Maine's Public Universities - University of Maine System
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Education Partnership Plan

CONTACT: John Diamond
October 24, 2002 207-973-3224 or 207-852-1693

UNIVERSITY SYSTEM ANNOUNCES EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP PLAN
ELEVEN ACTION STEPS ADDRESS STATE'S TEACHER SHORTAGE,
OTHER SCHOOL NEEDS

AUGUSTA – University of Maine System Chancellor Joseph W. Westphal today announced the creation of an education “partnership” to address issues related to Maine’s growing shortage of fully qualified teaching professionals and to create a smoother, more coordinated transition process for students moving from one level of education to another.

The plan includes 11 specific actions, including recruiting strategies to encourage individuals to enter the teaching profession, on-site presence of university faculty at public schools to assist with curriculum development, and regional professional development programs to help classroom teachers meet their certification requirements and enhance their professional credentials.

Westphal made the announcement during a break in proceedings at the annual meeting of the Maine School Management Association, an organization of school superintendents and school board members which was gathered at the Augusta Civic Center.

“Under this partnership, our universities will offer and extend their services to our public schools, to preschools, and to relevant government agencies,” Westphal explained. “It will expand the university’s role as a resource for our teachers, schools, and education leaders, especially in the areas of teacher preparation and professional development. It will broaden and amplify the public discussion of education policies and strategies. Working together, the partners in this endeavor will strengthen public education in ways that, over time, will increase college aspirations, preparedness, and achievement.”

Joining Westphal for the announcement were Maine Commissioner of Education J. Duke Albanese and the co-chairs of the legislature’s Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs, Sen. Betty Lou Mitchell (R-Etna) and Rep. Shirley Richard (D-Madison).

Some of the 11 action steps include:

  • regionally oriented professional development schools, utilizing faculty experts, existing facilities, and enhanced technology to help public schools with curriculum development.
  • promoting teacher retention in primary and secondary schools by providing mentoring assistance to inexperienced teachers and working with them to help them achieve the necessary state certification.
  • developing alternative routes to teacher certification.
  • expanding delivery of graduate-level education for teaching professionals to help them earn advanced degrees “without forcing them to travel hundreds of miles from home, work, and family to take classes.”
  • developing an Early Childhood Research and Professional Development Center to help develop Pre-Kindergarten programs for public schools and, working with the Department of Education, to help train and certify early-childhood professionals for work in both the public and private sector.
  • taking a leadership role in developing public and private-sector support to create a fund that would provide sustained financial backing for teacher recruitment scholarships.
  • bringing together university and high school education professionals to design ways to improve and align educational expectations between high school and college. “The expectations put forward in Maine’s Learning Results make it necessary to ensure that the transition from high school to college is as smooth as possible for all students,” Westphal explained.

The full action plan is available at the University System’s website (www.maine.edu).

“These are ambitious plans,” Westphal stated. “We are undertaking them because teacher recruitment, preparation, and professional development are critical to Maine’s future. Quality schools and qualified teachers influence the performance and aspirations of their students.

“Some of what we are proposing will be initiated as part of our systemwide efforts to reprioritize programs and resources,” he noted. “Other aspects of the overall plan will be implemented as our resources allow.

“We are excited about this plan. It marks a new and more aggressive University response to a major challenge facing our state and our communities. We firmly believe that this partnership between the university system, public schools, the Maine Department of Education, and relevant government agencies will have a number of positive effects on Maine, its people, and their quality of life.”

The University of Maine System consists of seven campuses, ten university college outreach centers, and more than 100 locally based distance learning sites across Maine. With over 34,000 students enrolled in credit-bearing courses, the University System is Maine’s largest educational entity.