Category: Newsroom Articles

Special Education Exit Report Opens on June 1

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Special Education Exit Report opens on June 1, 2025, and is due on July 30, 2025.

Students who have exited special education services during the reporting period (2024-2025 school year, July 1-June 30) must have special education exit dates and an exit reason added to their enrollments in Synergy State Edition. Student information must be entered or uploaded into Synergy State Edition by the school the student attends. If a student will still receive special education services the next year, their special education status in Synergy remains the same.

School administrative units (SAUs) are required to certify the exit data using the Special Education Exit Report found in NEO on the Student Data/Student Reports module.

Details

  • Open Date: June 1
  • Due Date: July 30

Resources:

  • Webinar on Thursday, May 29 at noon — Register here. This webinar will also include information about Perkins 3S1 CTE Post Secondary Reporting.

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

Due Dates and Procedures for Quarter 4 End-of-Year Reports

Four end-of-year reports require certification in June and July. These reports aggregate data from the entire school year’s reporting timeframe. The data are used to aggregate dashboards and reports for public availability on the Maine Department of Education (DOE) Data Warehouse and ESSA Dashboard and for federal reporting.

Behavior and Bullying Certification Reports

Daily Attendance and Truancy Certification Reports

Questions about end-of-year quarterly reports may be directed to MEDMS.Support@maine.gov or 207-624-6896.

New Early Learning and Development Standards Resources Now Available in Five Languages

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) are pleased to announce the release of updated resources designed to support the effective use of the Infant/Toddler and Preschool Maine Early Learning and Development Standards (MELDS). These tools offer practical, accessible guidance for families, caregivers, and educators, helping to bring the MELDS into everyday early childhood settings.

Developed by experienced professionals currently working in the early childhood field, these tools reflect real-world practice and are thoughtfully designed to meet the diverse needs of those supporting young children’s growth and learning. This initiative was made possible through funding from the federal Preschool Development Grant, which supports Maine’s ongoing commitment to expanding access and quality in early childhood education.

Key resources include:

  • Clear, user-friendly guides to developmental milestones
  • Practical strategies for implementing learning standards
  • Straightforward explanations of age-appropriate expectations.

Together, these tools help to ensure that all children in Maine receive high-quality care and education aligned with the MELDS.

To support accessibility, all materials are now available in the five most commonly spoken languages in Maine—English, Arabic, French, Spanish, and Portuguese—ensuring families and early childhood professionals across the state can use these resources effectively, regardless of their primary language.

All translated resources are available to download for free on the Maine Department of Education Early Learning Standards website.

For more information, please contact:

Registration Open for In-Person Summer Data Training at Locations Statewide

Mark your calendars! Registration for the Maine Department of Education (DOE) Summer Data Training is now open.

Trainings are scheduled at various locations throughout the state in July and August. This year’s training will focus on reporting system updates. The workshop-style structure of this training will allow staff members from school administrative units (SAUs) the opportunity to work within the Connect system alongside the Maine DOE Data Team.

Dates and Locations:

  • July 29 – Caribou
  • July 30 – Orono
  • July 31 – Machias
  • August 12 – Augusta
  • August 13 – Biddeford

Please use this link to register, andbe sure to select a location to receive updates about your specific training. The Maine DOE is looking forward to this opportunity to meet with SAUs. If you have any questions about this year’s Summer Data Training, please contact Alexandra Cookson at Alexandra.Cookson@maine.gov or call 207-446-3897.

Register Now for the First Annual ‘Every Teacher a Leader’ Summit, Presented by the Teach Maine Center

The first annual ‘Every Teacher a Leader’ Summit will be held on July 30, 31, and August 1, 2025, at Colby College in Waterville. Modeled after past Elevating and Celebrating Effective Teachers and Teaching (ECET2) gatherings, the Summit will focus on teacher-led sessions, featuring outstanding Maine teachers presenting on:

  • Leading for Equity
  • Leading for Relationships
  • Leading for Innovation
  • Leading for Best Practices

Attendees will also enjoy networking opportunities, engaging entertainment, contact hours, and delicious meals throughout the event. Evening accommodations will be available in one of Colby College’s finest dorms for a comfortable and convenient stay. Additionally, there will be a few special surprises along the way to make this gathering truly memorable.

The Summit will have two arrival days: Wednesday, July 30 at 4 p.m. for those traveling a distance and Thursday, July 31 at 8:30 a.m. for those who live closer to Waterville. The conference concludes at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, August 1. 

The cost of the Summit is $45.You may register here. For further information, please contact Teach Maine Center administrator Karen MacDonald at  macdok235@gmail.com.

The Teach Maine Center is a statewide partnership that supports and advances a vibrant educator workforce in Maine, which ensures student achievement and success. The Center and its opportunities are administered by Educate Maine in partnership with the Maine Department of Education. To learn more about the Teach Maine Center, please visit: educatemaine.org/teach-maine-center.

Maine DOE Launches Statewide Professional Learning Days to Expand Equity and Support Capacity

In an effort to better support Maine educators, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) Office of Teaching and Learning and Office of Innovation are launching a new statewide professional learning structure for the 2025-2026 school year. By coordinating statewide learning days and offering support where it’s most needed, the Maine DOE hopes to empower school administrative units (SAUs), lighten local workloads, and help all Maine educators to feel more connected, supported, and equipped to meet the needs of their students.

As part of this offering, there will be three full days of free professional development workshops across the 2025-2026 school year. These sessions are intentionally aligned with the professional learning days already built into many school calendars, providing an easy way for SAUs and schools to incorporate these opportunities into their existing plans.

All workshops will be held in-person at three University of Maine System campuses—the University of Maine at Orono, the University of Maine at Farmington, and the University of Southern Maine—and will also be offered live online through a hybrid format. To ensure maximum flexibility, sessions will be recorded and available asynchronously. Contact hours will be awarded for participation in sessions.

Key benefits of this structure include:

  • Equity of Access: Educators across all regions and school types can access consistent, high-quality professional development, regardless of geography or resources.
  • Improved Efficiency: The Maine DOE-developed sessions reduce planning burdens on individual SAUs, while providing timely, relevant content aligned with statewide priorities.
  • Coherence and Quality: Topics are directly connected to Maine Learning Results and shaped by feedback from Maine educators.

Workshop offerings span a wide range of educator needs, including Wabanaki Studies, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), literacy, Universal Design for Learning, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), numeracy, inclusive family engagement, and more. All sessions are grounded in research and designed to deliver practical, classroom-ready tools for educators, from pre-K through grade 12.

The full schedule and session descriptions are now available here. Registration details will be released soon. For more information, please contact Beth Lambert, Maine DOE Chief Teaching and Learning Officer, at beth.lambert@maine.gov.

Kennebec Valley Superintendents’ Association Hosts Successful Biannual Student Showcase Event

On March 27, 2025, more than a dozen school administrative units (SAUs) gathered at Cony High School in Augusta for the biannual Kennebec Valley Superintendents’ Association (KVSA) Showcase. This interactive event, which takes place every two years, serves as a platform for students and teachers from central Maine to share more about the great work happening in their schools with a wider audience.

Each SAU that participated in the event had an opportunity to showcase one or two of their projects or initiatives. Participating school units included:

  • Augusta Public Schools
  • MSAD 11
  • MSAD 13
  • MSAD 49
  • MSAD 53
  • MSAD 54
  • MSAD 59
  • MSAD 74
  • Richmond Public Schools
  • RSU 2
  • RSU 18
  • Waterville Public Schools
  • Winslow Public Schools
  • Winthrop Public Schools

Nearly 200 people in total attended the Showcase, including more than 100 students. Also invited to the event were local representatives from the Maine Legislature and the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Maine State Board of Education members, school board members, representatives of higher education, and members of the public.

“We are very proud of all of our students, staff, and administrators who created an arena where students so proudly displayed and talked about their creativity. All students were proud to share the incredible work and ingenuity that happens in all of our public school districts in central Maine,” Keith Morin, Assistant Superintendent of RSU 18, said. “We were pleased with those who were able to attend the event, which included area superintendents and assistant superintendents, teachers, members of the Maine School Management Association, and members of the Maine State Board of Education from member school districts.”

Projects and initiatives that participating school units chose to showcase ranged from the Monster Project, a collaborative art project with first-graders and high school students in MSAD 13; to outdoor classroom efforts at MSAD 59 for grades 6-8; to the use of VR goggles at Augusta Public Schools for middle and high schoolers; to the Monmouth VEX Robotics team; to media arts learning at RSU 18, where students create a daily news broadcast that airs every school day at 9 a.m.

“The event featured impressive projects, performances, and presentations that highlighted the creativity, talent, and innovation thriving in our public schools,” Sandra MacArthur, KVSA President, said. “This showcase serves as a powerful reminder of the value of public education and the dedication of students and educators alike. KVSA is proud to support and spotlight the incredible learning happening every day in our schools.”

To submit a good news story to the Maine DOE, please fill out the good news submission form.

Carl J. Lamb Elementary Students Get a Sweet Lesson in Science, Math, and New England Tradition

Students at Carl J. Lamb Elementary School in Springvale have had a sweet lesson in science, math, and New England tradition, thanks to a school-wide maple sugaring project.

This initiative transformed playground maple trees into educational tools, as children collected sap, tracked data, and ultimately created their own maple syrup in a unique cross-curricular learning experience.

“We have to check the buckets to make sure the sap is going up every time,” second-grader Morrigan Duggan explained. “The temperature needs to be above freezing for the sap to come out.”

This project, years in the making, is the brainchild of teachers Kim Minchin and Robert Rothwell (also known as “Mr. Bob”), who have transformed a New England tradition into a comprehensive learning opportunity for the entire school.

“We’ve been talking about doing this for probably four or five years,” Minchin shared. “This was the year we decided to go whole-school because a lot of our students don’t get to experience maple syrup weekend, where you go to farms and see the process.”

What makes this project particularly valuable is how it integrates multiple subjects. Students learn across disciplines – geography, math, science, and literacy – all through the authentic context of maple syrup production.

In math classes, students track the gallons of sap collected daily. Fourth-graders work on converting measurements (gallons to cups, pints, and quarts), while second-graders calculate temperature differences to understand how weather affects sap flow.

“I have a little more flexibility in math,” Minchin said. “We can still work on what they’re learning in the classroom but use the context of maple syrup and sap collection to make it meaningful.”

The maple sugaring process begins with identifying and tapping maple trees on school grounds. Though the playground features red maples rather than sugar maples, they still produce sap. Mr. Bob has also tapped about 14 sugar maple trees at the Spring Road library to ensure enough sap for production.

Students are involved in every step – from drilling holes and inserting taps to collecting sap daily and measuring volumes. They learn that it takes approximately 40 gallons of sap to produce just one gallon of maple syrup—a ratio that amazes even adults.

“It looked like water,” second-grader Thomas Lapointe recalled of the first sap collection, “but, when we tried to taste it, it was a little bit sugary.”

Beyond academics, this initiative builds community and life skills. Students work together, communicating and problem-solving as they carefully collect and measure the sap.

“There’s a lot of teamwork,” Mr. Bob said. “They have to communicate and plan together.”

For many students, especially those who struggle in traditional classroom settings, the hands-on nature of this project provides a confidence boost.

“Our students don’t always feel like they have that success,” Minchin noted. “So, to be able to have the floor and teach others about something they’ve experienced firsthand – it’s pretty uplifting for their confidence.”

This story was submitted by Carl J. Lamb Elementary School. To submit a good news story to the Maine DOE, please fill out the good news submission form.

Reminder: School Registration Open for Second Annual ‘I Belong’ Youth Summit

Are you ready to open doors to boundless possibilities for your students? Consider registering for the Maine Department of Education (DOE) Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education’s (OSSIE) second annual ‘I Belong’ Youth Summit, scheduled for Thursday, May 29, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.  at Central Maine Community College.

This Summit invites schools across Maine to join a transformative initiative, designed specifically for students with disabilities who are at the age of transitioning from school to their future. This dynamic gathering goes beyond traditional career fairs to offer meaningful exploration, skill-building, and work-based learning opportunities, tailored to each student’s interests and abilities.

Making a Difference Together

By participating in this summit, you become part of a statewide movement to reshape post-secondary pathways for ALL Maine students with disabilities. Your involvement creates ripple effects of opportunity:

  • Students discover career paths they may never have considered, building confidence and practical skills for their future.
  • Educators gain valuable resources, evidence-based practices, and direct connections with industry partners.
  • Businesses develop tomorrow’s workforce, while fulfilling community engagement goals.

Join the Movement

Help your students find where they belong in Maine’s future workforce. The ‘I Belong’ Youth Summit provides a student-centered environment for youth to explore career pathways at their own pace, connect with potential employers, and envision new possibilities for their lives after school.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of something extraordinary! Together, we can create a more inclusive, opportunity-rich future for Maine’s students with disabilities.

Maine middle and high schools may register their students here if they plan to bring them to the second annual ‘I Belong’ Youth Summit.

For more information, please contact Maine DOE Transition Specialist Titus O’Rourke at titus.orourke@maine.gov.

Westbrook Middle School STEAM Students Take Flight with WozED Drone Curriculum

Students in grades 5-8 at Westbrook Middle School are—literally—reaching new heights, thanks to an innovative STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) program integrating drone technology.

Under the guidance of STEAM teachers Stephen Moulen and Frank Lynham, students are participating in the WozED Drone Curriculum, a hands-on learning experience that combines aeronautics, problem-solving, and teamwork. It engages students in piloting small, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), while developing critical skills in engineering, physics, and digital literacy. Through a series of structured modules, students learn the fundamentals of drone operation, including pre-flight checklists, basic and advanced maneuvers, and real-world applications of UAV technology.

“The students are not just learning how to fly drones; they’re applying scientific concepts, honing their communications skills, and working collaboratively to complete flight challenges,” Moulen said. “It’s exciting to see their enthusiasm and problem-solving abilities take off—literally and figuratively!”

The drones used in this program were funded by the Maine Department of Education (DOE) Teach with Tech grant, which supports innovative technology integration in classrooms across the state. This funding has enabled students to gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge tools that enhance their learning and prepare them for future careers in STEM fields.

As part of the program, students take on various roles, such as pilot-in-command and visual observer, to ensure safe and effective drone operation. They engage in mission-based activities, including navigating obstacle courses, performing precision landings, and even designing delivery systems to transport objects via drone.

Beyond technical skills, the WozED Drone Curriculum also emphasizes responsible drone usage, including discussions on safety regulations, ethical considerations, and the broader impact of UAVs in industries like agriculture, search and rescue, and environmental monitoring.

The hands-on learning approach has proven to be a hit with students.

“I love flying drones because it feels like I’m learning and having fun at the same time,” one 7th-grade participant said. “It’s really cool to see how drones are used in real life and to actually control one myself.”

Westbrook Middle School’s implementation of the WozED Drone Curriculum reflects a growing commitment to providing students with future-ready skills. By integrating drone technology into the STEAM program, the school is preparing students for careers in STEM fields, while fostering creativity, innovation, and critical thinking.

For more information about the WozED Drone Curriculum and its impact on student learning, click here.

This article was submitted by Westbrook Middle School. To submit a good news story to the Maine DOE, please fill out the good news submission form.