Report Opening Soon: Maine Schools/Maine School Approval for 2025-2026

The Maine Schools Application in NEO will open on May 1. Maine Schools is the process by which the Maine Department of Education (DOE) collects information about Maine school administrative units (SAUs) for the upcoming school year. Maine School Approval provides the Maine DOE with the attestation from SAUs and schools in Maine that all state statutory requirements are met. This report also offers an opportunity for SAUs to update their contact information to ensure that the Maine DOE has the most current information. The due date for completing the report is June 15.

As a reminder, student enrollments cannot be uploaded/entered into Connect until the Maine Schools process is complete.

If any changes to the organization of your SAU are being made (such as new schools, grade level relocation, integration with another SAU, etc.), please be sure to contact the Maine DOE Data Team with this information. Timely notification of these changes will ensure that required adjustments to organizations and organization IDs are accurately reflected in the reporting systems for the next school year.

If your SAU is re-organizing grade levels within schools, closing a school, opening a school, or integrating with another SAU, notification should be submitted via email to Kimberly.A.Hall@maine.gov or to MEDMS.Support@maine.gov.

Notification of changes to SAU organization is required per Title 20-A, Chapter 202: Closing and Disposition of Public Elementary and Secondary School Buildings. If a school is closing for any reason, there are requirements for additional information to be submitted to the Maine DOE:

Replacement with a new construction requires a letter with new construction information.
Closure due to lack of need requires proof of vote.
Closure due to condemnation requires a letter of condemnation.

Resources

Reporting Instructions: Maine Schools and School Approval instructions
Maine Schools Report Webinar: Tuesday, April 29 at noon. Register here.

Please note: Access to 2025-2026 reporting in Connect and NEO will not be available without the completion of this report.

For questions about Maine Schools Application reporting, please contact the Maine DOE Data Team at MEDMS.Support@maine.gov or call 207-624-6896.

Maine DOE Upcoming Data Reporting Webinars

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Data Team is hosting the following webinars:

Maine Schools Report Webinar – Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at noon

Maine Schools is the process by which the Maine DOE collects the organization information about Maine school administrative units (SAUs) and schools for the upcoming school year. Maine School Approval provides Maine DOE the attestation from SAUs that all Maine statutory requirements are being met. This report offers an opportunity to update the SAU and school contact information to ensure that Maine DOE has the most current information. Student enrollments cannot be uploaded/entered into reporting systems until Maine Schools is complete. This webinar will review the requirements for the Maine Schools process. Register here.

ESEA Demographics Report Webinar – Thursday, May 8, 2025, at noon

The ESEA Demographics Report is an aggregation of students enrolled on the federal accountability date for participation in state assessments during the current assessment administration. This report includes student demographic categories for assessment and accountability purposes. This webinar will review reporting requirements and navigation of the ESEA Demographics Report in NEO. – Register here.

End of Year Daily Attendance & Truancy Reporting Webinar – Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at noon

Daily Attendance and Truancy reports are due for final certification at the end of the school year. These data are aggregated for public reporting after certification and reported in multiple locations including the Maine Department of Education Data Warehouse, ESSA Dashboard, and federal reporting. This webinar will review requirements for both the Daily Attendance Certification and Truancy Certification reports as well as navigation of the reports in NEO. – Register here.

End of Year Behavior and Bullying Data Certification Reports Webinar – Thursday, May 15, 2025, at noon

Behavior and Bullying reports are due for final certification at the end of the school year. These data are aggregated for public reporting after certification and reported in multiple locations, including the Maine DOE Data Warehouse, ESSA Dashboard, and federal reporting. This webinar will review requirements for both the Behavior and Bullying reports, as well as navigation of the reports in NEO. – Register here.

End of Year Synergy Enrollment Exits and Perkins 3S1 CTE-Poste Secondary Reporting Webinar – Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at noon

All students, even those intending to return next year, must be exited from Synergy at the conclusion of the school year. Accurate student exits at the end of the school year can decrease data fixes at the beginning of the next school year. This webinar will review recommendations for properly exiting students at the conclusion of the school year and the process for exiting students from State Synergy. This webinar will also include directions for Career and Technical Education – Perkins 3S1 Post Secondary reporting in NEO. – Register here.

Special Education Exit Report Webinar – Thursday, May 29, 2025, at noon

Students who have exited special education services during the reporting period (July 1 through June 30) must have special education exit information (a special education exit date and exit reason) added to their enrollments in Synergy State Edition. Student information must be entered or uploaded into the Synergy State Edition by the school where the student is attending. SAUs are required to certify the exit data using the Special Education Exit Report found in NEO. This webinar will review the requirements and process for Special Education Exit Reporting. – Register here.

Questions about data reporting webinars may be sent to Alexandra.Cookson@maine.gov.

Nominations Open for 2025 MAHPERD Teachers of the Year

Nominations are now open for the 2025 Maine Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (MAHPERD) Teacher of the Year awards. Nominations are due April 30, 2025.

MAHPERD Teacher of the Year awards are presented to health education, physical education, and adapted physical education teachers who have demonstrated outstanding dedication to their students and profession. The following categories are eligible for consideration:

Elementary Physical Education teacher
Middle school Physical Education teacher
Secondary Physical Education teacher
Adapted Physical Education teacher
High school Health Education teacher

Many teachers throughout the State of Maine are deserving of this award, and MAHPERD would like to be able to recognize more of those individuals. The criteria to nominate can be found on the nomination form: MAHPERD Teacher of the Year Nomination Form.

Again, nominations are due April 30, 2025.

With questions, please contact Rick Kramer, Executive Director of MAHPERD, at executivedirector.mahperd@gmail.com.

The Maine Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (MAHPERD) is a nonprofit organization for professionals and students in related fields of health, physical education, recreation and dance. MAHPERD is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all Mainers by supporting and promoting effective educational practices, quality curriculum, instruction, and assessment in the areas of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Dance, and related fields.

Week of the Young Child®: Friday Early Childhood Professional Spotlights

The Week of the Young Child® highlights the importance of early childhood education and the foundational role it plays in a child’s success. This week also serves as an opportunity to celebrate the early care and education professionals who nurture and support children and families during this critical stage of growth and development.

This year, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) is teaming up with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services Office of Child and Family Services – Early Care and Education Division to honor dedicated professionals who make a meaningful impact on young children and families.

Each day of the week during the Week of the Young Child, the Maine DOE will highlight early childhood professionals who have been nominated by their colleagues and the communities they serve.

Here are the Friday Early Childhood Professional Spotlights:

Rebekah Baumgartner, The Little Schoolhouse on Maine

“Being a director in an early childhood facility is incredibly rewarding and fulfilling,” Baumgartner said.

Robin Linscott, You N Me Nursery School at the Westbrook Regional Vocational Center

“It is exciting to encourage and mentor new teachers in the early childhood field,” Linscott said.

Rosemary Jordan, Little Log Cabin Montessori School

“It is humbling to know that the influence I have had on children and their families may last for years to come,” Jordan said.

Sage Coldwell, Winslow Elementary School

“What I love the most is the moment when my class of individuals, with all their differences and challenges, becomes a family,” Coldwell said

Sam Miller, Children’s House Montessori School

“I love working with young learners in the toddler program, as they are great teachers themselves,” Miller said.

Sandra Marshall, Love & Learn Child Care

“I love what I do because children are so full of adventure, love, and joy,” Marshall said.

Sara Carr, The Little Schoolhouse on Maine

“The first five years of a child’s life are filled with so many milestones, memories, laughter, and excitement, and I am honored to be a part of that,” Carr said.

Sara Moore, Roselyn North Academy

“To be a part of such a crucial time in a child’s life is so special,” Moore said.

Sarah Jamo, Minot Consolidated School

“Witnessing the pure joy, growth, and curiosity of our youngest children leaves me with a smile and inspires me to be a better educator,” Jamo said.

Sare Greenlaw, Educare Central Maine

“Being in a position to foster the social, emotional, physical, and academic growth of the youth in our communities is an absolute joy and privilege,” Greenlaw said.

Stacy Higgins, Educare Central Maine

“Early childhood education is so important to set our young people on a path to success,” Higgins said.

Star Lopresti, MSAD 6

“I love being a kindergarten teacher because I get to help students grow emotionally, socially, and academically,” Lopresti said.

Steva Feir-Scarpelli, Child Development Services

“I love the collaboration with classroom teachers and therapists on how to best support the children I work with,” Feir-Scarpelli said.

Sue Littlefield, Buchard A. Dunn School

“Being given the opportunity to have a shared learning experience with four-year-olds keeps me young at heart,” Littlefield said.

Suzen Hoffses, Milbridge Elementary School

“Seeing the looks of joy and hearing the sounds of excitement coming from my students when we engage in activities both inside and outside the classroom is why I love teaching pre-K,” Hoffses said.

Tammey White, Easton Elementary School

“It’s such a rewarding experience to be part of a child’s early growth and development,” White said.

Thania Centeno Wily Carrera, Mis Primeros Pasos My First Steps

“I love being able to make an impact in their lives and helping them grow and learn about the world around them,” Centeno Wily Carrera said.

Wanda Gamage-Wyman

“I have devoted my entire career of 38 years working with children and families because I thoroughly enjoy helping others,” Gamage-Wyman said.

Yaicha Provencher, Andwell Therapy & Early Learning Services

“I love being able to be an advocate, a support system, and a team member with families in order to give their children the best skills and education possible,” Provencher said.

Yesenia Lipski

“Yesenia devotes countless hours to creating magical spaces for learning in our pre-K program,” Lipski’s nominator said.

Renee Lancaster, Moose Alley Daycare – “I love working in early childhood because I get to make meaningful, memorable experiences for the families we serve,” Lancaster said.
Resa Jones, The Children’s Nursery School – “Resa’s calm presence and creative approach is evident as soon as you walk in the classroom,” Jones’ nominator said.
Sadie Burleigh, Millinocket KidsPeace – “Sadie is naturally calm and patient with our high-needs students,” Burleigh’s nominator said.
Sarah Croce, East End Community School – “I love being a part of the amazing growth and development that happens within a school year,” Croce said.
Sarah Martin, Sarah’s Busy Bees – “Watching the kids start as tiny kindergartners until they leave as middle schoolers has been a gift,” Martin said.
Shari Edgecomb – “She knows how to meet students where they are developmentally, celebrating students’ achievements and fostering a safe space where they feel compelled to learn,” Edgecomb’s nominator said.
Shelby Palmer – “Shelby goes above and beyond in every aspect of her day,” Palmer’s nominator said.
Shelby Riley, The Little Schoolhouse on Maine – “I have been in this field for 11 years and there isn’t a day that goes by that I question if I love my job,” Riley said.
Stacie Gray – “She’s been dedicated to her career for over 20 years and her level of nurturing, enthusiasm, and professionalism is unmatched in my opinion,” Gray’s nominator said.
Stella Duhaime – “I am nominating Stella Duhaime for her unwavering dedication and commitment to children and families,” Dauhaime’s nominator said.
Sue Blankenship – “She works closely with students and their teachers, building trusting relationships that allow for growth and continued development,” Blankenship’s nominator said.
Summer Lamprey, Windham Raymond School Aged Childcare – “I love getting to know each one of my kids on a personal level, and they do the same with me,” Lamprey said.
Susan Bell – “She has a heart of gold, welcoming everyone with open arms. She truly makes every child feel loved like they are her own, ” Bell’s nominator said.
Susan Hougaz McCormic, Children’s Odyssey – “Having the opportunity to provide meaningful learning experiences for my young students to help them develop the skills they will need to be successful in their education is what nourishes my love of teaching,” Hougaz McCormic said.
Tammy Osborne – “Her interactions with children, staff, and families all speak to her commitment to best practice, to the importance of relationships, and of the true joy she finds in teaching young children,” Osborne’s nominator said.
Terri Gerrish – “Her extensive experience at Head Start and now in the public pre-K classroom truly enriches this community’s educational environment,” Gerrish’s nominator said.
Tess Glanville, Ledgemere Preschool – “The environment that Tess has curated at Ledgemere Preschool is fantastic – Spanish, music, yoga, cooking, and visits from Audubon are all a part of their usual curriculum,” Glanville’s nominator said.
Theresa Fisk, Maine Roads to Quality Professional Development Network – “I have the privilege of witnessing the extraordinary work of our early care and education professionals throughout Maine,” Fisk said.
Tiffany Shaw, Buxton Center Elementary School – “There’s magic in watching young minds discover the world,” Shaw said.
Tyisha Longus – “Ms. Ty is a hardworking mother and has made all the difference in my experience with my daughter in a childcare setting,” Longus’ nominator said.
Wendy Cooper – “She sees what a child is interested in and grows that with the toys she puts out and the opportunities she creates and conversations she has with a child,” Cooper’s nominator said.

Weekly Office Hours: Exploring Numeracy Across the Curriculum

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Interdisciplinary Instruction Team invites educators to join a new series of weekly virtual office hours, focused on exploring numeracy across content areas. Sessions will take place every Wednesday from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., beginning April 16, 2025, and running through June 4, 2025.

Each session will highlight a different topic that illustrates how numeracy and mathematical thinking can deepen learning across the curriculum (full schedule below). Whether you’re a classroom teacher, instructional coach, or curriculum leader, these office hours are designed to offer practical insights and spark interdisciplinary connections.

Session Topics:

April 16 – Data Visualization
April 30 – Climate Change
May 7 – Fast Fashion
May 14 – Food Waste
May 21 – Plastic Pollution
May 28 – Water Quality
June 4 – Numeracy Resources

To participate in these office hours, please register here.

The Interdisciplinary Instruction Team is part of the Maine DOE Office of Teaching and Learning. For further questions, please contact Maine DOE Interdisciplinary Instruction Specialist Michele Mailhot at Michele.R.Mailhot@maine.gov.

School Nutrition Teams Compete in 10th Annual Maine DOE Farm to School Cook-off

March kicked off the Maine Department of Education (DOE) Child Nutrition Team’s 10th Annual Maine Farm to School Cook-off. This event aims to showcase the culinary skills of school nutrition professionals, while promoting locally-grown products in school meals. School teams competed in different regions across the state, and the top team from each region will compete in the state finals in Augusta on April 17th. There, the 2025 Farm to School Cook-off Champion will be crowned!

This year, the following three regional competitions took place:

York Regional Competition at Kennebunk High School on March 18
- Teams competing included RSU 21 (Kennebunk) and MSAD 60 (North Berwick).
Aroostook Regional Competition at Madawaska Middle/High School on March 20
- Teams competing included Madawaska Public Schools, MSAD 27 (Fort Kent), and MSAD 33 (Frenchville).
Western Regional Competition at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School on March 25
- Teams competing included MSAD 17 (South Paris) and MSAD 52 (Turner).

Competing cook-off teams consisted of one Child Nutrition employee and one person from the school administrative unit (SAU)—student or staff member. Teams were tasked with preparing breakfast and lunch meals using local ingredients and USDA foods. Local eggs donated by Maine Family Farms and local fish donated by Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association were included as challenge ingredients in the competition. (All recipes will later be shared in a Maine Farm to School cookbook!)

A panel of judges for the cook-off consisted of a student/student representative, school nutrition director, and professional chef. The dishes were scored based on presentation, taste, creative use of challenge ingredients, and feasibility to be used in a school kitchen. Other criteria included teamwork, food safety, and time management.

Congratulations to MSAD 60 (The Flavor Knights), MSAD 27 (Fire & Ice), and MSAD 52 (Leavitt Lunch Crew), who won the regional competitions and will be advancing to the finals on April 17!

MSAD 60 prepared a USDA Pancake Breakfast Bake for breakfast, using local sausage and Maine maple syrup. For lunch, those involved served fish tacos and corn salsa.

MSAD 27 prepared a hashbrown egg bake for breakfast and cheddar bacon ranch baked fish for lunch.

MSAD 52 prepared a breakfast frittata with vegetables and baked stuffed haddock for lunch, along with apple crisp.

For more information about the Maine Farm and Sea to School program, please visit the Maine DOE website.

Brunswick High School Student Wins MLTI Student Conference T-Shirt Design Contest

Congratulations to Caleb Chang, a junior at Brunswick High School, whose artwork was selected as the winning design for the 2025 Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) Student Conference T-shirt!

Chang’s creative design captures the theme of the 22nd MLTI Student Conference, “#LetsDiriGo,” with two jets circling the globe and a compass rose at the center. Chang’s design will be printed on T-shirts and shared with more than a thousand students and educators attending the event on May 22, 2025. The conference will be held at the University of Maine at Orono, where crowds of students will be dressed in Chang’s design.

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) MLTI Team remains committed to showcasing student creativity at MLTI events and will continue to seek student artwork for future opportunities. If you are interested in participating in upcoming contests, please be sure to review this year’s call for submissions for eligibility and guidelines.

Please use this link to learn more about past MLTI T-shirt design contest winners from schools across the state, including South Aroostook Community School, Auburn Middle School, Waterville Junior High School, Gray-New Gloucester High School.

If your MLTI school is interested in attending the 2025 MLTI Student Conference at UMaine in Mah, please click here for event details and registration.

For more information or questions about MLTI student events, please contact Bethany Billinger, Maine DOE MLTI Project Manager, at bethany.billinger@maine.gov.

Maine DOE Expands Kindergarten Entry Inventory Project; Applications Open to Pilot

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is launching a second phase of its Kindergarten Entry Inventory (KEI) project during the 2025-2026 school year. Applications are being accepted through May 9 for piloting KEI tools in kindergarten classrooms.

A KEI is a tool administered at the beginning of kindergarten to help teachers gather information about children’s development across a range of domains, so that teachers can be responsive to children’s learning. Data aggregated from KEIs can help to strengthen Maine’s early care and education system by identifying areas of steady growth and continuous improvement.

During the 2024-2025 school year, more than 30 Maine kindergarten teachers participated in the first phase of a KEI project, funded through Maine’s Preschool Development Grant. These teachers tested various KEI instruments in their classrooms.

In early April, Maine kindergarten teachers attended an informational meeting to explore available opportunities to work with the Maine DOE by participating in the second phase of a KEI project. This second phase of KEI, slated for the 2025-2026 school year, will pilot KEI instruments in approximately 100 kindergarten classrooms throughout the state.

If you are a Maine kindergarten teacher, the Maine DOE invites you to engage in piloting a KEI in your classroom by applying for a KEI Implementation Specialist position.

The KEI Implementation Specialist will:

Receive a $1,000 stipend upon completion of the project.
Participate in the six- to seven-hour training requirements of the KEI tool administration protocol.
Administer the KEI tool with their students at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year.
Offer timely feedback through surveys.
Attend periodic in-person and virtual meetings.

The Maine DOE will:

Provide technical assistance throughout the project.
Cover the cost of KEI training, materials, and licenses.
Reimburse travel and accommodation expenses at the government rate.
Reimburse school administrative units the expense of substitute costs.

Again, applications for these positions are being accepted through May 9. Please use this link to apply.

Follow this link to view an informational meeting recording. If you have questions or need additional information about the KEI project, please contact Karen Mathieu, Maine DOE Kindergarten Entry Inventory Specialist, at karen.mathieu@maine.gov.

Finance Authority of Maine Offers Free Resources to Help Celebrate April as Financial Literacy Month

April is National Financial Literacy Month, an excellent opportunity to highlight the importance of financial literacy in the classroom. Financial literacy is understanding and using financial skills, including responsible money management, budgeting, saving, and investing for the future.

The Finance Authority of Maine(FAME) offers a variety of financial wellness resources and activities for K-12 students, young adults, and beyond:

Design Your Dream Money Contest: To help raise awareness of the importance of teaching financial skills as early as elementary school, FAME has launched its first-ever Design Your Dream Money Contest. The contest, which was created in partnership with the Alfond Scholarship Foundation, will open on April 1. Students in grades 1-6 are invited to create their own $500 bill using a template created by FAME. Learn more here.
Financial Wellness Social Media Toolkit Update: In anticipation of National Financial Literacy Month, FAME recently refreshed its financial wellness social media toolkit, which was created to support organizations that wish to promote financial wellness. These templates are fully customizable and include graphics, content suggestions, and hashtags.
Invest in ME Reads: Launched in 2020, Invest in ME Readsis a free family financial wellness program, designed to help families build financial skills at home. The program provides free books, activities, and resources, including resources for families and educators. Click here to learn more.
Library Resources: Are you a librarian who is interested in starting or expanding a financial literacy program at your library? If so, FAME has compiled a set of financial wellness resources just for you! Visit the library resource page, where you will find games, free publications, book recommendations, and more!
Claim Your Future® Kit Update: Claim Your Future is a program that encourages students to explore the return on investment of various career pathways and to experience financial decision-making. This fall, the financial education team at FAME launched an updated version of the classroom game kit, complete with updated careers, salary, and cost of living data. To request a free Claim Your Future kit for your classroom, please visit the FAME ordering page.
Maine Jumpstart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy News: FAME is proud to continue its support of the Maine Jumpstart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy. Consider checking out Maine Jumpstart’s Fostering Financial Education in Maine Schools Conference on May 8 and 9.

For further questions and resources, please reach out to FAME at Education@FAMEmaine.com.

Maine DOE Seeking Public Comment on CTE Performance Levels for Maine’s Revised 2024 Perkins State Plan (2025 Submission)

To enhance Maine’s high-quality Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) is seeking public comment on performance levels for Maine’s Revised 2024 Perkins State Plan. Comments will be accepted through Friday, June 6, 2025.

The 2025 submission of Maine’s Revised 2024 Perkins State Plan will include adjusted values of Maine’s state-determined performance levels (SDPLs) for the 2024-2025 school year through the 2027-2028 school year. These proposed adjusted values will more accurately represent available student data and reflect more achievable thresholds at the state level.

Please note that the Perkins indicators (1S1, 2S1, etc.) may not be changed; Maine is federally required to report on these performance indicators.

Maine’s proposed SDPLs for the upcoming four years are available for public comment for 60 days, with public comment closing on Monday June 9, 2025. Feedback should be provided through the available survey, which can be found here. Comments will be reviewed and included in the final version of Maine’s Revised 2025 Perkins State Plan.

Please visit the Maine DOE CTE Accountability webpage for more information on Maine’s Perkins State Plan and Maine’s existing secondary and postsecondary SDPLs.

For additional information, please contact Dwight A. Littlefield, Maine DOE CTE Director, at dwight.a.littlefield@maine.gov.