Seeking Public Feedback on Rule Chapter 128: Truants & Dropouts Guidelines

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is beginning conversations with the public relating to Rule Chapter 128: Truants and Dropouts Guidelines. Due to evolving understanding of the nature of student attendance, the lessons learned from COVID, and feedback from the Truancy, Dropout, Alternative Education Committee, we have elected to revisit this rule to ensure it aligns with what we believe is best practice and how our educators, students, and families interact.

The Maine Department of Education intends to take the following steps with respect to review of these rules:

  1. Consult with experts in the field
  2. Propose revisions to necessary sections of Chapter 128
  3. Invite public feedback on the revisions
  4. File updated rule
  5. Provide guidance to the field on any changes

The Maine Department of Education will hold several regional meetings focused on ideas and goals relating to certification regulations in a general sense. These meetings will be held in-person and will have Zoom links available for folks who are unable to attend in person. Stakeholders are invited to attend and provide input. These conversations will be facilitated by Maine DOE rulemaking liaison Laura Cyr. Other Maine DOE members may join the conversations as their schedules allow. These conversations will be guided by the following discussion prompts:

  1. How does your school administrative unit apply Ch 128?
  2. What is currently working/not working in CH 128?
  3. How accurately does Ch 128 capture your vulnerable student populations?

Dates and locations for these conversations are as follows:

  • October 1, 2024, 3:00-5:00 pm; Houlton, ME: Summit Academy, 56 Military Street; Zoom link
  • October 8, 2024, 3:00-5:00 pm; DOL – The Portland Career Center, 151 Jetport Blvd., Portland; Zoom link
  • October 29, 2024, 3:00-5:00 pm; Cross Office Building, 111 Sewall Street, Augusta, Room 500; Zoom link

Taking into consideration the insights gained from these discussions, the Maine Department of Education will propose updates to Rule Chapter 128 and begin the Maine Administrative Procedures Act (A.P.A.) routine technical rule process pursuant to Title 5 MRS §8052 (public notice of filing, public hearing, open public comment period). Once the proposed rule has been filed, the public will be notified of the scheduled public hearing and comment period.  This will be an opportunity to provide written and oral comments regarding the proposed rules. The Maine Department of Education will review all comments and respond accordingly.  Updates to the rules will then be submitted for review as to form and legality before final adoption.

For more information about the conceptual conversations for Rule Chapter 128, contact Laura Cyr at laura.cyr@maine.gov.

St. George School Receives Production Grant to Create Immersive Field Trips 

St. George MSU SealSt. George Municipal School Unit (MSU) Superintendent, Mike Felton, applied for a production grant through an organization called CareerViewXR last year. After an application and interview process, the PK-8 school was selected as one of three winning schools from across the United States. The prizes awarded to the school included one 12-month subscription to the CareerViewXR platform, two HTC VIVE virtual reality headsets, and two field trips produced in their region.

CareerViewXR works with students, educators, businesses, and state agencies to develop immersive virtual reality experiences that allow students to explore careers across sectors – especially in the trades and technical fields. Using footage of real professionals doing real work in real world work environments, they create interactive, web-based field trips that can be accessed by any device as well as virtual reality videos for VR headsets.

The two companies that will be featured in the virtual field trips in Maine are Steel-Pro, in Rockland and Cushman Lobster Corporation in Port Clyde. Through the grant prize, St. George MSU students will also have access to virtual field trips in other locations across the United States.

Felton shared that he felt fortunate for the opportunity to be working with CareerViewXR and that he is looking forward to “working together to find new ways to innovate, engage students, and support our local businesses.”

The collaboration aligns with St. George MSU’s Career & Technical Education (CTE)/ Makerspace Project – a partnership with MidCoast School of Technology to develop a PreK-12 CTE Program and construct a CTE/Makerspace Building next to St. George School.  The new building will have a shop space for carpentry, metalworking, and boatbuilding as well as a Makerspace with 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC routers, robotics, and sewing machines. The goal for the project is to provide a model for transforming education by ensuring all students, PreK-12, have access to hands-on and minds-on, technical learning connected to career and community.

Through Steel-Pro, students will be immersed in the manufacturing of stainless-steel tanks, biopharmaceutical equipment, vacuum chambers and other custom designed equipment. “Steel-Pro being 100% Employee Owned, we’re all about our employees and that includes our future employees,” stated Steve Ladd, Steel-Pro President and CEO. “Collaborating with St George MSU, giving kids exposure to hands-on technical career opportunities has been an awesome experience. We are thankful to St George for letting us take part in their CTE journey.”

Aboard the Fishing Vessel RYLEEFINN with Michael Cushman and Cassie Clough, students be able to experience what it’s like rising before dawn to spend the day hauling lobster traps in Penobscot Bay. “We are very happy to be helping with this project,” shared Cassie Clough.

“Our hope in being involved from the fishing side is to show that even with all of the challenges this industry is facing (over regulations, offshore wind, etc.), it can still be a career worth pursuing. Our coastal communities in Maine rely heavily on what lobstering brings economically to the area and it is still a very important part of Maine’s identity.”

The CareerViewXR Production grant will allow St George MSU to enhance students’ learning experiences and career exploration opportunities.

“Through the use of VR immersive experiences, CareerViewXR will provide a new, innovative way to engage students in learning connected to career and community,” explained Superintendent Felton. “Working alongside local tradespeople and businesses, while utilizing cutting edge technologies, we’ll move toward our goals of re-engaging students in learning, helping them understand career opportunities in their community, and, ultimately, strengthening our local economy.”

This story was submitted by St. George Municipal School Unit. To share good news from your school, please fill out this form.

Maine Department of Education Awards $750,000 in Climate Education Professional Development Grants

Grants Provide Opportunities for Maine Schools to Partner with Climate and Environmental Community Organizations to Strengthen Climate Education for Students

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) awarded $750,000 in climate education professional development grants to 10 programs throughout the state. These programs will support partnerships between school administrative units (SAUs), schools, and community organizations to strengthen climate education opportunities for students across Maine.

This grant funding increases access to climate education for students throughout Maine. The grant directly funds professional learning for educators to partner with climate science experts and organizations in their communities. These programs are instrumental in providing educators and schools the support needed to address climate and resiliency in the classroom.

Programs for SY24-25:

  • Brownville Elementary School along with Penquis Valley Middle School will partner with Appalachian Mountain Club and Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District on a program for 4th, 6th and 10th grades, focused on wildlife and forest ecology and health.
  • Calais Public Schools will partner with Maine TREE Foundation to develop curriculum with Project Learning Tree tools including the Forest Ecology Research Network.
  • Cherryfield Public Schools, with a focus on PreK-8, will work with Rural Aspirations Project and Downeast Education Institute to design and implement new climate-based projects at every grade level in science and social studies classrooms.
  • Fiddlehead School will partner with Center for Ecology Based Economy to develop climate focused curriculum units in Grades 5 through 8. They will also work with Learning by Nature for ME to help PreK-4 teachers understand green school yards and incorporate their use into classroom work.
  • RSU 80/MSAD 4 in Guilford will have an Environmental Education Coordinator overseeing and working with teachers as a part of the staff throughout the school year. This coordinator will work with partners, Appalachian Mountain Club and Rural Aspirations Project in help develop curriculum and work with teachers.
  • RSU 17 in South Paris will partner with Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Center for Ecology Based Economy to review, plan, and introduce new units and lessons for teachers of 1st through 7th as well as 10th Additionally, MSAD 17 will work with Roberts Farm to develop and implement 5th grade curriculum and have a Food Corps Member create school garden team curriculum for 3rd and 4th grade.
  • Pembroke Elementary School will host a 1-day Professional Development Conference open to teachers throughout Washington County in partnership with Island Readers and Writers, along with additional partners and speakers.
  • RSU 12 Windsor Elementary will partner with Friends of Cobbossee Watershed to expand its Watershed Climate Professional Development workshop from Phase 1 on this grant program. Friends of Cobbossee will additionally provide several workshops throughout the year on the national curriculum Project Wet.
  • RSU 34 in Old Town will work with the Maine Center for Research in STEM Education (RiSE Center) and Wabanaki Science and Indigenous Knowledge to develop and implement curriculum that focuses on braiding Indigenous Knowledge and Western Science concepts with Cultural Knowledge Sharers and into units for 6th through 12th
  • Westbrook Public Schools will work with Wild Seed Project to design and implement outdoor learning and climate-focused plans into classroom units throughout the school year. Additionally, Maine TREE will partner with Westbrook to host climate education professional development and create a school-wide climate education plan.

“Teachers will deepen their knowledge, draw in peer partners, and develop/implement curriculum this school year in continued relationship with the CKS’s and Western researchers.  This fall a second cohort will initiate, as will a book study cohort, with an early-spring share-out date to share and reflect upon the journey in developing place-based, project-based learning.” said RSU 34 Assistant Superintendent Jon Doty

“Our work with the Climate Education grant perfectly aligns with our commitment to outdoor learning and creating place-based, relevant curricula for our students. We are working to help them to become knowledgeable stewards of both their local and global communities, and all of this is made possible through partnerships with local organizations and the grant funding.” said RSU 17 Curriculum Director Jill Bartash

“These grants provide Maine educators and schools with the tools, resources, and partnerships they need to provide students with engaging, hands-on climate and environmental education. From the mountains to the coast, Maine has an enormous amount of natural resources for students to explore and learn from so they can be effective environmental stewards and leaders,” said Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin.

Maine continues to be a leader in outdoor learning and climate education. The Maine DOE’s Rethinking Responsive Education Ventures (RREV) initiative, funded through a $16.9 million federal grant, has supported the expansion of outdoor education classrooms, programs, professional learning, partnerships, and spaces across the state. Schools across Maine utilized federal relief funding to expand outdoor learning spaces and programs. Governor Mills’ Maine Outdoor Learning Initiative has provided thousands of Maine middle and high school students with coastal and inland forestry learning and career exploration opportunities during the summer. The Maine DOE recently hired a Climate Education Specialist to support and expand this work with educators, schools, and community partners across the state. You can learn more about the Maine DOE’s climate and outdoor education work here.

The grant initiative was designed out of LD 1902, which was passed by the Legislature in 2022 and signed by the Governor to establish a pilot program to provide support for climate education in Maine public schools. Priority was given to communities historically underserved by climate education, socioeconomically disadvantaged communities, and interdisciplinary, place-based, and project-based learning focused activities. In its second year now, the Climate Education Professional Development Pilot Grant Program has awarded over $1 million dollars to 16 programs which will serve 40+ schools in 10 counties and hundreds of teachers and thousands of students statewide. The program will accept applications for 2025-26 School Year programs this coming winter. More Details to follow.

Transition to Kindergarten Planning and Mini-Grant Opportunity

Transitioning into kindergarten is a very exciting but often overwhelming time for young learners and their families.  Building strong transition plans that include community partnerships enables schools and educators to be ready to meet children and families where they are in many aspects of this transition period.  The opportunity described below will focus on working with school administrative units (SAUs) and community partners to build kindergarten transition teams and plans. Participants will engage in a technical assistance program that guides the strengthening of community partnerships, equitable practices for families, and a universal understanding of what it means to be ready for children and families to succeed in kindergarten. The goal of implementing kindergarten transition plans is to increase family engagement, encourage school attendance, and build strong partnerships to support kindergarten transitions for children, families, and school communities.

The Early Learning Team in the Office of Teaching and Learning at the Maine Department of Education (DOE), together with the Office of Child and Family Services at the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, is pleased to extend this mini-grant opportunity to build high-quality transition to kindergarten teams and plans. This project will require SAUs to partner with their community early care and education providers.  We encourage all providers who may be interested to reach to their local school administrative units to express interest in being part of their SAU’s (or school’s) transition team.  This opportunity is funded by Maine’s Preschool Development Grant (PDG).

Participants will attend monthly technical assistance meetings and take advantage of focused individual sessions as needed. Participants will work to form a transition team for their SAU and will build out a year-long transition plan to support children and families before, during, and after the transition to kindergarten.  Once the transition plans are finalized in February 2025, participants will be eligible for mini-grants to support the implementation of the plans leading up to and continuing into the 2025-2026 school year.  To complete the series, there will also be follow-up technical assistance (TA) sessions, one in September 2025 and one in October 2025.

We invite all interested representatives from SAUs and community early care and education providers to join us for an informational and Q&A session to learn more about this opportunity on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, from 4:30-5:00 p.m., using the following session link:

Join Zoom Meeting here
Meeting ID: 830 9860 1555

Participants interested in the opportunity will complete a registration form.  The registration form requires identification of preliminary team members (at a minimum, representation of one SAU or school leader, one school educator/staff member, and one community early childhood provider) and assurances for building community partnerships and engaging in the technical assistance meetings. If you need assistance in locating early care and education providers in your area, visit www.childcarechoices.me.  The registration form should be completed by a representative of the SAU. The form will be open through October 25, 2024.

Initial TA meetings will be held on October 29, 2024, from 4:00-5:00 p.m., November 19, 2024, from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m., and December 17, 2024, from 3:30 -4:30 p.m. We will work together to schedule the remainder of the meetings at a mutually agreed-upon time and date.

Please reach out to Marcy Whitcomb, Public Pre-K Consultant with the Early Learning Team at the Maine DOE, at marcy.r.whitcomb@maine.gov , with any questions and for more information.

Webinar: Special Education Reports EF-S-05 Parts 1 and 2

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Data Team has added a webinar to the fall reporting webinar series. The EF-S-05 is integrated into the October 1 Enrollment and Staff Certification reports. Special Education Directors are required to certify the EF-S-05 Part 1 (special education student count) and EF-S-05 Part 2 (special education staff FTE) reports before superintendents can certify overall October 1 Enrollment and Staff Certification reports.

Please join the Maine DOE Data Team for an overview of these reports on Thursday, September 26th at 12pmRegister Here

For questions regarding Maine DOE data webinars, please contact Alexandra.Cookson@maine.gov, or call 207-446-3897

Fall Data Reports Open Soon: October 1 Enrollment, Dropout, Quarterly Reports, and Staff Certification

The Maine Department of Education’s (DOE) fall data reports will be opening soon. All data reports require review, validation, and/or certification by superintendents.

Fall Data Reports Opening:

  • EPS October 1 Student Enrollment (including EF-S-05 Part1) – Opens 10/1, Certification Opens 10/16, Due 10/30
  • Dropout – Opens 10/2, Due 10/15
  • Bullying – Opens 10/1, Due 10/15
  • Behavior – Opens 10/1, Due 10/15
  • Daily Attendance – Opens 10/1, Due 10/15
  • Truancy – Opens 10/1, Due 10/15
  • Staff Certification (EF-S-05 Part2) – Currently Open, Due 10/30

The Maine DOE MEDMS Support webpage provides guidance, instructions, and recorded webinars about these reports. Upcoming webinar registrations can also be found on the Maine DOE Event Calendar by filtering the host to “Data.”

For questions about these reports, please contact MEDMS.Support@maine.gov or call 207-624-6896

For training in navigating state reporting resources and systems, please submit a State Reporting System Training request, or call 207-446-3897

Celebrating Adult Education Family Literacy Week

Governor Mills has proclaimed September 16 – 20 as Adult Education and Family Literacy Week! Last year, Maine’s Adult Education programs helped over 12,900 students train for a career, earn their high school credentials, prepare for college, and learn English. Located statewide, over 65 adult education programs are part of the public education system and assist adult learners with their next educational and career steps.

Read more about the impact of Maine’s adult education programs:

Workforce

Maine Adult Education is helping fill the gaps in the workforce with collaborative and creative efforts with community partners and employers. From renewable energy and healthcare to commercial driving, adult education programs offer affordable workforce training that lead to certifications and credentials. Last year, Maine’s adult education programs awarded 2,600 certifications in high-demand industries. Read about Portland Adult Education’s Renewable Energy Program

English Language Acquisition

Maine’s adult education programs worked with over 6,000 multilingual learners last year, helping them strengthen their English skills, assisting them with training for jobs and college, and helping them prepare for US citizenship. Check out South Portland Adult Education’s Customer Service English Class

HiSET- Maine’s High School Equivalency Test

Did you know almost 1,000 Maine adults earned their high school credentials through Maine adult education last year? Maine adults can earn their high school equivalency (HiSET®) or high school diploma for free through adult education. Search the Maine Adult Education Class Search, or look for Adult education programs near you.

Maine College Career Access (MCCA)  

Did you know over 1,700 adults accessed Maine’s adult education programs to advance their career and college ready skills through the Maine College and Career Access program? Adult education can help adults get ready for college and career through advising, career exploration, college navigation, academic and digital skill building, and more. Learn about Lewiston’s Maine College Career Access Program.

To learn more about Adult Education programs in Maine, visit the Maine Department of Education website, or contact an Adult education program near you.

Integrating Literacy through the Dispositions with Cris Tovani

The Interdisciplinary Instruction team from the Maine Department of Education’s Office of Teaching and Learning is excited to bring educator and author Cris Tovani to Maine on October 7th for an all-day workshop that explores ways to engage, excite, and “hook” reluctant learners in building their literacy skills and mastery.

Through the lens of student dispositions, Tovani has discovered ways around the various “masks” some students wear and created opportunities for those students to engage with their own learning in vibrant and authentic ways.

At the conclusion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

  • describe what full engagement looks like and discuss the importance of engagement in literacy competence,
  • provide reasons for students to read, write, and discuss,
  • model for students how to monitor and repair meaning when reading complex text, and
  • state how these discrete tasks, methods, and skills build literacy proficiency.

The workshop will run from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at Camp Chamberlain in Augusta, Maine, and is free to all Maine educators. Limited in-person spots are available and will be filled as people sign up. Participants can also participate virtually through Zoom, and the workshop will be recorded and shared with educators. Contact hours are available to participants.

To register for this event, please use this registration link.

If you have any questions about this workshop, please contact Kathy Bertini at Kathy.Bertini@maine.gov or  Heather Martin at Heather.Martin@maine.gov

This workshop is one of four (4) presented by the Interdisciplinary Team on the topic of Integrating Literacy through Applied Learning. All events are available in person and virtually.

November 8, 2024, 9 AM – 3 PM: “Integrating Literacy through Mapmaking” with David Sobel at The Steele House, 639 Main St., Rockland.  Use this registration link to spend the day learning with David Sobel.

December 12, 2024, 8:00 AM—12:00 PM: “Integrating Literacy through Background Knowledge” with Josie Cameron. Wells Conference Center, 169 Hilltop Road, Orono Use this registration link to spend the day learning with Josie Cameron

January 15, 2025,  8 am – 12 noon: “Integrating Literacy through Applied Science with Katie Coppens at the Curtis Memorial Library, 23 Pleasant St., Brunswick. Use this registration link to spend the day learning with Katie Coppens

 

Maine Department of Education Sends Thousands of Free Books to be Accessed by Every Public School in the State

(An example of the Welcoming Libraries: Pine Collection, which will be accessed by every public school in Maine.)

This first-in-the-nation initiative exploring themes of immigration, diversity, belonging, and acceptance was kicked off today at the Westbrook Performing Arts Center.

Westbrook, ME – In collaboration with the award-winning Maine nonprofit I’m Your Neighbor Books, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) held The Pine Project’s Welcoming Libraries Celebration, marking the start of this first-in-the-nation initiative. Welcoming Libraries are collections of picture books exploring themes of immigration, diversity, and belonging, curated to foster inclusive communities.

“We know the power of a story. We know the power of books to help transport readers and help them identify with others, feel more connected, feel included in their communities, and feel a sense of belonging. Each story in the Welcoming Libraries: Pine Collections reflects that power of being included,” said Maine DOE Associate Commissioner for Public Education Megan Welter. “We know that through this initiative, readers will get to immerse themselves in wonderful stories and, at the same time, provide educators with the tools to create an even more welcoming and inclusive environment for all students.”

The Pine Project, initiated by the Maine DOE, has evolved from a small-scale initiative to a statewide program. Initially, the project comprised 16 libraries that went to as many Maine Schools. Now, through a collaboration with I’m Your Neighbor Books, the Maine DOE has expanded the project to include all public schools in the state and incorporate professional development. This expansion extends the project’s benefits to students and educators throughout Maine, providing every Maine school administrative unit with a Welcoming Library: Pine Collection.

Every collection includes 30 books and a Maine-made bookshelf. Each book includes discussion questions developed by Maine educators and community leaders to facilitate conversations in the classroom.

Some of the educators who worked on the Pine Project. (Courtesy of I’m Your Neighbor Books.)

“I didn’t realize how complex the subject of immigration was because I am an immigrant myself. It was my lived experience. But now, seeing students enjoying reading these books and hearing the conversations they inspire, I understand,” said Ina Demers, an educator involved with the project, who has already had a chance to read some of the curated books to her students.

“It’s super inspiring and exciting and energizing and really gives a sense of hopefulness about growing our capacity for truth-telling and welcoming and creating a sense of deep, deep, deep belonging,” said Francie Latour, author of Auntie Luce’s Talking Paintings, one of the books included in Welcoming Libraries: Pine Collection. “We know that belonging is really tied to our ability to learn. It is hard to learn and thrive in school if we don’t feel safe, and belonging gives us that feeling of safety.”

The Pine Project’s Welcoming Libraries Celebration featured a full cast reading of “I’m an American” by Darshana Khiani, performed by fifth graders from Westbrook Middle School. One parent who came to watch her son read shared that the Pine Project made her feel like she and her family truly belonged in Maine.

“I love seeing everyone here. It’s nice,” the parent commented. “After coming here from the Congo seven years ago, it is finally feeling like home.”

The Pine Project has been entirely Maine-based. The collections have been curated by I’m Your Neighbor Books, a Maine nonprofit, containing books by Peaks Island author Anne Sibley O’Brien and audiobook-enhanced titles provided by Portland’s AudioFile Magazine. The libraries sit on a bookshelf designed by Biddeford’s Nomak Design, manufactured by Lisbon Falls’ Orion Woodworking, and topped with signage from South Portland’s Banacom Sign. Martin’s Point Health Care Volunteers packed each set of books and bookshelves with custom packaging designed by Biddeford’s Volk Packaging.

“To have the opportunity to do something with such a strong public mission statement was like a dream come true for us,” said Katie Clark of Nomak Design.

“Maine is a special place for craftsmen and artisans, so it feels good to give my time to make quality products that are a part of Maine’s culture,” said Ryan Cathcart of Orion Woodshop.

The Pine Project also includes free professional learning, designed by the Maine DOE and I’m Your Neighbor Books, to aid educators in utilizing the libraries in their schools.

Students line a stage with books in their hands. On the screen is an illustration of a son hugging his mother around the waist, looking out at houses. To the far left of the state is a book shelf filled with books.
Westbrook Fifth Graders Perform a Full Cast Reading of “I’m An American.”

“The professional learning is a self-guided training to use the featured picture books to teach self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making,” said project lead Melanie Junkins, Maine DOE

Multilingual and Bilingual Education Specialist. “This is not a curriculum. Instead, this is an application of the Collaborative for Academic Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) framework.”

“This project aligns with the CASEL framework in lots of ways. First of all, it is specifically intended to encourage welcoming communities and to help students have a greater sense of belonging,” explained CASEL Director of Policy Andrew Tucker. “In general, the CASEL framework is about belonging. It’s about creating these communities where students can acquire important lifelong competencies like self-awareness and self-management. [The Pine Project] allows for social awareness in a huge way because it helps students understand the life experiences of other people. It helps them to talk amongst themselves and build the relationship skills they need to understand somebody else’s perspective.”

The Pine Project’s Professional Learning will be available on September 30th on the Maine DOE website. The Pine Project was funded through Federal Emergency Relief and is a part of Maine’s Whole Student Pandemic Response. You can learn more about Maine’s use of Federal Emergency Funding on the Maine DOE website.

Maine DOE Update – September 13, 2024

From the Maine Department of Education


News & Updates

Seeking Educators to Pilot MOOSE Modules and Educator Guides; Info Session 9/18/24

Do you want to explore and implement innovative instructional materials this fall? Are you interested in expanding your impact outside your classroom/school? Would you like support in incorporating Wabanaki Studies into your curriculum? The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is currently seeking educators to pilot MOOSE Modules and Educator Resources and would love to have your class participate! |  More

USDA awards 7.4 million in School Food System Innovation Grants in Maine

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently awarded a total of $7.4 million in School Food System Innovation Grants to seven organizations in Maine through its partner Full Plates Full Potential. The grant funding is part of USDA’s $100 million Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative, which empowers schools to continue serving delicious, healthy meals through regional school food systems. |  More

Provide Input for the Maine Child Safety and Family Well-Being Plan

Please join Mariette Aborn, Special Projects Manager for the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), as she and her colleagues from Maine Child Welfare Action Network (MCWAN) welcome you to provide input on the next version – Version 2.0 – of the Maine Child Safety and Well-Being Plan. Join them for a virtual community engagement session on Tuesday, September 17th. |  More


Maine Schools Sharing Success Stories

Maine FFA Advocates in Washington, DC

The Maine FFA state officer team traveled to Washington, DC, for the 2024 State Officer Summit this summer. The Summit is a five-day training event during which hundreds of students representing all 50 states, the US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico engage in conversations about leadership, agriculture, and advocacy. This experience prepares the state officer team and the Maine FFA Association for a successful year. |  More

Submit good news to the Maine Department of Education here.


Professional Learning/Training Opportunities

Integrating Literacy through Applied Learning Workshops

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Interdisciplinary Instruction Team in the Office of Teaching and Learning is pleased to announce a series of four (4) upcoming workshops on Integrating Literacy through Applied Learning. Registration is free of charge to all Maine educators. Contact hours are available, and all workshops are offered both in person (space is limited) and virtually. | More

Selection of Fall & Winter Professional Learning Opportunities for Early Learning & Childcare Educators

The Maine Department of Education Office of Teaching and Learning, Early Learning Team, along with our partners at Maine’s Office of Child and Family Services and Maine Resilience Building Network (MRBN), are hosting several professional learning opportunities for childcare and public-school educators working with children this fall and winter. These opportunities are funded through Maine’s Preschool Development Renewal Grant. | More

Pathways to Partnerships: Technical Assistance and Mini-Grant Opportunity for Early Care and Education Communities – Info Session 9/19

With the ever-growing understanding of and commitment to serving the whole child and family, the need for relationship building among early care and education providers within communities is even more important. When early care and education providers, such as child care, Head Start, schools, YMCAs, and libraries, get to know the work each does to support children and families during the early years, partnerships can emerge to achieve shared, positive outcomes. | More

New MTSS Cohort Opportunity to Equip Principals in Leading Equity-based MTSS for Student Supports

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is thrilled to announce an innovative training program that will empower school principals to champion equity-based Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) for comprehensive student success. | More

Office Hours: Multi-Tiered System of Support Framework

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Office of Teaching and Learning, Multi-tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) team is pleased to offer office hours focused on Maine’s MTSS Framework beginning Friday, October 4th at 10am, and occurring every first Friday of the month thereafter. | More

View the Maine Department of Education’s Events Calendar here.


Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities:

Seeking Applicants for Administrative Assistant for Celebrating Rural Maine Project

The Maine Department of Education (Maine DOE) is seeking an energetic, motivated, and experienced individual to serve in the role of the Celebrating Rural Maine Administrative Assistant Position. The selected candidate will provide initiative, guidance, and leadership in handling the necessary responsibilities as outlined to support the Library of Congress-funded project, and other duties as deemed necessary. | More

View current Maine Department of Education employment opportunities here