive order that aims to bar federal funding for schools that teach accurate lessons about history and social studies, calling it 'discriminatory equity ideology.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
