4. I earned my degree in Maine but some of my credits were earned at a non-Maine college, community college or university. Do I qualify for the credit? For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2008 but before January 1, 2012, 100% of coursework toward the degree earned after 2007 must have been performed at a Maine community college, college or university.
For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2012 but before January 1, 2016, eligible education loan payments may include payments made for loans associated with earning up to 30 credit hours after 2007 for the degree at an accredited non-Maine college or university by a qualifying graduate who transferred to an accredited Maine college or university after December 31, 2012. For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2016, there is no limit on the number of credit hours earned at a nonMaine college or university.
5. How much is the educational opportunity tax credit?
The credit for educational opportunity is equal to payments, up to the benchmark loan payment amount, made by the taxpayer on eligible loans included in the qualified graduate’s financial aid package. Certain limitations apply. The credit is limited to tax except that for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2013, the credit is refundable if the graduate has obtained an associate or a bachelor’s degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM degree). For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2016, the credit is refundable for all associate degrees. Unused portions of the nonrefundable credit may be carried forward for up to 10 years. The Employer credit is not refundable even if the graduate has obtained an associate or STEM degree. More questions? Check out: https://www.maine.gov/ revenue/faq/eotc_faq.html
Your Computer Isn’t Broken: Quick Tech Fixes for Students BY JACQUI MURRAY NEATODAY.ORG
The Number One reason—according to students—why their computer doesn’t work is… It’s broken. As a teacher, I hear this daily, often followed by their preferred solution, “I need a different computer.” My students innately think computer problems are something they can’t solve. I asked them what happened in class when I wasn’t there to fix the problem, or at home. I usually got a shrug and one of these responses: • “My classroom teacher can’t fix them.” • “My mom/dad can’t fix them.” • “The school tech people couldn’t get there fast enough.” Which got me thinking about how these problems that bring learning to a screeching halt really aren’t that complicated. They don’t require a Ph.D in engineering or years of experience in IT. So why not teach kids how to troubleshoot their own problems? I started with a list. Every time a student had a tech problem, I wrote it down and then ticked it off each time it happened. It didn’t take long to determine that there are about 16 problems that happen often and repetitively. Once students learned how to solve these, they’d be able to fix half of the problems that bring their education to a screeching halt. I spent the school year teaching the solutions authentically as they arose starting in kindergarten. By the end of second grade, students felt empowered. By the end of fifth grade, they rarely asked for help. Here’s my list but yours may be different. Include those that arise in your school’s educational endeavor. For example, if you use Macs, right-click issues won’t be as big a deal. Once students have these in their toolkit, they realize they can solve their own problems, they can troubleshoot, and they can act independently. Not only does this impact how they use technology but every other part of their lives. Winter 2019 • www.maineea.org
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