Maine DOE Update – October 30, 2026
From the Maine Department of Education News & Updates Maine DOE Releases Wabanaki Studies Resource Guide for Indigenous Heritage Month in November As Native American Heritage Month approaches, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) invites educators and communities to engage students in learning about the enduring presence, contributions, and rich cultures of the Wabanaki Nations,…
Maine DOE Launches Statewide Computer Science Landscape Study
The Maine Department of Education (DOE) has launched a new statewide Computer Science Landscape Study to better understand how computer science, computational thinking, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and emerging technologies are currently being experienced in Maine schools. The Maine DOE has contacted Maine educators directly by email to request their participation in the study. The…
Pine Tree Programming Returns for Third Year, Bringing Hands-On Computer Science to Maine Students
The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is excited to announce the return of Pine Tree Programming, a statewide initiative that brings hands-on computer science learning to Maine students through engaging, after-school programming with micro:bits. Now in its third year, Pine Tree Programming offers elementary and middle school students opportunities to explore coding, computational thinking, problem-solving,…
Lewiston Teacher Named Finalist for National History Teacher of the Year
The Maine Department of Education congratulates Donna Olsen, a history teacher at Lewiston High School and Maine’s 2026 History Teacher of the Year, as one of 10 finalists for the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History’s 2026 National History Teacher of the Year Award. Olsen’s advancement to the final stage of this prestigious national award…
Erskine Academy Celebrates Growing Seal of Biliteracy Program Through Student Leadership and Community Engagement
At Erskine Academy, a student-led Cinco de Mayo celebration has grown into much more than an annual fiesta. What began four years ago as a creative way to raise funds for classroom activities and supplies has evolved into a celebration of language learning, student leadership, and a growing commitment to earning the Maine Seal of…
Maine DOE Releases Wabanaki Studies Resource Guide for Indigenous Heritage Month in November
As Native American Heritage Month approaches, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) invites educators and communities to engage students in learning about the enduring presence, contributions, and rich cultures of the Wabanaki Nations, who have lived in the place we now call Maine for more than 13,000 years. The Maine DOE Wabanaki Studies Indigenous Heritage…
Maine Computer Science Education Summit to Bring Statewide Partners Together to Strengthen Education
Educators, administrators, community partners, industry leaders, and others invested in computer science education are invited to attend the Maine Computer Science Education Summit on Friday, November 6, 2026, at the Westin Portland Harborview. This free, statewide event will bring together people from across Maine to connect, share perspectives, and explore how Maine can continue expanding…
Reminder: Information Regarding School Bus Crossing Arm Retrofitting
In Maine’s supplemental budget, which Governor Janet Mills signed into law in April 2026, $5.9 million was allocated to improve school bus safety throughout the state. As part of that work, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) is now administering those funds to reimburse school administrative units (SAUs) for the retrofitting of school buses that…
How The Portland Public Schools’ Nature Program Preps Kids for School
Reading to worms from picture books, digging in the dirt and transforming pinecones into bird feeders—all those fun learning activities are part of a unique, nature-based Portland Public Schools summer program helping rising kindergartners and first-graders get ready for school. Starting kindergarten or first grade can be a big transition, but the program—called Step-Into-Kindergarten-and-First-Grade—helps make…
Dedham School’s Mountain Biking Team Builds Skills, Trails, and Community
For the past seven years, Dedham School in AOS #47 has provided middle school students with an opportunity to build skills, explore the outdoors, and connect with their peers through its Mountain Biking Team. The fall extracurricular program was developed for students in grades 6 through 8 and extends learning beyond the physical education classroom.…
