Through a waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Maine Department of Education is able to extend the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) allowing school districts and community partners to provide meals to students during extended remote learning due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Through the SFSP, 160 district and community partners are preparing and providing meals and food for children. School districts and communities statewide are implementing many different methods to ensure every child (ages 0 – 18) in need of food is nourished during the current suspension of classroom-based instruction. These include approved locations for meal pick-up, utilizing bus routes to deliver meals, and providing baskets of food to families.

“Maine schools are going above and beyond to make sure that their students have access to food while schools are utilizing remote learning,” said Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin. “District and school leaders, teachers, and staff have collaboratively worked to meet the needs of students during this difficult and uncertain time, and we are so impressed with how quickly and efficiently it has all come together.”

The Department’s child nutrition team is processing SFSP applications on an ongoing basis. All school districts that are approved or in progress are serving meals. Many school districts that are ineligible (do not meet the 50% or more students receiving free or reduced lunch threshold) to participate in a SFSP have successfully partnered with regional school districts and community organizations to serve food to children. The interactive map will be updated daily.  The interactive map of schools providing meals can be viewed here.  

Districts interested in applying for the SFSP can do so by contacting the Maine DOE’s Child Nutrition Team.

“It doesn’t stop there. Many, if not most of our schools are distributing continued learning materials, educational packets, and other learning opportunities that keep students engaged while they are at home,” added Makin.

The Maine DOE has been scheduling and hosting daily content and topic specific virtual meetings with educators all week to provide support and guidance regarding distance learning and school supports, and to help facilitate networking and resource sharing between educators. Sessions are updated regularly on this webpage.

For details, regarding which meal option(s) is/are available in your community, please reach out to your local school district.

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In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits.  Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.  Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1)     mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
(2)      fax: (202) 690-7442; or
(3)      email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

The Maine Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, religion, ancestry or national origin.

Complaints of discrimination must be filed at the office of the Maine Human Rights Commission, 51 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0051. If you wish to file a discrimination complaint electronically, visit the Human Rights Commission website at https://www.maine.gov/mhrc/file/instructions and complete an intake questionnaire. Maine is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Augusta – Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance and Maine Environmental Education Association announced the release of the Census of Community-Based Environmental Learning (CBEL) in Maine 2019 report on Monday, January 13, 2020 at a press conference at the Maine State House.

This exciting, first-of-its-kind report documents the creative and innovative programming that is occurring across our state, both in-school and out-of-school, to connect youth to their environment and communities.

The event featured remarks from Maine DOE Commissioner Pender Makin, Executive Director of Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance Ruth Kermish-Allen, and Executive Director of Maine Environmental Education Association Olivia Griset.

The report also sheds light on how this programming can be supported and sustained across the State of Maine, providing a pathway for advancement for the whole field. Full of stellar examples and stories, like a middle school study of invasive green crabs, a school composting program, collaborations with local land trusts, and more, this report tells the stories of educators designing innovative solutions and overcoming challenges to generate empowering learning experiences for our young people.

You can find the Report and the Case files on the Maine Environmental Education Association Website.

For more information contact the Maine Environmental Education Association.