Educator Preparation Programs

Volunteers Requested: Maine State Board of Education Review Panel 

Sign-up Form Link (Hosted by Microsoft Forms)

Purpose
Pursuant to Maine State Board of Education Rule Chapter 114, the Maine Department of Education coordinates review panels related to the approval of educator preparation programs in the state (EPPs).  This peer review process is critical to maintaining high standards set forth by the State Board of Education on behalf of Maine learners.

The Office of Higher Education & Educator Support Services is seeking volunteers to serve on an EPP review team.  A signup form is available to indicate your interest in participating: https://forms.office.com/g/68GEWYDk6G

Membership 
Rule requires each review team member be an educator who can speak to the six standards established in Rule Chapter 114 for Educator Preparation Programs.  In practice, this has typically meant a member of the faculty/staff in the education (or related) department of an approved EPP, a current or past PK-12 classroom teacher, or a member of the Maine Department of Education with a similar background.

Commitment
Before the Review: Panel members will be given the opportunity to review the applying institution's self-reporting materials in advance of the formal review date. There will also be a virtual pre-meeting to level-set regarding the review procedures and to answer any panelist questions about the process.  Panelists will be assigned 1-2 of the review standards for their focus during the review and report-writing process.

Review Process: Reviews are conducted between a Sunday afternoon and Wednesday afternoon, with the in-person portion typically running from the Sunday afternoon to Tuesday afternoon.  Food and lodging is provided for panel members.  Not all review team members must attend every portion of the review visit, so some amount of flexibility can be worked into the schedule for individual members (e.g. to facilitate an online course).  ​​​​​

After the Review: With the Department's support, review team members will take the lead in drafting the team's report in their assigned standard(s).  The Department and review team chair will work to put together each member's contribution into a fully formatted review team report.  The chairperson of the panel will be asked to attend the meeting of the State Board of Education, where the Board will vote upon the Review Team's recommended action.

Sign-up
Those willing to volunteer for a future review panel can fill out this signup form: https://forms.office.com/g/68GEWYDk6G