BARR Spotlight: Dirigo Middle School Builds Stronger Connections and School Culture Through the BARR Model
At T.W. Kelly Dirigo Middle School in Dixfield, relationships have always been a strength. As part of a small, rural school serving about 170 students in grades 6-8 from Canton, Carthage, Dixfield, and Peru, staff have long prided themselves on knowing their students well. As student needs have become increasingly complex in recent years, however,…
Maine DOE Seeking Educators to Pilot MOOSE Modules and Wabanaki Studies Educator Guides
The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is currently seeking educators to pilot Maine’s Online Open-Source Education (MOOSE) modules, as well as new Wabanaki Studies Educator Guides, with their classrooms this spring. The MOOSE platform provides free, interdisciplinary, project-based learning materials, created by Maine teachers for Maine pre-K—12 students. Feedback from educators on these modules and…
Bonny Eagle Builds Community Through Shared Reading Experience
This February, schools across MSAD 6 (Bonny Eagle School District) took a creative, community-centered approach to the Maine Department of Education’s (DOE) Read to ME Challenge through a districtwide initiative called “BE Reads Together.” Designed as a shared reading celebration, BE Reads Together connected students and staff across all schools and departments through one common…
Maine ELOs in Action: Sunshine Mini Grant Program Supports Career-Connected Learning through Innovation and Collaboration
In 2023, the Sunshine Mini Grant program was launched with funding from a private trust group, resulting in $88,000 in grants to 18 schools across Maine to expand career exploration for students—including through extended learning opportunities (ELOs). This initiative has positively impacted approximately 300 students from various Maine counties and school administrative units (SAUs), including…
PRIORITY NOTICE: Opportunities for Public Comment on Maine’s IDEA Part B and Part C Applications
The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is seeking public comment on its annual applications for federal funding under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), including both Part B and Part C. These applications support services for children and youth with disabilities across Maine, from infancy through age 22. Public Notice – IDEA Part B…
Maine DOE Update – March 20, 2026
From the Maine Department of Education News & Updates Celebrating ‘Arts in Our Schools’ Month in March Each March, Maine schools fill with music, color, and stories. Families gather for concerts. Hallways become galleries. Stages come alive with student performances. Arts in Our Schools Month, alongside other statewide and national observances—including Maine Youth Art Month,…
Maine DOE Seeking Outdoor Learning Stories for National Environmental Education Week, April 20-24, 2026
The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is seeking outdoor learning stories from educators, administrators, and school staff to share during National Environmental Education Week from April 20-24, 2026. Have you used the great outdoors as a classroom for your students recently? Have your students engaged with nature as part of their learning? Whether you and…
STEAM PowerED Maine Ignites Creative Collaboration at Augusta Kickoff
What happens when creativity becomes the driving force of professional learning? That question sparked the inspiration behind STEAM PowerED Maine, a dynamic partnership between the Maine Department of Education (DOE) Office of Teaching and Learning and Creative Generation. STEAM PowerED Maine reimagines interdisciplinary teaching and learning by inviting educators to see themselves first as creative…
High School Junior Brings Real-World Leadership to Agriculture Program at Sanford Regional Technical Center
When Sanford Regional Technical Center (SRTC) agriculture instructor Jennifer Coverdale wants to contact AHN Landscaping, the response usually comes from her own student, Noelle Dennis. Dennis is a junior in SRTC’s agriculture program and, by most measures, a full business partner in her family’s landscaping company. “She’s basically her dad’s business partner,” Coverdale said. “I…
Maine DOE Launches ‘Building Strong Foundations: Early Numeracy’ Professional Learning Series with Focus on Play and Outdoor Learning
On February 27, 2026, approximately 20 educators gathered at the University of Maine at Machias for part of a new professional learning series, “Building Strong Foundations: Early Numeracy.” This initiative, presented by the Maine Department of Education (DOE) Office of Teaching and Learning, in partnership with the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance (MMSA), is designed…
Maine DOE Newsroom 