Category: Priority Notices

Maine DOE Child Nutrition Programs Unaffected by SNAP

In anticipation of questions from the field, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) would like to assure school administrators that Child Nutrition Programs will continue to operate as usual. While the U.S. Department of Agriculture has notified states that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will not be issued for November, this does not affect school meal programs. Child Nutrition Programs and SNAP are administered separately, and school meal operations will not be affected by changes to federal SNAP benefits.

Additionally, the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) At-Risk Afterschool Program will continue for those Maine schools currently enrolled. Existing program rules remain in effect; meals must be consumed on-site and in a congregate setting to ensure that students receive the full benefit of these services.

The Maine DOE has advised local Child Nutrition Directors to anticipate a potential increase in participation in school breakfast and lunch and the CACFP At-Risk Afterschool Program following the expected changes to SNAP benefits.

School administrators may utilize this customizable Community (Food) Resources Template when responding to families who may be experiencing gaps in nutrition assistance, due to the ongoing federal shutdown. For families seeking additional food support, please consider sharing The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) Map, organized by county, from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry. In addition, 211Maine.org contains information about other available resources.

With questions, please contact Jane McLucas, Maine DOE Director of Child Nutrition, at jane.mclucas@maine.gov.

Thank you for your continued support in ensuring that all Maine students have access to nutritious meals every school day.

30-Day Comment Period for Master Contractual Agreement for Private Schools Offering Special Education Programs

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law that requires that state educational agencies (SEAs), including the Maine Department of Education (DOE), and local educational agencies (LEAs), including school administrative units (SAUs), ensure that all of the rights and protections are given to students with disabilities who are placed by their SAUs in a private school to receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE). When placing a child in a private school, the SAU must ensure that the student has the same rights and procedural safeguards as a child served by a public agency or school.

For years, private schools across Maine have been partnering with SAUs to ensure that students with disabilities have their services carried out in these private schools. While this is often the case, the Maine DOE has become aware of instances when SAUs have placed students in private schools to receive their special education services, only to have the private schools discharge them from these educational placements outside of the individual education program (IEP) team process.

Changing a student’s educational program or placement outside of the IEP team process is a violation of the procedural safeguards, which are a part of the IDEA. Parents who have sought to challenge the change of placement through due process have been unable to obtain legal recourse because private schools cannot be parties to a due process hearing and are not subject to a corrective action plan at the conclusion of a state complaint investigation. At the same time, private schools that have safety concerns about maintaining placements lack an administrative avenue to have their concerns heard.

Maine law requires that private schools seeking to provide special education programs enter into a master contractual agreement with the commissioner (20-A M.R.S. 7252-A). Since the Maine DOE is responsible for ensuring that all SAUs are compliant with the IDEA, the Maine DOE has drafted a master contractual agreement between the Maine DOE and private schools offering special education services to children with IEPs. This draft agreement articulates responsibilities and outlines the procedures that private schools and SAUs will follow when a SAU places a student who has an IEP in a private school.

Before finalizing the master agreement, the Maine DOE is interested in receiving feedback and comments from all stakeholders. There will be a 30-day comment period from October 15 until November 15 when stakeholders are encouraged to provide feedback on the draft master agreement. This feedback will be used when finalizing the master contractual agreement, which will be issued in early January 2026.

The draft of the master contractual agreement can be found here. Comments can be provided using this form. Please direct questions to Laura Cyr at Laura.Cyr@maine.gov. This information can also be found on the Maine DOE website.

Collecting Student Economic Status Data for Essential Programs and Services Funding

Recognizing that school administrative units (SAUs) are in the midst of the fall data collection season, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) would like to clarify requirements related to the collection of student economic status data for the October 1 student enrollment report.

The calculation of state public school funding through the Essential Programs and Services (EPS) model requires an annual collection of student economic status data. This data is collected using one or more of the following sources:

SAUs participating in Special Provision programs, including the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and Special Provision II (SPII) are encouraged to use the Alternate Economic Status Form to collect student economic status data for EPS funding purposes.

All superintendents must certify the October 1 student enrollment report by October 30, 2025. Please be sure to collect student economic status data before that deadline. This data may be collected using either a hard copy or an online form. It must be entered into the SAU’s Student Information System for each student and retained for up to 10 years.

Additional resources include:

If you have questions about or need technical assistance with the Alternate Economic Status Form, please contact Charlotte Ellis at charlotte.ellis@maine.gov. All other questions related to CEP and SPII should be directed to David Hartley at david.hartley@maine.gov. For general questions regarding student data collection, please contact the Maine Education Data Management Support (MEDMS) Support Team at 207-624-6896 or medms.support@maine.gov.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this important requirement, which directly impacts state public school funding calculations.

Informational Session on the Maine School Bus Purchasing Program

The Maine School Bus Purchasing Program provides subsidies to school administrative units (SAUs) to help offset the cost of purchasing new school buses used to transport students to and from school, home, and school-sponsored events. This program is designed to support SAUs in acquiring new buses, retiring end-of-life vehicles, and meeting emergency or special transportation needs.

The Maine School Bus Purchasing Program will open on November 1, 2025, and close on November 25, 2025. Before then, please consider joining Cheryl Brackett, Maine Department of Education (DOE) Transportation Coordinator; Donna Tiner, Maine DOE School Finance Coordinator; and Kimberly Hall, Maine DOE Education Data Systems Manager, for a Maine School Bus Purchasing Program informational session on October 15, 2025, from 1-2 p.m. via Zoom:

  • Cheryl will demonstrate how to access NEO and complete the bus purchase request. She will also review the steps in the program.
  • Donna will share details about funding.
  • Kimberly will provide information surrounding the role of the Maine Education Data Management Systems (MEDMS).

This hour-long session will conclude with a question-and-answer period. Please find the Zoom information below:

Join the Zoom meeting here.
Meeting ID: 817 3352 7683
Passcode: 57493859

The first round of approvals for the Maine School Bus Purchasing Program will occur between December 30, 2025, and January 15, 2026. With questions, please contact Cheryl Brackett at cheryl.brackett@maine.gov or 207-446-3019.

Public Comment Period for Proposed Rule Chapter 115 – The Credentialing of Education Personnel

In response to the 131st and 132nd Maine Legislature, the Maine State Board of Education is engaging in rulemaking to revise Chapter 115: The Credentialing of Education Personnel in alignment with its 2023 report to the Legislature. In that report, the State Board reviewed a number of credentialing topics, including pathways for specific endorsements.  
 
As required by law, a period of public comment opened on September 24, 2025, and will continue through October 25, 2025. Written comments may be submitted to Maine DOE Legislative Team member Laura Cyr at laura.cyr@maine.gov, 207-446-8791, or State House Station #23, Augusta, Maine 04333 until 5 p.m. on October 25.
 
Additionally, a public hearing for the proposed new rule will be held in person and virtually on October 15, 2025, from 3-5 p.m. at the Burton M. Cross Office Building (111 Sewall Street Room 103, Augusta, Maine 04333). As space will be limited, participants are encouraged to attend virtually via Zoom, using the following link:
 
Join the Zoom Meeting here.
Meeting ID: 879 4623 6101
Passcode: 47786916
 
With questions, please contact Laura Cyr at laura.cyr@maine.gov or 207-446-8791.
 
Summary of Proposed Changes to Chapter 115 Part I
The updates to Chapter 115 Part I refine definitions, expand credentialing pathways, and adjust requirements for educational technicians, conditional certificates, and emergency credentials. The revisions aim to enhance flexibility in staffing, while maintaining high-quality standards and compliance. Key changes include:

Definitions and General Requirements

  • Updated and clarified definitions for credential, clearance, conditional certificate, endorsement, lapsed credential, employed, contracted service provider, and others
  • Renewal “lapsed” grace period extended from six months to twelve months
  • More precise requirements stipulate that all individuals must hold the appropriate credential on the first day of service; school administrative units (SAUs) must verify credentials annually.

Out-of-State and Out-of-Country Certification

  • Streamlined process for accepting equivalent certificates from other states or countries
  • Requires official transcripts for international coursework and a course-by-course analysis from an approved evaluator
  • Certificates issued under reciprocity are valid for five years and renewable in accordance with Maine’s requirements.

Educational Technician Certificates

  • Reorganized into Ed Tech I, II, III, and Emergency Ed Tech categories with clearer permitted responsibilities and supervision levels. Eligibility updates include:
    • Ed Tech I: high school diploma/GED
    • Ed Tech II: reduced requirement from 60 credits to 48 credits or two years of CTE employment
    • Ed Tech III: may qualify with 90 semester hours or an approved Maine training program, such as community college “learning facilitator” programs
    • Emergency Ed Tech: must complete a state-approved program targeting essential skills
  • Certificates are valid for five years; renewal requires three semester hours of approved study/in-service training per term.

Conditional Certificates

  • Still valid for three years, non-renewable
  • SAUs must provide intensive supervision and mentoring for conditionally certified teachers and specialists.
  • Provision for issuing additional conditional certificates in shortage areas, if the applicant documents English is not their first language

Emergency Teacher Certificate

  • May be issued only to fill a staffing shortage.
  • Eligibility expanded to include:
    • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience
    • Enrollment in an educator preparation program
    • Ed Tech III certification (excluding Emergency Ed Tech III)
  • Holders must participate in a mentoring program.
  • Term limited to one year, renewable up to three times total

Clearance Certificates

  • Required for all non-certified staff in schools or Child Development Services (CDS) sites
  • Valid for five years from the date of application; renewable with proof of service and CHRC completion
  • These updates emphasize greater flexibility in staffing, particularly for Ed Techs and conditional/emergency certifications, while reinforcing oversight, renewal, and mentoring obligations for SAUs and the Maine DOE.

Summary of Proposed Changes to Maine Chapter 115 Part II
This document contains extensive revisions to teacher and administrator certification requirements. Key changes include:

General Changes across Multiple Endorsements

  • Addition of Portfolio Pathway: A new “Endorsement Eligibility Pathway 3” has been added to most teaching endorsements, allowing candidates to earn certification through an approved portfolio process with superintendent and department approval.
  • Revised Language: “Graduated from” changed to “Successful completion of” throughout the document for consistency
  • Reduced Conditional Certificate Requirements: Many conditional certificate requirements have been reduced (e.g., from 24 to 18 semester hours for secondary teachers, from 24 to 15 semester hours for ESOL teachers).

Specific Endorsement Changes
Early Elementary and Elementary Teachers (029, 020)

  • Added portfolio pathway option
  • Restructured conditional certificate requirements to include portfolio option

Middle Level Teachers (1.3)

  • Added world languages to the endorsement areas covered (grades 5-8)
  • Added specific teaching methods and coursework requirements
  • Included language proficiency testing options (ACTFL, STAMP, ASLPI)

Secondary Teachers (1.4)

  • Reduced the conditional certificate requirement from 24 to 18 semester hours
  • Added portfolio pathway

Pre-K through Grade 12 Teachers (1.5)

  • Expanded from 2 to 4-6 pathways, depending on endorsement
  • Added specific pathway for endorsement 700 (industrial arts/technology education), including apprenticeship and experience requirements
  • Added detailed pathway for endorsement 510 (physical education) with specific coursework requirements
  • Reduced the conditional certificate requirement from 24 to 18 semester hours

Special Education (Section 2)

  • New Endorsement 283: Provider of Early Intervention/Teacher of Children with Disabilities, Birth to Age 5
  • Revised grade span of 282: Birth through grade 12
  • Added portfolio pathway options
  • Modified grade span renewal option, allowing current 282 holders to renew in birth-grade 12 span

ESOL Teachers (1.8)

  • Added fifth pathway option
  • Reduced the conditional certificate requirement from 24 to 15 semester hours
  • Allowed alternative credit options (CEUs, in-service hours, workshops)

Library Media Specialist (1.11)

  • Removed competency demonstration requirement reference
  • Streamlined pathways and requirements

School Counselor (1.12)

  • Added detailed CACREP standards alignment requirements
  • Specified coursework in three areas: Foundations, Contextual Dimensions, and Practice of School Counseling

Athletic Director (1.14)

  • Added second pathway option
  • Added detailed coursework requirements covering legal issues, student athlete wellness, and diversity
  • Restructured renewal requirements

Career and Technical Education (Section 3)

  • New Endorsement 095: Career Development Coordinator in CTE
  • New Endorsement 096: Student Services Coordinator in CTE
  • Added sixth transitional pathway for those holding current CTE certificates seeking additional endorsements
  • Reduced professional certification requirements from 12 to nine semester hours

Administrator Certificates (Section 4)

  • Changed terminology from “Certificate” to “Endorsement” throughout Section 4
  • Added references to the Student Services Coordinator in CTE role across multiple certificates
  • Maintained PSEL (Professional Standards for Educational Leaders) alignment requirements
  • Clarified internship/practicum requirements with three options: approved program, one year employment, or mentorship plan

These changes generally aim to provide more flexible pathways to certification, while maintaining quality standards—with particular emphasis on portfolio options, CTE positions, and special education specializations.

Clarification Surrounding LD 384, “An Act to Prevent Student Homelessness”

During the first session of the 132nd Maine Legislature, Public Law 2025, Chapter 453 was passed, taking effect on September 24, 2025. It is effectively a continuation of the Preventing Student Homelessness Pilot Program that the Maine Department of Education (DOE) implemented over the past two years.
 
For Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 and FY25, this program was funded at $1.5 million per year. The funding approved for FY26 totals $125,000. Due to this significant reduction of funding, the Maine DOE is reassessing its allocation method and will communicate with school administrative units (SAUs) when and how this limited funding will be available.
 
An Update on the Closeout of the State-Funded Preventing Student Homelessness Pilot Program

Effective July 1, 2023, the Preventing Student Homelessness Pilot Program funding was distributed to all SAUs based on the number of students experiencing homelessness reported in the Student Information System, with each SAU receiving a minimum of $750. SAUs had the option to accept the allocated funds on Grants4ME or opt out of receiving these dollars.

The Maine DOE consolidated the funds that were not expended in FY24 and funds that were declined by SAUs in FY25 to offer a July 2025 reallocation to participating SAUs to be utilized during the 2025-2026 school year. This reallocation amount is available within the FY25 Preventing Student Homelessness Funding Application on Grants4ME.

Allowable uses of Preventing Student Homelessness funds include:

With the July reallocation of funds within the FY25 funding application, the Maine DOE has adjusted the obligation and final invoice timeline for the FY25 Preventing Student Homelessness funding to allow additional time for the drawdown of funds to assist students. Authorized expenses must fall between July 1, 2024 and March 31, 2026, with final invoices due by May 1, 2026.

Please direct any questions related to Preventing Student Homelessness to Signe Lynch, Maine DOE McKinney-Vento Specialist, at signe.lynch@maine.gov.

Thank you for your continued support in providing school stability for students experiencing housing instability.

Reminder to Register for the Maine Green Schools Symposium on November 7

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is thrilled to announce Maine’s first-ever Green Schools Symposium—a groundbreaking event celebrating climate education and sustainability leadership across Maine’s schools. It will take place on Friday, November 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Thomas College in Waterville.
 
This unique, statewide gathering will bring together school leaders, educators, youth, environmentally-focused nonprofit organizations, and private entities for a full day of networking, resource sharing, and cross-sector collaboration. Please register here and attend to hear inspiring stories of school-led sustainability efforts and explore practical tools for improving energy efficiency, cutting facilities costs, and creating healthier learning environments.
 
The Symposium will offer four workshop tracks:
 
Leadership
Engage with students, principals, and superintendents, as they share innovative case studies of sustainability efforts across the state. Breakout sessions will explore tangible strategies to drive change at both the school- and school administrative unit-levels.
 
Facilities
Receive hands-on guidance from facilities managers to explore cost-effective, sustainable infrastructure solutions—from clean energy systems to waste reduction to green campus design.
 
Learning Resources
Discover age-appropriate, interdisciplinary approaches to climate education and pathways to integrate classroom learning with school facilities and operations. Breakout sessions will offer practical strategies to build and expand outdoor learning programs. 
 
Career Pathways
Meet industry professionals to learn about green trades and professional development opportunities in Maine. Breakout groups will help attendees to identify their skills and discover how to align them with Maine’s green career opportunities. 
 
Limited funds are available to subsidize the cost of substitute teachers and transportation for schools to reduce financial barriers to attending the Symposium. Please contact Lucy Van Hook at Lucy.Van-Hook@maine.gov, if financial assistance is needed to attend the Symposium. Contact hours for Maine educators will be available.
 
We look forward to celebrating and advancing climate education and resiliency in Maine schools with you on November 7 in Waterville.

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.

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.

To help your schools and school administrative units (SAUs) maintain their focus on attendance, we have curated a collection of actionable steps for your consideration:

  • Governor Janet Mills has proclaimed September as School Attendance Awareness Month in Maine! Please share this information with your school boards and communities at-large. You can find a link to the proclamation here. 
     
  • Bookmark the Maine DOE’s Maine Engagement and Attendance Center (MEAC) webpage—and encourage an administrator on your team to submit a “good news” story through the linked form. We are hoping to highlight examples of how local schools and SAUs have found success in addressing attendance and engagement among their students.
     
  • Involve your school/SAU in our messaging campaign! Over the summer, MEAC held the Maine Attendance Campaign Name and Slogan Contest. “Rooted in Learning, Growing Every Day: Be Pine Tree Present!” was selected as the winning campaign name/slogan and will become an integral part of Maine’s attendance celebration, highlighting how educators and staff are supporting their learning communities through increased attendance and engagement. Now, we invite every school in Maine to host their own logo design contest based on this campaign name/slogan and send the winning logo our way by October 10, 2025! Each school can determine the parameters of their contest; we simply want to offer the opportunity for potential statewide recognition. Please keep an eye out for details at the end of the month regarding where to send the winning entry—and in the meantime, create your contest opportunity.
     
  • Check out Maine’s Count ME In! website. Sign up for the monthly newsletter, get data-informed ideas to approach attendance improvement, and learn about ongoing professional development events.
     
  • Sign up for the national Attendance Works 2025 Attendance Awareness Campaign.
     
  • Mark your calendars for the upcoming MEAC Office Hours, a new, year-long series of monthly virtual office hours focused on evidence-based strategies to support increased attendance. These meetings will occur on the third Thursday of each month from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Please register here.

MEAC is part of the Maine DOE Office of School and Student Supports. Please contact Maine DOE Student Engagement Specialist Sarah Nelson at Sarah.Nelson@maine.gov, if you have questions or would like additional information.

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.

Why This Matters
According to estimates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2022, there were approximately 456,000 children under the age of 17 in the U.S. that had epilepsy, a brain disorder that causes seizures. Seizure Action Plans are personalized documents that outline how to recognize, respond to, and care for students experiencing seizures. They are critical tools for fostering safe learning environments for those with a known seizure disorder. Having staff trained in recognizing seizures and seizure first aid can increase the safety and health outcomes of those with known seizure disorders, as well as those who may have a seizure for the first time while at school. This effort aligns closely with the Maine DOE’s commitment to provide guidelines on the provision of school health services.

Guidance and Resources from the Maine DOE
To support schools in implementing Seizure Action Plans, the Maine DOE has compiled a suite of resources as part of its Chronic Conditions Management materials:

How Schools Can Engage

  1. Review the Maine DOE’s Seizure and Epilepsy Resource Guide and implement tailored action plans for students with a known diagnosis, using the sample Seizure Interview tool or a similar tool to inform individualized health plans.
     
  2. Adopt protocols to ensure best practices in training, emergency response, and ongoing monitoring. Free, on-demand training is available through the Epilepsy Foundation for school personnel and school nurses to help them better care for students with seizure disorders.  
     
  3. Contact your School Nurse Regional Liaison for direct technical assistance, if desired:
Nick Oyler BSN, RN, NCSN 
nicholas.oyler@maine.gov
207-592-3536		Northern/Eastern: Aroostook, Hancock, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Washington
Angie Buker MSN, RN, NCSN
angie.buker@maine.gov
207-215-5460   		Central: Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Somerset, Waldo
Nicole Furlong MSN, RN, NCSN
nicole.furlong@maine.gov
207-592-2518		Western: Androscoggin, Franklin, Oxford
Lori Huot BSN, RN, NCSN
lori.hout@maine.gov
207-530-0374		Southern: Cumberland, York

Through this targeted communication to support SAUs and private schools in adopting Seizure Action Plans and accessing existing training resources, the Maine DOE continues its commitment to ensuring student and school safety, health, and wellbeing. The Coordinated School Health Team within the Office of School and Student Supports stands ready to assist schools in measures that strengthen preparedness, empower educators and staff, and—most importantly—protect students who live with seizure disorders.

Please contact DOESchoolandStudentSupports@Maine.gov with any questions.