Education

According to the latest report from the U.S. Department of Education, Maine schools are in need of teachers in all kinds of subjects, from math and science to Spanish and special education. The state Department of Education has proposed loosening some of its certification requirements, which some school officials hope can address the shortage.

School officials in Skowhegan heard from dozens of local residents, students, and tribal members Tuesday night about whether to retire the high school’s Indians mascot. While several other districts have retired and replaced Native American mascots in recent years, Skowhegan High School is the only school in the state that still uses the name.

Gov.-Elect Janet Mills will nominate a veteran teacher and administrator to serve as the state's next Commissioner of Education. Mills Wednesday announced that she has selected Brunswick Assistant Superintendent Pender Makin.

School districts in Maine are in desperate need of bus drivers. The problem is particularly serious in some rural communities, where custodians and office assistants are being asked to get behind the wheel, and some districts are trying to avert a crisis.

To become certified as a teacher in Maine candidates must pass certain tests of skills and knowledge. But some critics of the system say that there are cultural biases in the tests that are potentially keeping many applicants, including immigrants, from becoming teachers. The state has changed some its requirements in an attempt to address the issue.

Cape Elizabeth High School became the latest school in the state to pull out of the federal school lunch program last week. District officials say the decision was made due to federal guidelines that it feels are too stringent.

The average student loan debt for Mainers who graduated from college last year is more than $30,000, one of the highest rates in the country.

A new report released Wednesday finds that many aspects of Maine's education system have improved over the past few decades, including access to public preschool and kindergarten. The findings also suggest that students from economically disadvantaged households are still struggling and are not getting the same opportunities as their peers.

Some local school officials are raising concerns about proposed changes to Maine’s special education laws, which they say could overwhelm their districts and may lead to conflicts with other districts.