SUN Meals Site Finder is Now Live: Find Free Meals for Youth at Locations Across Maine This Summer
In the summer months, children lose access to the school meal services they may rely on during the academic year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) SUN Meals program provides children ages 18 and younger with access to healthy, nutritious food at neighborhood locations across the United States (including in Maine) throughout the summer months…
BARR Spotlight: How Indian Township School is Honoring Culture, Building Relationships, and Driving Student Success
On the Passamaquoddy Indian Township Reservation in Princeton, Indian Township School is embracing a powerful model for student success that honors culture, strengthens relationships, and supports the whole child. Serving approximately 115 students in pre-K through grade 8, Indian Township School began implementing the BARR (Building Assets, Reducing Risks) model in May 2024. BARR is…
Maine Celebrates First Recipients of the Seal of Climate Literacy
Freeport High School seniors, Class of 2026, receive their 2026 Maine Seals of Climate Literacy. A new generation of Maine students is demonstrating a commitment to understanding and addressing environmental challenges through the Maine Department of Education’s (DOE) newest diploma endorsement, the Maine Seal of Climate Literacy. The Seal of Climate Literacy is awarded to…
Finding Growth Through Flexibility: Inside the Zenith Alternative Education Program
Zenith Alternative Education Program students carve pumpkins. At Camden Hills Regional High School, part of Five Town Community School District (CSD), an off-site alternative education learning community is redefining what high school can look like for students seeking a more personalized, project-based path. Located at Rose Hall in Camden, the Zenith Alternative Education Program serves…
Maine DOE Update – June 26, 2026
From the Maine Department of Education News & Updates Three Maine Educators Honored as 2026 Alternative Education Educator of the Year Awardees The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is pleased to join the Alternative Education Association of Maine (AEA) in celebrating three outstanding educators as the recipients of the 2026 Alternative Education Educator of the…
Schedule for the 2026-2027 Transformational Leaders’ Network Opportunity for Principals
The Transformational Leaders’ Network (TLN) is a practical, relationship-centered professional learning opportunity for principals to enhance their leadership practice and strengthen outcomes for schools and communities. The TLN occurs through a series of in-person and remote/regional meetings offered across the state during the school year. All principals, from the novice to the veteran, from large suburban schools…
Maine Middle and High School Students Invited to Join the 2026-2027 NASA TechRise Student Challenge
A team of students from the William S. Cohen School in Bangor submitted a winning experiment during the 2025-2026 NASA TechRise Challenge. The national education platform Future Engineers has invited Maine middle and high school students to join the 2026-2027 NASA TechRise Student Challenge. This nationwide contest invites students in grades 6 through 12 to…
Teach Maine Center to Host Maine Educators Summer Camp for Integrating the Arts
The Teach Maine Center is hosting the first annual Maine Educators Summer Camp for Integrating the Arts on Tuesday, August 18, through Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at Camp Encore/Coda in the town of Sweden. This two-day visual and performance arts summer conference will bring educators together to explore the power of arts integration and its…
Three Maine Educators Honored as 2026 Alternative Education Educator of the Year Awardees
The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is pleased to join the Alternative Education Association of Maine (AEA) in celebrating three outstanding educators as the recipients of the 2026 Alternative Education Educator of the Year Award. This annual award honors alternative educators who make a meaningful and lasting impact on students, create innovative learning opportunities, and…
How Mountain Valley Middle School Built an Alternative Education Program from the Ground Up
Mountain Valley Middle School alternative education students and teachers Shane Smith and Anthony Mazza gather for a group selfie. At Mountain Valley Middle School, students in the alternative education program begin each day with breakfast before heading to the gym to reset, move, and prepare for learning. They then gather in a morning circle to…
Maine DOE Newsroom 