South Portland High School’s Youth Doula Initiative: A Model for Career-Connected Learning
The Maine Department of Education (DOE) along with several school and community-based organizations continue to advance high-quality, career-connected learning through extended learning opportunities (ELOs) that connect students with real-world experiences, local partners, and emerging career pathways. An example of this work is the Youth Doula Initiative, a three-day community-based ELO that recently engaged 15 South…
Finding Belonging Through Project-Based Learning: Inside the Sheepscot Team at Mt. Ararat Middle School
Sheepscot students created this poster. Teacher John Hawley shared, ‘This says it all. I know there’s only one T in Sheepscot, but the sign was too perfect, and I didn’t have the heart to tell the kids they spelled it wrong. At Mt. Ararat Middle School in MSAD 75, mornings in the Sheepscot Alternative Education…
Long-Time Lewiston Public Schools Educator Receives 2026 Maine Volunteer of the Year Award
Anne Behnke receives the 2026 Maine Volunteer of the Year award. The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is pleased to join Volunteer Maine in celebrating the recipients of the 2026 Governor’s Awards for Service and Volunteerism, which, since 1987, have recognized the outstanding individuals, teams, and organizations making a meaningful impact through volunteer service. On…
Forest-Based Education Workshop Invites Educators to Explore the Outdoors as a Classroom
Educators across Maine are invited to deepen their connection to the outdoors and discover new ways to bring forest-based learning into their teaching during an upcoming Forest-Based Education Workshop hosted by Project Learning Tree (PLT) and the Forest Ecology Research Network (FERN). Taking place on June 23, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at…
Second-Grade Students at Elm Street School Connect with Their Community Through Special Partnership with Mission Working Dogs
Students at Elm Street School in RSU 16 (Mechanic Falls) have spent the school year learning an important lesson about community, kindness, and helping others — all with the support of some four-legged friends. Through a special partnership with local nonprofit organization Mission Working Dogs, these students welcomed therapy dogs into their classrooms every Thursday…
Registration Open for ElevatED 2026: Maine DOE Annual Summit and Every Teacher a Leader Conference
Registration is now open for ElevatED 2026, a dynamic summer professional learning experience designed to inspire, connect, and support Maine’s education workforce through meaningful collaboration and practical learning opportunities. Hosted through a partnership between the Maine Department of Education (DOE) and Educate Maine/the Teach Maine Center, ElevatED combines two familiar and impactful conferences into one…
New Tool to Support Access to Public Library Storytimes Available Just in Time for Summer Learning
Island Readers & Writers (IRW) has launched the Maine Storytime Finder, a new online resource developed as part of an initiative to support early childhood literacy. The mission of the Maine Storytime Finder is to connect families to free library programming, encouraging a positive culture of reading throughout Maine. The Finder allows users to search by location,…
Maine DOE Seeking Additional Applicants for State Numeracy Advisory Council
The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is seeking additional applicants to serve on the statewide Numeracy Advisory Council as part of Maine’s ongoing implementation of the Maine State Numeracy Action Plan. The Numeracy Advisory Council was launched during the 2025-2026 school year to support the state’s renewed focus on strengthening math and numeracy instruction and…
Maine DOE Update – May 22, 2026
From the Maine Department of Education News & Updates Implementation of Maine’s Bell-to-Bell Personal Electronic Device Policy The following information is intended to support school administrative units (SAUs) in preparing for the implementation of a new law requiring that school boards adopt and implement a policy “prohibiting student use of personal electronic devices for the…
RSU 34 Special Education Director Named 2025-2026 Special Education Administrator of the Year
The Maine Department of Education (DOE) would like to join the Maine Administrators of Services for Children with Disabilities (MADSEC) in congratulating Kimm Kenniston, Director of Special Education for RSU 34, for being named the 2025-2026 MADSEC Special Education Administrator of the Year. Kenniston is widely recognized as an exceptional leader in special education. Her…
Maine DOE Newsroom 