Category: News & Views

Upcoming Data Reports Due in October

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:

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:

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:

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

Monthly Professional Learning Community for Civics Teachers Launching in October

Attention, Maine civics and government educators! Join Maine Department of Education (DOE) Teacher Leader Fellow Breanna Bellefontaine-Krupski for a monthly civics professional learning community (PLC) group that will launch in October.

The Civics PLC is open to all civics educators in Maine, from elementary through high school. Meetings will be held on the third Thursday of each month at 4 p.m. via Zoom.

Goals of the PLC:

  • Connect with civics educators across Maine to share ideas, feedback, and strategies.
  • Discuss the needs of civic education at all grade levels.
  • Partner with Maine civic organizations to build classroom-to-community connections.
  • Explore opportunities for professional development in civics-related fields.
  • Earn up to seven contact hours (one hour per meeting).

Please sign up here. Registration is limited to 30 teachers. Monthly attendance is encouraged but not required. Registration will close on Friday, October 10, 2025.

Meeting dates:

  • October 16, 2025
  • November 20, 2025
  • December 18, 2025
  • January 15, 2026
  • *no meeting in February*
  • March 12, 2026 *second Thursday of the month*
  • April 16, 2026
  • May 21, 2026

This is the second year that Breanna Bellefontaine-Krupski has served as the Maine DOE Civics Teacher Leader Fellow. Having participated in civics-focused PLCs in the past, she has gained some of the best professional development and classroom strategies from like-minded peers across the country. She looks forward to leading this group during the 2025-2026 school year!

For further information or questions, please contact Breanna Bellefontaine-Krupski at breanna.krupski@maine.gov.

2025 Maine Teacher of the Year Becky Hallowell Blasts Off at Space Camp

This summer, Maine’s 2025 Teacher of the Year, fourth-grade educator Becky Hallowell of Wiscasset Elementary School, embarked on a stellar journey at NASA’s Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, from Wednesday, July 16, to Monday, July 21. The experience was an “out-of-this-world” professional development opportunity as part of her journey as a 2025 State Teacher of the Year.

Throughout the intense six-day program, Becky and other award-winning teachers from the National Teacher of the Year Program navigated immersive simulations—from walking on the moon and executing mock missions to designing lunar rovers and heat shields.

“One of the most incredible moments was training on the multi-axis trainer,” Becky explained. “We were spun in all directions in an apparatus that resembled a yo-yo. Some of my teammates were nervous about climbing in and experiencing it, but the entire group lifted them up, encouraging them the whole time and congratulating them when they were off the equipment.”


Another great moment was the simulated moonwalk, where “just a tiny little hop turned into a 20-foot leap,” inspiring creative leaps from Becky’s teammates, too.

Becky also had the opportunity to meet Hayley Arceneaux, the youngest astronaut, who went from being a pediatric cancer survivor to a physician’s assistant at St. Jude’s to then a role aboard SpaceX’s Inspiration4 mission.

For Becky, Space Camp underscored that NASA’s mission extends well beyond scientists and engineers; it embraces roles for nutritionists, artists, writers, and even farmers. She said she sees this as a metaphor for her own classroom:

“I think of my class this way: We must honor and develop everyone’s strengths and interests. Space Camp gave me a basket of lessons to support all types of learners, and I can’t wait to ‘launch the learning.’”

A particularly powerful moment came during a low-ropes course challenge, during which 16 participants balanced on a wobbly platform. Forward motion came only when everyone lowered themselves, slowed down, and made “micro-moves” collaboratively. Becky calls this the group’s big “aha” moment.

“Instead of rushing through pedagogy, we can make impactful, intentional small moves,” Becky said.


Becky said the most valuable takeaway was the immersive, learner-centered nature of Space Camp: “Every activity caused part of my brain to participate—and another part to think: ‘How will I bring this back to my class?’”

She said she found camaraderie and inspiration in her fellow State Teachers of the Year cohort, sharing stories of classroom triumphs and challenges from across the U.S. and returning with creativity-rich ideas to enrich Maine instruction.

Becky’s year ahead brims with possibility. She said she plans to stretch her practice by cultivating curiosity about the world beyond—and here at home.

“Space Camp left me with the desire to include more time for students to think about what exists beyond their backyards—helping them to learn about Earth and the stars. It inspires me to help them to forever ask questions and seek answers.”

Becky Hallowell is a 30-year classroom veteran. At Wiscasset Elementary School, she is known for her place-based and project-based learning, evidenced by her Outdoor Wonderful Learning Space (OWLS), an open area located at the school in the woods along the Sheepscot River. This space allows her to integrate nature into every lesson. Read more about Becky here.

To learn more about Maine’s Teacher of the Year program, visit: https://mainetoy.org/. To learn more about the National Teacher of the Year program, visit: https://ntoy.ccsso.org/.

Teachers Gather at the Schoodic Institute to Celebrate Rural Maine through Community Civics and Place-Based Inquiry

On a warm August evening, Maine teachers gathered around a campfire, as Chris Sockalexis, Panawahpskek (Penobscot) Nation Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, played drums, sang, and shared the importance of music in Wabanaki culture. His words offered a powerful close to the first day of the “Celebrating Rural Maine” summer colloquium, hosted by the Maine Department of Education (DOE) Interdisciplinary Instruction Team and the National Council for History Education (NCHE).

The colloquium marked the capstone of a yearlong professional development program supported by the Library of Congress’ Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) Partner Program. Over the past year, participating educators have explored the use of primary sources, the Question Formulation Technique, and Maine’s geographical history—from the Wabanaki origin stories to the present day.

Held at the Schoodic Institute in Winter Harbor, this two-day event brought teachers, presenters, and community partners together in a retreat-like setting. Educators immersed themselves in Maine-based primary sources—documents, maps, photographs, and artifacts—and practiced strategies for helping students to analyze and question them.

“It was wonderful to be immersed, away from other distractions,” Jaime Beal, the district librarian in MSAD 40, reflected.

The goal of “Celebrating Rural Maine” is to provide teachers with professional learning, planning time, and community support to design place-based projects that connect students with their local history and environment. This fall, teachers will implement these projects in their classrooms and communities. The resulting work will be shared both on the Maine DOE’s Interdisciplinary Instruction website and the NCHE website, broadening the impact of these local stories.

Some of the highlights of the colloquium included:

  • A keynote by NCHE director Jessica Ellison, who highlighted the “superpowers” of primary sources by reconstructing the life of an ordinary farmer during the Great Depression.
  • A session with Dr. Debra Reid of The Henry Ford, who guided teachers through a historical mystery involving Rachel Carson’s eating habits, illustrating how primary sources can answer unexpected questions.
  • A session with Javaha Ross and Trey Smith of the Philadelphia Writing Project, who engaged participants in civically focused argument writing using child labor sources, encouraging teachers to explore the nuances of debate.
  • The “It Takes a Community” panel, which featured land trusts, museums, and other cultural and educational partners who support place-based inquiry.
  • Support from Acadia National Park rangers and volunteers, who showcased the region’s landscapes, wildlife, and local World War II history.
Melissa Prescott (left) Visual Arts teacher Telstar Middle School Georgia Grzywacz (right)
Geoff Wingard presenting


This fall, teachers and their community partners will bring these place-based projects to life, helping students across Maine to deepen their connection to the history, culture, and environment of the places they call home.

The Maine DOE Interdisciplinary Instruction Team is part of the Office of Teaching and Learning. To find more interdisciplinary resources and opportunities, please click here or contact Erik Wade, Maine DOE Interdisciplinary Instruction Specialist, at erik.wade@maine.gov.

PRIORITY NOTICE: New Opioid Overdose Management Toolkit and Naloxone Education Course Available for Schools

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is proud to announce the launch of a new, comprehensive Toolkit for Opioid Overdose Management and Naloxone Education in Schools, developed to support educators, school health personnel, and administrators in implementing effective overdose prevention strategies across the state’s school systems.

This resource includes evidence-based guidance on recognizing and managing an overdose, as well as educational materials to support those responsible for teaching overdose response in school settings. In addition to reviewing the Toolkit, educators can learn more about how to engage students in this critical topic by completing the Naloxone Education Course. This free, asynchronous, online course is designed to enhance educators’ knowledge and skills for delivering age-appropriate, accurate overdose prevention education.

This initiative reflects the Maine DOE’s continued commitment to student health, safety, and wellness by providing schools with the tools they need to address the ongoing opioid crisis in developmentally appropriate, evidence-based, and school-centered ways.

This toolkit was developed in alignment with LD 772, An Act To Permit Naloxone Possession, Prescription, Administration, and Distribution in Public and Private Schools and LD 1315, An Act to Require Public Schools to Offer Training for Secondary Students on the Administration of Naloxone Hydrochloride, which mandate the development of guidelines related to naloxone administration and education in schools and outline standards for classroom instruction. This initiative is consistent with broader efforts at both the state and national levels to expand access to life-saving interventions and to equip school communities with knowledge and resources to respond to emergencies.

About the Toolkit and Course
The Toolkit for Opioid Overdose Management and Naloxone Education in Schools includes:

  • Sample policies and procedures
  • Student training resources
  • Guidance on safe storage and administration of naloxone
  • Links to state-level technical assistance

The online Naloxone Education Course provides:

  • Flexible, asynchronous, online professional development
  • Scenario-based learning for responding to a suspected overdose
  • Instructions on the administration of nasal naloxone
  • Legal and ethical considerations for school staff

Implementation and Access
The Toolkit and Course are available to all schools statewide through the following links:

Schools are encouraged to review these materials and integrate them into existing emergency preparedness, school health, and student support frameworks.

This initiative was made possible through a collaboration between the Maine DOE Office of School and Student Supports, Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Maine DHHS Office of Behavioral Health, and MaineGeneral Medical Center, as well as local educational and health partners.  

Additional resources to support student and staff education, as well as policy development, can be found on the Maine DOE Coordinated School Health Emergency Care webpage.

For further information and questions, please contact Maine DOE School Nurse Specialist Tammy Diaz at tammy.diaz@maine.gov.

Registration Open for McKinney-Vento Fall 2025 Regional Meetings

In October, November, and December, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) will be hosting its McKinney-Vento Fall 2025 Regional Meetings to provide updates on federal, state, and local policies and to discuss resources available for students and families experiencing homelessness or housing instability.

During these in-person meetings, participants will learn about strategies for increasing local capacity to support McKinney-Vento-eligible students. Participants will also have an opportunity to brainstorm solution-oriented approaches for affected youth in their schools and communities—and to network with colleagues from other schools and organizations.

The scheduled meetings are as follows:

  • Androscoggin, Franklin, and Oxford Counties  
    Edward Little High School, 77 Harris Street, Auburn 
    Thursday, October 16
    9-11:30 a.m. 
  • Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties 
    Wings for Children and Families, 900 Hammond Street #915, Bangor 
    Wednesday, November 19
    8:05-10:30 a.m. 
  • Hancock and Washington Counties 
    Maine Department of Health and Human Services regional office, 38 Prescott Drive, Machias 
    Wednesday, November 19
    1-3:30 p.m.
  • Aroostook County 
    Maine Department of Labor, 66 Spruce Street, Presque Isle
    Thursday, November 20
    9-11:30 a.m.
  • Cumberland and York Counties
    People’s Choice Credit Union, 23 Industrial Park Road, Saco 
    Tuesday, December 2
    9:30 a.m.-noon
  • Kennebec, Midcoast, and Somerset Counties 
    Burton M. Cross Office Building Room 103 A and B, 111 Sewall Street, Augusta
    Tuesday, December 9
    9-11:30 a.m.  

Registration for the McKinney-Vento Fall 2025 Regional Meetings is required. Participation is free. This event is appropriate for school staff or community-based organizations that support families and students experiencing housing instability or that are involved in the child welfare system. It is intended to be a space for connection and collaboration.

You may learn more and register here. Additionally, you may download a related flyer here (PDF).

With questions, please contact Susan Lieberman, consulting Homeless Children and Youth Specialist, at susan.lieberman88@gmail.com or Signe Lynch, Maine DOE McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Specialist, at signe.lynch@maine.gov.

Registration Open for 15th Annual Maine PBIS Conference

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) and the Maine Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) State Team are excited to announce that registration is now open for the 15th Annual Maine PBIS Conference, which will take place on Thursday, November 13, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Augusta Civic Center. Early-bird pricing is available through October 15, 2025.

This annual event brings together educators, school and district leaders, and student support professionals from across Maine to celebrate their progress and deepen their practice in building positive, equitable school climates where every student can thrive.

This year’s conference will feature a keynote address from Dr. Steve Goodman, a nationally recognized leader in schoolwide systems of support. Dr. Goodman’s keynote is titled, “Better Together: Integrating Academics and Behavior Support in MTSS.”


Dr. Goodman is a research specialist at the University of Connecticut, a partner with the Center on PBIS, and a co-investigator with the Integrated Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) Research Network. He previously served as director of Michigan’s MTSS Technical Assistance Center and currently serves on state, national, and international advisory boards for the implementation of MTSS.

With more than 65 publications and extensive experience working with educators across the nation and in ten other countries, Dr. Goodman will bring powerful insights into how schools can integrate academic and behavioral supports within an MTSS framework to ensure the success of all students.

About the Conference

For 15 years, the Maine PBIS Conference has provided a space for educators to share successes, learn from one another, and explore new strategies to improve student outcomes. Participants gain tools and inspiration to enhance their PBIS implementation and foster school cultures grounded in safety, support, and belonging.

Educators are encouraged to register early and join colleagues from across the state for this day of professional learning, collaboration, and celebration.

Please visit the Maine PBIS Conference website to register or learn more about how you can contribute to the conference’s success.

With questions, please contact the Maine PBIS team at pbis@maine.edu.

Celebrating Adult Education and Family Literacy Week from September 14-20, 2025

Governor Janet Mills has proclaimed September 14-20, 2025, as Adult Education and Family Literacy Week.

The proclamation states, in part: “Thousands of adults in Maine need assistance to qualify for better-paying and more fulfilling jobs, to achieve a post-secondary education, or to improve their English language skills.” It continues: “Success in these endeavors leads to these adults becoming more effective family members, citizens, and workers.”

You may read the Governor’s proclamation in full here.

Located statewide, more than 65 adult education programs are part of the public education system in Maine, assisting adult learners with their next educational and career steps. Last year, these programs helped 12,400 students to train for a career, earn their high school credentials, prepare for college, and learn English.

Below, please find additional information about the impact of Maine’s adult education programs.

Workforce

Maine Adult Education is helping to fill gaps in the workforce through collaborative and creative efforts with community partners and employers. From renewable energy and healthcare to commercial driving, adult education programs offer affordable workforce training that leads to certifications and credentials.

Last year, Maine’s adult education programs awarded 3,073 workforce certifications, credentials, and licenses in high-demand industries. Check out this example from Lincoln County’s CNA program.

Adult Basic Education

Maine’s adult education programs worked with more than 6,000 Adult Basic Education learners last year, helping them to strengthen their math, reading, digital, and English language skills—and ultimately preparing them for further job training and college.

HiSET – Maine’s High School Equivalency Test

Nearly 1,000 Maine adults earned their high school credentials through Maine Adult Education last year. Maine adults can earn their high school equivalency (HiSET®) or high school diploma for free through Maine Adult Education. Find a program near you to get started.

Read about the robust adult education programming happening in Presque Isle.

Maine College Career Access (MCCA)  

Adult education can help adults to get ready for college and career through advising, career exploration, college navigation, academic and digital skill building, and more. More than 1,500 adults have accessed Maine’s adult education programs to advance their career and college-ready skills through the Maine College and Career Access program.

Here is a feature about new partnerships and opportunities in Franklin County.

For more adult education resources, please visit the Maine Adult Education Association or the Maine Department of Education. You may also contact an Adult Education program near you.

Maine DOE Update – September 12, 2025

From the Maine Department of Education

News & Updates

2025-2026 Information for the National Board Certification Scholarship Fund and Salary Supplement

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) would like to remind you of two National Board Certification programs, governed by statute: the National Board Certification Scholarship Fund and the National Board Certification Salary Supplement Program. |  More

Support for SAUs in Adopting Seizure Action Plans to Protect the Health and Safety of Students

During the first session of the 132nd Maine Legislature, Resolve 2025, Chapter 72 was passed. This resolve directs the Maine Department of Education (DOE) to communicate to school administrative units (SAUs) and private schools the importance of adopting Seizure Action Plans. It also directs the Maine DOE to provide information and assistance, if requested. |  More

Maine Schools Invited to Participate in Logo Design Contest for Attendance Awareness Month

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is excited to share resources throughout the month of September to draw attention to the importance of attendance and engagement in Maine schools. Our hope is that this will help to set a strong foundation for the 2025-2026 school year. |  More

Bring Constitutional Learning to Life: Register Your Third Graders for the Virtual Mock Trial on Constitution Day!

On Constitution Day this year, Wednesday, September 17, 2025, Maine third-grade teachers are invited to have their classes take part in a unique national virtual learning experience: the Third Grade Virtual Mock Trial, hosted by Olathe Public Schools in partnership with the Kansas 10th Judicial District Court. |  More

Maine Schools Sharing Success Stories

Stepping Forward: How Veazie’s Transition of CDS Services Is Fueling a Strong Sense of Community

Loyann Worster is one of those lucky people who found her calling in life. She is entering her 11th year as a pre-K teacher at Veazie Community School; it was her first teaching job after graduating from college, and she never left. |  More

George B. Weatherbee School Earns Prestigious RAMP® Designation for Exemplary School Counseling Program

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is excited to celebrate George B. Weatherbee School of RSU 22 in Hampden for earning the esteemed Recognized ASCA Model Program® (RAMP®) designation from the American School Counselor Association (ASCA). This national recognition honors schools that deliver data-driven, comprehensive school counseling programs that support every student’s academic, social, and emotional success. |  More

Submit good news to the Maine Department of Education here.

Professional Learning/Training Opportunities

Educators Invited to ‘Counted Out’ Film Screenings and Guided Dinner Discussions Across Maine

This October, the Maine Department of Education (DOE), in partnership with the Association of Teachers of Mathematics in Maine (ATOMIM) and the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance (MMSA), invites educators and school leaders to a series of free, in-person events across the state to watch the film “Counted Out” and participate in a dine-and-discuss event with fellow educators. |  More

Mainely Play LAB Kicks Off in Brewer This Fall: Two Days of Play-Powered Learning for Early Educators

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Early Learning Team is excited to offer a new professional learning opportunity for early childhood educators called the Mainely Play LAB. This dynamic, hands-on event will be held at Jeff’s Catering and Event Center in Brewer on October 27 and 28. It is designed for administrators, teachers, instructional coaches, and support staff working in pre-K through grade 2 in Maine. The deadline to apply is Friday, October 6, 2025. |  More

View the Maine Department of Education’s Events Calendar here.

Career/Project Opportunities:

Find education-related jobs in Maine.

Stepping Forward: How Veazie’s Transition of CDS Services Is Fueling a Strong Sense of Community

Veazie Community School pre-K student (photo credit: Veazie Community School)

Loyann Worster is one of those lucky people who found her calling in life. She is entering her 11th year as a pre-K teacher at Veazie Community School; it was her first teaching job after graduating from college, and she never left.

“I never saw myself doing this, but once I started, it was obvious that this has got to be what I do,” Worster said. “I really, really enjoy teaching this age group.”

Last year, Veazie Community School was one of a handful of school districts to participate in Cohort 1 of the transition of Early Childhood Special Education services from Child Development Services (CDS) to school administrative units (SAUs). Worster worked for CDS in a special purpose preschool about 15 years ago and heard inklings about the concept of a transition for a while.

“I was really excited, just to see what that was going to bring and how that might change things at our school, but I was also really nervous because we were the first cohort,” Worster said. “Nobody really knew what that was going to look like or how that was going to work.”

Fortunately, Worster said that thanks to exceptional teamwork among staff members and funding to provide necessary materials, the transition went well. In fact, she called the overall effects of the transition “amazing.” Now, specialists are in her school building as a part of the early childhood program, providing students with special needs the services that they require that she isn’t able to provide. Worster said that children can start coming to school through the early childhood program when they’re three years old, which means they can receive their services much more quickly and simultaneously get to know the occupational therapists, speech therapists, etc., who they might end up working with once they’re in preschool.

“By the time they come to pre-K on day one, they are ready to go!” Worster said.

That provision of services within a typical school district model has been significant even beyond just a logistical standpoint. Worster said now, some of her pre-K classes have a mix of children with disabilities and children without disabilities, which has been beneficial to all.

“Inclusion is the way to be. Having these children in our classrooms is the way to be,” Worster said. “They’re all really learning how to come together and be a community of people with differences.”

Veazie Community School pre-K students (photo credit: Veazie Community School)

Tim Tweedie, Superintendent of Veazie Community School, credits the “can-do” attitude of his staff for the success his district has seen throughout the past year as a part of Cohort 1.

“The one question we had to ask was, ‘Is this something we feel that we can do?’ After a brief discussion, we said, ‘Yeah—and whatever we don’t know, we’ll figure out,’” Tweedie said.

The benefit of this transition has extended to local families, too.

“For parents, this is like a one-stop shop,” Tweedie explained. “If they have multiple services, they can get those all under one roof, and it is convenient for the parents.”

“Parents love the fact that they are at our school. They get to see their teacher, their speech person, their occupational therapist, their physical therapist,” Debrajean Scheibel, Director of Special Services at Veazie Community School, added.

For Schiebel, that opportunity to interact directly with families through the early childhood program has been invaluable. She said some families are already remarking to her that they are noticing growth in their child as a result of the transition of these services.

“You can’t even begin to put a price-tag on any of that,” Schiebel said.

Veazie Community School and the Maine DOE Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education contributed to this article, written as part of a series highlighting the ongoing efforts of CDS and public schools in providing comprehensive educational services to Maine’s children with special needs. To submit a good news story to the Maine DOE, please fill out the good news submission form.