First 10 Community School Informational Session

Has your elementary school and its community partners been interested in collaborating to support children and families in your community? Have you wondered about the positive outcomes such partnerships can afford? If so, the First 10 Community School model may be just such an opportunity to consider.  Join the Maine Department of Education for an informational session to:

  • learn more about the First 10 Community School model,
  • consider being part of an ongoing First 10 Community School pilot, and
  • obtain answers to questions you have about the model.

An informational session will be held on December 14 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. A link to register for the session can be found below. The session will be recorded and shared if you are unable to attend the live presentation.

Developed by Education Development Center, First 10 Community Schools bring together school systems, early childhood programs, and community partners/agencies to improve care and education for young children and their families throughout the first 10 years of children’s lives.  This model works to improve teaching and learning, deepen partnerships with families, and provide comprehensive services for children and families.  Typical First 10 practices include, but are not limited to:

  • fostering engagement of families with schools and community partners,
  • providing play and learn groups linked to elementary schools,
  • coordinating connections to health and social services,
  • connecting child care providers with elementary schools,
  • improving the quality of early childhood programs,
  • coordinating the transition to kindergarten,
  • conducting joint professional learning among early childhood, pre-k and elementary teachers, and
  • aligning and improving elementary grade curriculum and instruction.

Information about First 10 Community Schools can be found on the Maine Department of Education’s First 10 webpage and on Education Development Center’s First 10 webpage.  For more information, reach out to Lee Anne Larsen, Director of Early Learning, at leeann.larsen@maine.gov or Sue Gallant, First 10 Community School Consultant, at Sue.Gallant@maine.gov.

Learning Series: Supporting Children, Families, and Communities to Thrive

As a reminder, Maine’s Department of Education’s (DOE) Early Learning Team and Maine’s Office of Child and Family Services are hosting a professional learning opportunity for child care and public-school educators working with children birth-8 years old. This opportunity is funded through Maine’s Preschool Development Renewal Grant.

The Maine Resilience Building Network will be hosting a series of free virtual (via ZOOM) professional development sessions. Supporting Children, Families, and Communities to Thrive: Promoting Positive Childhood Experiences and Resilience will bring together early childhood and PK-3 public-school educators to participate in sessions during the fall of 2023. These sessions will focus on:

  • How adverse and positive childhood experiences impact children’s development,
  • ideas for how to support a stronger focus on positive experiences and for building resilience for young children, and
  • strategies for how educators can address compassion fatigue and build their own resilience.

Descriptions of all 3 available offerings can be found here. Two contact hours are available for each session. Registration is required and links to each session are provided within the table below.

Date/Time Program and Registration Link
Saturday, 11/4/23 9:00-11:00am The Impact of Experience: How Adverse Childhood Experiences and Positive Childhood Experiences Impact Healthy Child Development (Part I)

https://maineresilience.org/event-5407584

Thursday, 11/9/23 3:00-5:00pm The Impact of Experience: How Adverse Childhood Experiences and Positive Childhood Experiences Impact Healthy Child Development (Part I)

https://maineresilience.org/event-5407589

Saturday, 11/18/23 9:00-11:00am Addressing Compassion Fatigue and Resilience Strategies in Educators and Caregivers

https://maineresilience.org/event-5407625

Monday, 11/27/23 3:00-5:00pm A Framework for Implementing Positive Childhood Experiences to Support Healthy Child Development (Part II)

https://maineresilience.org/event-5407598

Saturday, 12/9/23 9:00-11:00am A Framework for Implementing Positive Childhood Experiences to Support Healthy Child Development (Part II)

https://maineresilience.org/event-5407617

Tuesday, 12/12/23 6:00-8:00pm Addressing Compassion Fatigue and Resilience Strategies in Educators and Caregivers

https://maineresilience.org/event-5407706

Monday, 12/18/23 6:00-8:00pm Addressing Compassion Fatigue and Resilience Strategies in Educators and Caregivers

https://maineresilience.org/event-5407630

Additional questions can be directed to Maine DOE Early Childhood Specialist, nicole.madore@maine.gov.

Funding Survey: Estimated Pre-K Enrollment Counts for New or Expanding Programs in 2024-2025

If your School Administrative Unit (SAU) is opening or expanding a Pre-K program in the 2024-2025 school year, you are eligible to receive funding on your FY25 ED279 for children you enroll in these new or expanded Pre-K programs in 2024. This means you will receive the funding for enrollment in the same year that you enroll the Pre-K children, without a year delay.

If you are planning to start and/or expand public Pre-K in the 2024-25 school year and would like to receive an FY25 estimate Pre-K allocation, please notify the Maine DOE by completing the FY25 Estimate Pre-K Count Data Form before November 8, 2023. There are 3 questions to be answered on the funding survey:

  1. What is your SAU? Choose your SAU from a drop-down list.
  2. Do you have an existing Pre-K program (FY24)? – Yes/No
  3. What is your SAU’s Pre-K Estimated Increase Count (new slots available in new or expanding program)?

SAUs completing the form must also complete the Pre-K Program Application with DOE’s Early Learning Team by April 30, 2024 and obtain program approval.

The FY25 Estimate Pre-K Count Data Collection form is meant to capture the FY25 estimate for new and expanding Pre-K program enrollment. The estimated student count data, in addition to the current (FY24) enrollment in an existing Pre-K program, will be used to provide funding on the FY25 ED279. An SAU’s Pre-K total enrollment number, as reported and verified October 1, 2024, should match the combined existing and estimated increase total that was used to calculate funds in the ED279. After October 1, 2024, an audit adjustment, based on actual enrollment reported in NEO on October 1, 2024, will be made to the Pre-K allocation assigned on the FY25 ED279. Please note that this may increase or decrease funding.

For more information about establishing or expanding a Pre-K program, please check out the webpage on the topic, or contact Nicole Madore at  nicole.madore@maine.gov.

For questions specific FY25 ED279 estimates, please contact Paula Gravelle at 624-6792 or Paula.B.Gravelle@maine.gov.

 

Professional Learning Community: Explore 2nd Grade for ME

Between 2018-2023, the Maine Department of Education has engaged in the development of interdisciplinary, open-source instructional programs for Pre-K, Kindergarten, and Grade 1.  These programs, Pre-K for ME and K for ME, and 1st Grade for ME, are housed on the Maine DOE’s website. Many schools across the state have implemented these instructional programs and the Maine DOE is planning to extend its work related to interdisciplinary, open-source instructional programming into grade two during the 2024-25 school year by adapting the Boston Public Schools’ Focus on Second program to become 2nd Grade for ME.

For grade two teachers interested in exploring the Focus on Second instructional program that will serve as the foundation for Maine’s development of 2nd Grade for ME, a professional learning community (PLC) experience is being planned for the 2023-24 school year.  There is no obligation to implement the program, but this PLC will provide time to learn about the program design, its components, and how the program connects to Pre-K for ME, K for ME, and 1st Grade for ME.

Teachers, instructional coaches, and administrators interested in this instructional program are encouraged to participate.  Grade two teachers who participate may have the opportunity to pilot the program during the 2024-25 school year.

To preview the program, visit Focus on Second. An outline of the PLC series and a registration link is included below.

Professional Learning Community: Exploring 2nd Grade for ME

3:30-4:30 p.m.

Registration Link

Date Topics/Component Focus
October 24th Goals for the PLC, Structure of Focus on Second (2nd Grade for ME)
November 15th Read Alouds, Routines, Vocabulary
January 16th Play, Studios, Projects
February 27th Science and Engineering, Math
March 26th Phonics, Literacy Stations, Small Groups, Writing, Closing

If you have questions, please contact Lee Anne Larsen, Director of Early Learning, at Leeann.Larsen@maine.gov.

Learning Series: Supporting Children, Families, and Communities to Thrive

Maine’s Department of Education’s (DOE) Early Learning Team and Maine’s Office of Child and Family Services are excited to announce a professional learning opportunity for child care and public-school educators working with children birth-8 years old. This opportunity is funded through Maine’s Preschool Development Renewal Grant.

The Maine Resilience Building Network will be hosting a series of free virtual (via ZOOM) professional development sessions. Supporting Children, Families, and Communities to Thrive: Promoting Positive Childhood Experiences and Resilience will bring together early childhood and PK-3 public-school educators to participate in sessions during the fall of 2023. These sessions will focus on:

  • How adverse and positive childhood experiences impact children’s development,
  • ideas for how to support a stronger focus on positive experiences and for building resilience for young children, and
  • strategies for how educators can address compassion fatigue and build their own resilience.

Descriptions of all 3 available offerings can be found here. Two contact hours are available for each session. Registration is required and links to each session are provided within the table below.

Date/Time Program and Registration Link
Tuesday, 10/17/23

6:00-8:00pm

The Impact of Experience: How Adverse Childhood Experiences and Positive Childhood Experiences Impact Healthy Child Development (Part I)

https://maineresilience.org/event-5407497

Monday, 10/23/23 6:00-8:00pm A Framework for Implementing Positive Childhood Experiences to Support Healthy Child Development (Part II)

https://maineresilience.org/event-5407549

Thursday, 11/2/23 3:00-5:00pm Addressing Compassion Fatigue and Resilience Strategies in Educators and Caregivers

https://maineresilience.org/event-5407636

Saturday, 11/4/23 9:00-11:00am The Impact of Experience: How Adverse Childhood Experiences and Positive Childhood Experiences Impact Healthy Child Development (Part I)

https://maineresilience.org/event-5407584

Thursday, 11/9/23 3:00-5:00pm The Impact of Experience: How Adverse Childhood Experiences and Positive Childhood Experiences Impact Healthy Child Development (Part I)

https://maineresilience.org/event-5407589

Saturday, 11/18/23 9:00-11:00am Addressing Compassion Fatigue and Resilience Strategies in Educators and Caregivers

https://maineresilience.org/event-5407625

Monday, 11/27/23 3:00-5:00pm A Framework for Implementing Positive Childhood Experiences to Support Healthy Child Development (Part II)

https://maineresilience.org/event-5407598

Saturday, 12/9/23 9:00-11:00am A Framework for Implementing Positive Childhood Experiences to Support Healthy Child Development (Part II)

https://maineresilience.org/event-5407617

Tuesday, 12/12/23 6:00-8:00pm Addressing Compassion Fatigue and Resilience Strategies in Educators and Caregivers

https://maineresilience.org/event-5407706

Monday, 12/18/23 6:00-8:00pm Addressing Compassion Fatigue and Resilience Strategies in Educators and Caregivers

https://maineresilience.org/event-5407630

Additional questions can be directed to Maine DOE Early Childhood Specialist, nicole.madore@maine.gov.