Results for fourth- and eighth-graders in the 50-state test were relatively flat since the last tests were administered.
Noel K. Gallagher
Noel Gallagher covers K-12 and higher education issues statewide. Her stories are a mix of breaking news and trend stories. In recent years, they’ve ranged from why college costs so much, the launch of the state’s first charter schools, how a school welcomed a transgender student and why Maine schools have a hard time finding teachers. She’s enough of a news nerd to enjoy sitting through legislative education committee meetings and hours-long school board meetings so you don’t have to.
The Maine Press Association has honored Noel’s work, but she says she writes for the readers, in the firm belief that an informed citizenry is key to a healthy democracy.
Noel is a California native who has worked at wire services, online websites and newspapers across the country. She was in Washington D.C. during the early Clinton years, covering AIDS activism in 1990s San Francisco, documenting the business of wine in Sonoma County and riding out the boom and bust cycle of the early Internet era in early 2000s Silicon Valley. She arrived in Maine at the beginning of the recession and wrote quite a bit about the downturn here.
In her free time, Noel writes the occasional cookbook review, spends an inordinate amount of time at the Portland Public Library and hangs out with her three fabulous kids and wonderful husband. She is not a former member of the band Oasis.
Maine business group advocates for college readiness
Educate Maine releases a report gauging students on a variety of factors affecting education.
Democrats aim at education in Maine Legislative Council
The lawmakers will decide Wednesday which bills to consider in 2014.
SAT scores at Maine high schools show ‘good news, bad news’
Math and reading scores rise, but scores in writing and science drop, and not even half of the students are at grade level.
Maine data on student restraint, seclusion to help guide policies
The state gets its first batch of data on physical control of students as it works to define best practices for safety and teacher training.
Website to help transfers to Maine’s universities
Critics say transferring credits has been difficult because it’s unclear what classes would qualify.
Negative trends provoke ‘painful’ cuts in UMaine System
Education officials believe eliminating degree programs may be the key to adapting. For others, the implications are ‘shocking.’
Maine high school equivalency exam to be replaced
The chosen test covers the same content, costs less and can be taken on paper or online.
LePage emphasizes Maine educational autonomy
The governor says there will be no federal overreach into Common Core State Standards.
Maine charter schools break new ground
The state will have five of the schools when three more open this week, overcoming some continued opposition.