Maine DOE Update – September 11, 2026
From the Maine Department of Education News & Updates Launching Dirigo Schools of Distinction Framework in 2026-2027 School Year We are excited to share the Dirigo Schools of Distinction (DSD) framework as a resource for Maine schools. DSD is intended to celebrate Maine schools that are making a meaningful difference for students, staff, and communities.…
Better Together: County Teachers of the Year Open Their Classroom Doors to Learn From One Another
Kathy Theriault (left), a high school math teacher at Wisdom Middle and High School, part of MSAD #33, and 2026 Aroostook County Teacher of the Year, and Marcy Soucy (right), a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher at Fairmount School in Bangor and the 2026 Penobscot County Teacher of the Year. In the very early morning hours…
Maine Educators Invited to Explore Genealogy and Local History Through New Professional Learning Cohort
The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Office of Teaching and Learning invites educators to apply for American Ancestors: Unlocking Maine’s Story, a free professional learning cohort that begins with an in-person kickoff on October 13, 2026, at the University of Maine at Farmington from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The cohort is designed to help…
Maine DOE Launches Free Virtual Literacy Learning Series
The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Offices of Teaching and Learning and Special Services and Inclusive Education invite educators and education professionals—including teachers, administrators, literacy specialists, and educational technicians—to participate in a free virtual literacy professional learning series during the 2026–2027 school year. Designed to provide flexible, connected learning opportunities, the series allows participants to…
Maine DOE to Host Virtual ‘For ME Instructional Programming’ Professional Learning Communities for Pre-K through Grade 2 During 2026-2027 School Year
The Maine Department of Education (DOE), in collaboration with teacher leaders from across the state, is once again offering professional learning communities (PLCs) for educators and caregivers implementing the For Me Instructional Programming, which include Pre-K for ME, K for ME, 1st Grade for ME, and 2nd Grade for ME. These monthly virtual PLCs are…
From Trees to Table: RSU 74 Alternative Education Students Turn a Sugaring Project into a Lesson in Grit and Teamwork
For students in RSU 74’s Alternative Education program, learning this spring started in the forest and ended with maple syrup on ice cream. A month-long maple sugaring project gave students an opportunity to experience the full process of making maple syrup while building skills in observation, data collection, problem-solving, teamwork, and perseverance. Serving students from…
Launching Dirigo Schools of Distinction Framework in 2026-2027 School Year
We are excited to share the Dirigo Schools of Distinction (DSD) framework as a resource for Maine schools. DSD is intended to celebrate Maine schools that are making a meaningful difference for students, staff, and communities. DSD also offers a clear, supportive roadmap for schools and school administrative units (SAUs), as they consider where to…
Maine DOE Update – September 4, 2026
From the Maine Department of Education News & Updates 2027 Maine Teacher of the Year State Finalists Announced Four Maine educators have been announced as state finalists for 2027 Maine Teacher of the Year. Abby McCoy, a Chemistry and Forensic Science Teacher at Lewiston High School; Adrianne Shetenhelm, an English and Alternative Education Teacher at Windham…
Joint Maine DOE and DHHS Guidance on IEPs and MaineCare Sections 28 and 65 Services – Repeat and Expanded Virtual Session
The Maine Department of Education (DOE), in collaboration with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), will provide an additional training on September 11, 2026, repeating and building upon the virtual training that was held on August 26, 2026. This training will cover the recently issued joint guidance related to Individualized Education Programs…
Maine Educators have FREE Access to Family Math Academy Professional Learning Series
The Center for Family Math at the National Association for Family, School and Community Engagement (NAFSCE) and the Consortium for Engaging Families Across Maine (CEFAM) are hosting a free professional learning opportunity for Maine educators to support student learning and family engagement across Maine. The Family Math Academy is a free, limited-space professional learning opportunity designed for family coordinators…
Maine DOE Newsroom 