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Applications Open for Maine DOE 2026–2027 Student Cabinet

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is accepting applications for its 2026–2027 Student Cabinet, a group of students who meet with DOE leaders to share perspectives on educational initiatives, opportunities, improvements, and policy. Applications are due November 15, 2026.

Now in its sixth year, the Student Cabinet provides a forum for student voices to inform conversations and decisions that affect Maine students. Past Cabinets have explored topics including mental health, racial equity, school safety, individualized learning, and educator workforce diversification.

During the 2025–2026 school year, Cabinet members also provided input on the DOE’s Measure What Matters initiative, mental wellness, climate education, and other issues affecting Maine schools.

Celebrating Student Bright Spots

In April and May of 2026, Cabinet members took the lead by sharing a “Bright Spot”—a 3-to-4-minute presentation highlighting something positive happening in their school or community.

Students shared stories of student leadership, service, inclusion, creativity, and connection through clubs, performing arts, unified sports, wellness initiatives, Extended Learning Opportunities, student media, community partnerships, and more.

Explore some of the 2025-2026 Student Cabinet members’ Bright Spots:

  1. Scarborough High School Bright Spot by Michael Winchenbach (Video)
  2. Mount Blue High School Bright Spot by Nicholas DeMarco (Video)
  3. Waterville High School Bright Spot by Thresia Reddy (Video)
  4. Camden Hills Regional High School Bright Spot by Iris Bolduc (Video)
  5. Hampden Academy Bright Sport by Shelby Gray (Video)
  6. Brunswick Junior High School Bright Spot by Campbell Frazee (Video)
  7. Old Town High School Bright Spot by Romlah Ojugbele (Video)
  8. Scarborough High School Bright Spot by Abigail Rasquinha (Video)
  9. Cape Elizabeth High School Bright Spot by Brendan Oakley (Video)
  10. Saco Middle School Bright Spot by Jackson Pfeiffenberger (Video)
  11. Cherryfield Elementary Bright Spot by Eliza Farnsworth (Video)
  12. Windham High School Bright Spot by Maggie Soule (Video)
  13. Gorham High School Bright Spot by Fatima Beshir (Video)
  14. Messalonskee High School Bright Sport by Isabella Castner (PDF/PPT)
  15. Camden Hills Regional High School Bright Spot by Maliyah Summer (PDF/PPT)
  16. Portland High School Bright Spot by Wyatt Clegg (PDF/PPT)
  17. Baxter Academy Bright Spot by Avron Williams (PDF/PPT)
  18. Lincoln Academy Bright Sport by Ori Taylor (PDF/PPT)

Apply for the 2026–2027 Student Cabinet

Students in grades 4–12 and those in their first year of college are eligible to apply. Cabinet members will serve from December 2026 through May 2027 and are expected to attend scheduled meetings, prepare as needed, collaborate with peers and DOE staff, and share their perspectives openly, constructively, and respectfully.

Meetings will be held virtually on the following dates:

  • Tuesday, December 15, 2026, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m., virtual via Zoom
  • Tuesday, January 19, 2027, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m., virtual via Zoom
  • Tuesday, February 23, 2027, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m., virtual via Zoom
  • Tuesday, March 16, 2027, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m., virtual via Zoom
  • Tuesday, April 27, 2027, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m., virtual via Zoom
  • Tuesday, May 18, 2027, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m., virtual via Zoom

Applications are due by November 15. Apply to the Student Cabinet.

For more information, contact Rachel Paling, Communications & Outreach Manager, at rachel.paling@maine.gov.

Maine School Safety Center Announces Release of First Phase of School Bus Safety Training Modules

The Maine Department of Education (DOE), Maine School Safety Center (MSSC), is pleased to announce the release of the first phase of training modules developed for school bus drivers. The training modules are available in EnGiNE, the Maine DOE’s online professional learning platform.

The self-paced modules are designed to provide school bus drivers and school transportation professionals with the information and resources they need to train students in safe school bus riding practices. One of the goals of this initiative is to establish consistent safety standards across Maine so that students throughout the state receive the same safety messages from their school bus drivers.

The training modules were developed using nationally recognized school transportation safety guidance and best practices, including resources and recommendations from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS), the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the National Congress on School Transportation (NCST), and other recognized school transportation safety organizations.

The modules use a “train-the-trainer” approach. School bus drivers across Maine will complete the modules followed by a short quiz at the end of each course. The training provides drivers with consistent information and talking points they can use when teaching students about staying safe on and around the school bus.

The first phase includes modules to teach students about:

  • Waiting at the Bus Stop
  • Crossing in Front of the Bus
  • The Danger Zone
  • Loading and Unloading Practices
  • Riding on the Bus
  • Respect on the Bus
  • Emergency Exits
  • Railroad Crossing Awareness

Each module also includes an information sheet for parents and families. Schools may share these materials with parents so they are aware of the safety topics being taught to their children and can reinforce the same messages at home.

To access the modules, log in to EnGiNE. EnGiNE is the Maine DOE’s online professional learning platform. Those who do not already have login credentials can easily create them using their school email address. For support in creating an account and/or using EnGiNE, please visit the EnGiNE Support Page.

When a module is completed by the school bus drivers, the transportation directors will be able to access the information and keep proof of the training on record.

The Maine School Safety Center is proud to be part of Maine’s continued efforts to strengthen school transportation safety throughout the state. These training modules provide schools and transportation programs with a consistent resource for teaching students how to safely ride, board, exit, and interact around the school bus.

By providing school bus drivers with consistent training materials and safety messages, Maine can work toward a standardized approach to student school bus safety education across the state, while incorporating nationally recognized safety guidance and best practices.

For more information, please reach out to Maine DOE Transportation Specialist Cheryl Brackett at Cheryl.Brackett@maine.gov.

school bus

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 focus time, energy, and resources to strengthen student outcomes.

Through extensive conversations and data collection across the state, the Measure What Matters initiative identified the conditions, practices, and outcomes that Mainers consistently value and have deemed the most important in their public schools. From this data, a report was published and used to create a framework called “Dirigo Schools of Distinction.” That framework is organized into seven pillars, each with a set of indicators that reflect the priorities voiced by Mainers. Across all pillars, DSD emphasizes a set of critical life skills identified through the Measure What Matters initiative and aligned closely with Maine’s Guiding Principles.

The framework will be a living document, informed by the DSD Advisory Committee (including DOE team members and experts from the field) who will make recommendations for updates and additions each spring. You can find more about this initiative along with a pdf version of the framework and a webform application here. 

The DSD framework features seven pillars of excellence:

  • Excellence in Academics and Instructional Practices
  • Excellence in Community and Family Engagement
  • Excellence in Health and Wellness
  • Excellence in Culture and Climate
  • Excellence in Innovation and Innovative Practices
  • Excellence in School Leadership, Educators, and Staff
  • Excellence in Student Engagement

Each year, beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, schools may apply to be recognized for excellence in one of these DSD pillars. Those who opt to participate will complete an online application that contains the rubric for the pillar for which they are applying. The DSD Advisory Committee will review application submissions and select awardees.

To be eligible to apply for a DSD pillar of excellence, a school must first complete the Outcomes and Continuous Growth section of the DSD rubric. Many of the listed Measures are data points that are already collected for state reporting each year and those can be pre-filled to support ease of application. A school may choose to mark Outcomes if it has achieved the indicated Measure. If a school has not achieved the indicated Measure but has seen significant improvement in that area, it may choose to mark Continuous Growth and provide a brief supporting narrative. Elementary schools must achieve three Outcomes/Continuous Growth Measures to be eligible for a DSD recognition. Middle/high schools must achieve five.

For those seeking a DSD recognition, scoring will work as follows:

  1.  Each indicator within a pillar has an “evidence of practice” measure, based on the extent to which an indicator is in place. The applicant school self-assesses to determine this score, explaining the rationale in a brief narrative.
  1. = emerging/partly in place/a practice or quality in some classrooms or teams
  2. = mostly in place/a practice or quality across the school
  3. = fully in place/a practice or quality that is generalized throughout the school
  1. A “Priority Multiplier” is pre-filled in the rubric for each indicator to recognize that some indicators are more important or more complex, requiring more commitment and effort than others.
  2. The evidence of practice measures are multiplied by their priority multipliers, generating a total for the pillar.

DSD Advisory Committee members will provide peer review of self-scoring through a collaborative process with applicant schools, and additional evidence may be included during this process.

To be recognized for a DSD pillar, a school must achieve at least 90% of the total possible score indicated on the rubric. (The total possible score for each pillar may vary slightly for elementary).      

If you are interested in participating in the inaugural year of the DSD initiative, please complete this online application by January 30, 2027. Schools that are ultimately recognized for a DSD pillar will earn a DSD Badge of Excellence for that school year and be celebrated during a statewide event in the spring.

With questions or for more information, please contact Page Nichols, Maine DOE Chief Innovation Officer, at page.nichols@maine.gov.

We look forward to celebrating excellence in your schools!

Registration Open for 16th Annual PBIS Conference

Maine’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (Maine PBIS) program, a collaboration between the Maine Department of Education (DOE) and the University of Maine System (UMS), will host its annual conference on November 19, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Augusta Civic Center.

In its 16th year, the conference theme will be, “The Fabric of Maine Schools: Braiding Academics, Behavior and Belonging.” The conference will feature a captivating keynote presented by Kathleen Lynne Lane, Ph.D., BCAB-D, CF-L2 from the University of Kansas, “Creating Positive, Productive School Environments: Data-informed Instruction in Integrated Tiered Systems to Meet Students’ Multiple Needs.”

Following the keynote will be a choice of over 30 breakout sessions that will allow participants to walk away with new ideas and a renewed sense of connection with students and their teaching methods. Breakout sessions include integrating academics and behavior within the Multi-tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) model, behavior supports and strategies for preschool, elementary, middle, and high school, implementing and sustaining PBIS, and family engagement.

Conference pricing:

  • Early Bird until October 15: $185.00
  • After October 15: $210.00
  • Complimentary registration will be provided (up to 3 educators per school) for educators that work in schools identified as part of Maine’s Model of School Support.

Please visit the PBIS Conference website for more information and to register.

School culture does not transform by accident, it happens when we connect, collaborate, and celebrate together. That is exactly what is happening at this year’s Maine PBIS Conference. Join us for a day to rejuvenate your teaching practices, braiding instructional applications, positive student interactions, and educator well-being into a strong educational experience for all!

For more information, please contact Maine DOE Special Projects & Educator Supports Program staff, Anne-Marie Adamson at anne-marie.adamson@maine.gov.

Maine DOE’s Annual Back to School Backpack of Resources 

Happy back to school! The Maine Department of Education (DOE) has put together a virtual Back to School Backpack of resources and information to assist school and School Administrative Unit (SAU) leaders as a new school year begins. The Backpack contains resources related to school and student supports, health and safety, school nutrition, school administration and operations, teaching and learning supports, and strengthening the education workforce. You can access the DOE’s Back to School Backpack here.  

You’ll find links to forms and information schools often need at the start of a new school year, resources that educators can use in the classroom, instructional supports and programs, and much more.  

We wish you a wonderful back to school and a new school year filled with excitement, powerful learning, connection, and joy. Thank you for everything that you do for Maine schools and students.