At the end of each school year, school administrative units (SAUs) are responsible for completing a number of required reports. As a reminder, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) Data Team has many resources available to SAUs to support their end-of-year reporting.

This year, as the Maine DOE transitions from Synergy to the new Connect reporting system, SAUs are encouraged to enter all of their 2025-2026 data as soon as possible. This is essential to ensuring that data is accurately reported despite a compressed timeline over the summer due to this transition. On Thursday, April 16, 2026, at noon, the Data Team is hosting a 2026/2027 Reporting Changes Webinar to share more information about this transition. Those interested in attending may register here.

Additional upcoming reports and reporting webinars include:

• April 1 Enrollment
  • Open Date: April 1, 2026 
  • Due Date: April 15, 2026 
  • Webinar: April 1 Enrollment Reporting Webinar on March 31, 2026, at noon – Register here.
• Maine Schools
  • Open Date: May 1, 2026 
  • Due Date: June 15, 2026 
  • Webinar: Maine Schools Report and Maine School Approval 
  • Webinar on April 30, 2026, at noon – Register here.
• ESEA Demographics Report
  • Open Date: May 15, 2026
  • Accountability Date: May 29, 2026
  • Due Date: June 15, 2026
  • Webinar: ESEA Demographics Reporting Webinar on May 14, 2026, at noon – Register here.
• End of Year Attendance, Truancy, Behavior, and Bullying
  • Reporting Period: July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026
  • Open all year for reporting
  • Due Date: June 30, 2026
  • Webinars:
    • Attendance and Truancy Data Entry and Validation Webinar on March 24, 2026, at noon – Register here.
    • Behavior and Bullying Reporting and Validation Webinar on March 26, 2026, at noon – Register here.
• Special Education Exit Report
  • Open Date: June 1, 2026
  • Due Date: June 30, 2026
  • Webinar: Special Education Exit Report Webinar on May 12, 2026, at noon – Register here.
• Graduation Report
  • Open Date: June 1, 2026
  • Due Date: August 15, 2026
  • Webinar: Graduation Reporting Webinar on May 21, 2026, at noon – Register here.
  • Webinar: Special Education Exit Report Webinar on May 12, 2026, at noon – Register here.

SAUs should please also note the following end-of-year data processes for which they are responsible:

• Following a decision by the school board related to the reconfiguration of schools, SAUs should contact Maine DOE Education Data Systems Manager Kimberly Hall at Kimberly.A.Hall@maine.gov as soon as possible to notify her of any organizational changes to the SAU. This includes new or closing schools, grade level relocations among schools, integration or separation of SAUs, etc.
• All enrollments in Synergy must be exited. An End-of-Year Enrollment Exit Webinar is scheduled for May 19, 2026, at noon. Register here.
• SAUs should review staff access to state systems (i.e., NEO, Connect, MEIS, QuickSight). Please contact MEDMS.Support@maine.gov with any requested updates.

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Data Team will be offering webinars and office hours in January 2026 to assist in preparing for the implementation of the new Connect data integration system. These trainings will focus on data entry procedures into Connect, as well as the process for generating a collection “snapshot” within the system.

Some trainings will be specific to certain student information systems (SIS). To make the most of your time, please be advised of the following system capabilities:

• Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF) can be used by: Infinite Campus, PowerSchool, Rediker Software, and Web2School users.
• Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) can be used by: Synergy users (local instance only—not state edition).
• Uploads will be used by any school administrative unit (SAU) opting not to use SIF or SFTP and any SAU without a local SIS

Please note: Manual entry of student data is no longer available. All data provided to Connect must originate from a source file (e.g., CSV uploads, SFTP, or SIF transfer.)

Training sessions include:

• Connect SIF Data Entry Webinar – January 13 at noon – Register here.
• Connect Upload Data Entry Webinar – January 15 at noon – Register here.
• Connect SFTP Data Entry Webinar (Edupoint Users only) – January 20 at noon – Register here.
• Connect Collection Webinar – January 22 at noon – Register here.
• Connect Office Hours
  • January 27 at noon – Register here.
  • January 29 at noon – Register here.

As a reminder, the state edition of Synergy will be used for all remaining 2025-2026 data collections. These training sessions in Connect are designed to provide exposure to processes that will be implemented in the next school year.

With questions about upcoming webinars or Connect, please contact the Maine Education Data Management System Support Team at MEDMS.Support@maine.gov or call 207-624-6896.

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Dropout Report is due to be certified by superintendents by Wednesday, October 15, 2025, in NEO.

This report is based on federal reporting requirements for students who were enrolled in public education at any point from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025, andwho are expected to return but who are not enrolled on October 1, 2025.

“Expected to return” is determined based on the student’s last exit code from the Maine DOE’s State Synergy system. The Dropout Certification Report Instructions outline codes that indicate a student has dropped out on the NEO Dropout Report.

Report Resources

• Dropout Reporting Webinar – recorded September 18
• Dropout Certification Report Instructions

For questions about data reporting, please contact Maine Education Data Management Support (MEDMS) at MEDMS.Support@maine.gov or call 207-624-6896. Reporting guidance, instructions, and webinars about these reports can be found on the MEDMS Support webpage.

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is seeking individuals who are invested in identifying and reducing barriers to school attendance for Maine students. The Truancy, Drop Out, and Alternative Education (TDAE) Advisory Committee will advise the Commissioner of Education on the development and implementation of state and local policies and programs that are needed to deal effectively with the incidence of truancy and dropouts in Maine schools.

In accordance with PL 2007, c. 667, §10 (AMD), the committee will consider its mandate in a broad context to assess the causes of truancy and dropouts, the effectiveness of alternative education and prevention programs, and the social and educational programs or changes needed to encourage students to remain in school, including reintegration planning and aftercare services provided for juvenile offenders who have been released from juvenile facilities in the state and have enrolled in schools in the state.

Details

• This 15-member committee meets monthly throughout the year to review and discuss current information related to student attendance, as well as to examine policy and guidance practices for the state. Committee members will join for a two-year period, with the option of being reappointed. The committee represents diverse backgrounds from different parts of the state. 
• The committee has the following openings for a two-year term:
  • school counselor or school social worker
  • representative of a local positive action committee on truancy, dropout, and alternative education programs. (In the past, this position has been filled by nonprofit executive directors or those in leadership positions within state associations such as the Alternative Education Association of Maine.)
  • business community representative

Please consider sharing this opportunity with your network. If you are interested in being considered for appointment, please send an email with a paragraph explaining your background in areas of truancy, dropout, and alternative education—and how your area(s) of expertise will support the work of the committee—to Susan Lieberman, Co-Chair of the TDAE Committee, at susan.lieberman88@gmail.com and Julie Smyth, Director of the Maine DOE Office of School and Student Supports, at julie.a.smyth@maine.gov. The deadline to send this email is October 10, 2025.

Please address any questions to susan.lieberman88@gmail.com or julie.a.smyth@maine.gov.

Several fall data reports are now open in the Maine Department of Education’s (DOE) NEO system, including Dropout, October 1 Enrollment, and Staff Certification. Superintendents must review, validate, and certify the following reports in October:

• Dropout Report – Due October 15, 2025.
  
  
• EPS October 1 Student Enrollment Report (including EF-S-05 Part 1) – Currently Open for review only. Certification opens on October 16, 2025. This report is due on October 30, 2025.
  • MEDMS Support recommends waiting until October 30 to certify this report.
  • Certification is required by superintendents and special education directors.
    
    
• Staff Certification Report (including EF-S-05 Part 2)– Due 10/30/2025.
  • Certification of the EF-S-05 Part 2 is required by special education directors prior to superintendent certification.

Reporting guidance and instructions about these reports can be found on the MEDMS Data Systems Support webpage. Recorded webinars that may help those filling out these reports are available on the Maine DOE Data YouTube playlist.

With questions about fall reporting, please contact the Maine DOE MEDMS Support at MEDMS.Support@maine.gov or call 207-624-6896.

The following data reports are due to the Maine Department of Education (DOE) in the month of October: Dropout Report, October Enrollment, and Staff Certification. Please find instructions, resources, and important dates in the information below.

Dropout Report

The Dropout Report defines dropouts based on the federal requirements, meeting allof the following criteria: students enrolled at any time from October 1, 2024-September 30, 2025, who are exited from State Synergy with a code, who are expected to return, and who are not enrolled on October 1, 2025.

Dates:

• Open: October 2
• Due: October 15

Resources:

• Dropout Certification Report Instructions
• Dropout Reporting Webinar – recorded September 18

October Enrollment

This report will populate based on enrollment data entered by upload or manual entry into State Synergy. Certification of the October 1 Student Count Report opens on October 16 and is due on October 30. This report is used in the calculation of essential programs and services (EPS) funding allocations and federal reporting. Special Education Directors in school administrative units (SAUs) will need to review and certify the EF-S-05 Part 1 (Special Education Child Count) before superintendents can certify overall counts. Superintendents in SAUs with publicly funded students are required to review and certify the October 1 Student Count Report in NEO before submitting it to the Maine DOE.

Note: It is recommended to wait until close to October 30 to certify these reports to avoid decertifying and recertifying multiple times.

Dates:

• Report begins to populate: October 1
• Certification becomes available: October 16
• Due for certification: October 30

Resources:

• October 1 Student Enrollment Count Instructions
• Special Education Child Count (EF-S-05 Part 1) Instructions
• Fall Reporting 2025 Update Webinar – recorded August 21
• Economic Status Reporting Webinar – recorded September 4
• Multilingual Learner Reporting Webinar – recorded September 9
• Special Education Enrollment Webinar – recorded September 11
• EPS October 1 Enrollment Webinar on Tuesday, September 23 at noon. Register here.
• Special Education EF-S-05 Part 1 Webinar on Thursday, September 25 at noon. Register here.

Staff Certification

This report will populate based on active staff assignments in NEO Staff. Certification of the Staff EPS Counts is due on October 30. This report is used in the calculation of EPS funding allocations. Special Education Directors must review and certify the EF-S-05 Part 2 (Special Education Staff Count) before superintendents can certify overall counts. Superintendents are required to review and certify the Staff Certification Report in NEO before submitting it to the Maine DOE.

Dates:

• Due for certification: October 30

Resources:

• Staff Data Entry and Reporting. (See Staff Certification under NEO Staff Instructions.)
• Special Education Staff (EF-S-05 Part 2) Instructions
• EPS Staff Certification and EF-S-05 Part 2 Webinar on Tuesday, September 30 at noon. Register here.

For further information, questions, and technical support, please contact the Maine DOE Help Desk at MEDMS.Support@maine.gov or call 207-624-6896.

Graduation reporting is due on August 30, 2025. The Maine Department of Education’s data system, Synergy, will be open in the 2024-2025 school year until August 15 for student records to be updated with accurate exit codes and dates.

After August 15, Maine Education Data Management Systems (MEDMS) Support staff will need to update student exit codes and dates.

Please review records in Synergy and update as necessary before August 15.

Resources:

• Graduation Reporting Webinar – recorded August 5, 2025
• Graduation Certification Report Instructions

For further questions, please reach out to MEDMS support staff at MEDMS.Support@maine.gov or 207-624-6896.

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Data Team would like to remind school administrative units (SAUs) of the following reports and their upcoming due dates: Truancy and Daily Attendance Certifications are due on July 15; all staff positions should be reviewed as soon as possible in NEO Staff following the rollover to the 2025-2026 school year on July 1; and the Graduation Certification Report is due on August 30.

Please find detailed information and resources for each report below.

Truancy and Daily Attendance Certifications

The final certifications of Truancy and Daily Attendance for the 2024-2025 school year are due on July 15. Superintendents must certify these reports once data specialists and SAU data teams have reviewed and updated them. Data on the Daily Attendance Certification report are used to calculate Chronic Absenteeism for public reporting and accountability measures.

Resources:

• End of Year Daily Attendance and Truancy Data Certifications Webinar (recorded May 13)
• Truancy definitions and reporting guidelines
• End of Year Attendance Certification Instructions

NEO Staff Rollover to 2025-2026

NEO Staff was rolled to the 2025-2026 school year on July 1. During this rollover, all staff were updated to Pending status. All staff must be updated to reflect their current position. Please review all staff positions in NEO, add new staff if necessary, and update salary, contact, and position information to reflect each staff member’s position for this school year. 

New superintendents should be updated in NEO Staff immediately to ensure that they can perform state-level reporting, complete report certifications, and receive critical and time-sensitive communications from the Maine DOE.

Resources:

• NEO Staff Data Entry Webinar on August 26 at noon – Register here.

Graduation Certification Report

This report allows SAUs to validate graduation counts for the school year. Students still working toward finishing their graduation requirements have until August 15 to complete them for this reporting cycle. Students who finish their requirements over the summer can be exited from State Synergy on the date of the graduation ceremony. The graduation date must be prior to June 30.

Open Date: July 1
Due Date: August 30
Resources:

• Graduation Reporting Webinar on August 5 at noon – Register here.
• Graduation Certification Report Instructions

For further information or with questions, please contact the MEDMS Data Systems Support at 207-624-6896 or medms.support@maine.gov.

All student enrollments must be exited from the Maine Department of Education State Synergy system on or before June 30, 2024. This includes students who are attending year-round programs.

Exiting students, either manually or via upload, with the most up-to-date code, will help to ensure that fall reports are accurate. This can specifically impact graduation and dropout reporting for fall collections.

Information about exit codes for specific situations can be found on the Synergy Instructions webpage under the Data Dictionaries for Student Exit.

Resources:

• Webinar on May 27 at noon—Register here.
• Student Exit Data Dictionary (enrollment exit codes)
• Manually Exiting Students – video

Questions about exiting student enrollments from State Synergy can be submitted by emailing MEDMS.Support@maine.gov or by calling 207-624-6896.