Since 2018, the Maine Department of Education has adapted and piloted open-source Pre-k and Kindergarten programs based on the Boston Public School’s evidence-based Focus on K1 and Focus on K2 curricula. Pre-K for ME was launched in 2019. K for ME was launched in 2021. These programs focus on the whole child and are interdisciplinary and developmentally appropriate. They are also aligned to Maine’s learning standards. While Maine schools are responsible for the purchase of the materials that support the programs, the programs can be accessed at no cost via the Maine DOE’s website. Informational overviews for each of the programs available through the following links:
Educators/schools/programs interested in utilizing Pre-K for ME and/or K for ME in the coming year may want to take advantage of 2-day initial trainings scheduled for August 1 and 2, 2022. These trainings are provided to promote understanding of program design and to support successful program implementation. School administrators are strongly encouraged to attend the trainings with their Pre-K and/or Kindergarten teachers. This year’s training opportunities will be held in-person in the Augusta area. Registration for these trainings should be completed at the school/program level. Principals and educators should complete one registration on behalf of their school/program. Details about location of and how to prepare for the trainings and the materials needed to support the programs will be provided via email after registrations are received. Registrations for the 2-day training should be received by June 30, 2022.
The Maine Department of Education’s partnership with Network Maine is excited to share a free virtual summer professional development workshop for teachers, offered by the Presidential Libraries and the Presidential Primary Sources Project (PPSP). Presidential Character and Decision Making is a three-day online workshop from July 12-14, 2022, focused on presenting teachers with tools and primary sources to help them navigate historical themes in their curriculum.
This workshop is hosted by the Internet2 Community Anchor Program and is available to Maine’s K-12 teachers thanks to the University of Maine’s membership in Internet2. (Internet2 is the United States’ Research and Education Network much like Network Maine is Maine’s.)
The 2022 workshop offers teachers the opportunity to learn and interact with presenters from the Hoover Library, FDR Library, Truman Library, Johnson Library, Nixon Library, Carter Library, Reagan Library, George W. Bush Library, George H.W. Bush Library, and Clinton Library. Numerous teaching activities, lesson plans, and interactive resources will be shared throughout the week by each presenting institution.
The Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance (TA) Center (a partner of the U.S. Department of Education) will host a Webinar on Thursday, May 26, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET. This Webinar will highlight the role of teachers in supporting school safety at the local level.
Find objectives for the 60-minute Webinar below:
Highlight the role of teachers in supporting school safety efforts within their school communities.
Demonstrate the importance of developing a collaborative planning team to support emergency operations plan (EOP) development, as outlined in Step 1 of the six-step planning process detailed in the Guide for Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operations Plans.
Discuss the role that teachers play in supporting the National Preparedness System mission areas — prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery — as well as their role in the before, during, and after phases of a potential emergency.
Share resources to assist teachers’ efforts around climate assessment, behavioral threat assessment, continuity of teaching and learning, and overall plan development.
Presenters:
Los Angeles Unified School District, Office of Emergency Management and Division of School Culture, Climate, and Safety
Jill Barnes, Administrator
REMS TA Center
Janelle Hughes, Project Director
Questions About the Event?
Contact the REMS TA Center Help Desk at 1-855-781-REMS [7367] or info@remstacenter.org from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.
Whether you are a classroom teacher, scout leader, nature center educator, or just looking to gain new skills, these workshops from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife can help you learn how to engage youth in environmental and experiential learning. You’ll learn a variety of teaching techniques to help build your confidence when taking youth outdoors to learn about fish, wildlife, habitats, natural science, conservation, and outdoor skills. We believe learning should be hands-on and fun for you as well as the students!
In these workshops you will:
Gain skills and confidence in talking about Maine fish and wildlife
Try new skills and activities to help engage youth in place-based learning
Be introduced to activities focused on Maine-specific fish and wildlife
Spend time outside learning and having fun
Network with other educators and outdoor enthusiasts
Receive free resources for instruction
Bring your class outdoors or the outdoors in!
Project Wild is a series of wildlife and natural science-based activity guides. This program is part of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is the Maine partner and host. This international program is designed to be easily used in the classrooms, in the field, and as part of summer camps and events. Each activity easily aligns with learning standards and is designed to help guide students to a better understanding of the natural world and how to be better stewards for the future. These workshops are designed for all types of educators to learn how to use the activity guide firsthand. Each participant will receive professional development hours for attending.
For questions, call Laura Rogers at 207-592-0750.
Upcoming workshops:
Learn how to bring the wildness of wetlands to your class at the Aquatic Wild Workshop Tuesday, July 26, 2022 8:30-4pm at Swan Island in Richmond, ME.Register online today!
Get your students excited about terrestrial wildlife and open their eyes to the wild places of Maine after attending the Project Wild K-12 Terrestrial Guide Workshop Thursday, August 9, 2022 9:30-4:30pm at the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray, ME. Register online today!
Help youth fish for their future!
Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs (HOFNOD) is a youth and family-based fishing program to promote healthy habits, and teach youth about fish and how to fish. This program is a partnership between the Future Fisherman Foundation and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. It is designed to train interested adults in the HOFNOD materials and methods. This program uses angling skill development as a gateway to teach youth about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and how to deal with the challenges youth face. Whether you are new to fishing or a seasoned angler this program will have something for anyone interested. Training can be done online or in-person. For questions, call Chelsea Lathrop 207-446-8692.
This summer, the University of New England is pleased to be able to offer Educator/Teacher workshops at our Biddeford, Maine, and Portland campuses, with limited options for online workshops as well. Educator/teacher workshops are free for licensed Maine teachers. Topics include Rockets, Underwater Robotics, Online Learning, Makerspaces, Multilingual Learners and more. UNE’s summer of inspiration at provides exciting workshops to reignite your passion for teaching after some challenging years.
Registration is free for Maine Teachers – no application is required. To register for any of our in person or online workshops, simply fill out the form here or select from the workshops listed in the link below. Registrants will receive a confirmation email including workshop details after registration is complete.
The ESEA Demographics Report is an aggregation of students enrolled on 05/27/2022 for participation in state assessments during the 2022 assessment administration. This report includes student demographic categories for assessment and accountability purposes. The total demographic counts on the certification page only include your District Full Academic Year students. Full Academic Year means that they were enrolled with your district continuously from October 1st to May 27th. This is required reporting for RSUs, CSDs, MSADs, Municipal school units, Maine Indian Education, charter schools, state operated schools, and private schools that accept publicly funded students.
The ESEA Demographics Report will be available for districts to review beginning on May 15th. Districts will be able to certify starting on May 27th with a certify-by date of June 15th.
The Maine Department of Education’s data management team will be holding a webinar where we will be discussing the ESEA Demographics Report and fielding any questions that you may have at 10AM on Tuesday May 17th, 2022. To participate, please utilize the “Join Live” link at the time of the webinar.
In order to view this report, you will need access to NEO – Student Data, if you do not have this access please have your superintendent fill out our online Access Request Form.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns in regards to the ESEA Demographics Report please feel free to contact us at the MEDMS Helpdesk. MEDMS.Helpdesk@Maine.gov or (207) 624-6896.
The University of Maine College of Education and Human Development, in collaboration with the Maine Department of Education, will host the first University of Maine Educators Institute this summer. “Supporting Emotional and Behavioral Well-Being in School Communities: From Surviving to Thriving” will be a virtual event held June 22–23.
This new UMaine Summer University program will feature renowned experts in education and mental health disciplines from Maine and beyond. Participants will engage in interactive workshops as individuals or as part of a school-based team.
The program will feature six strands: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice; Positive Behavioral Intervention Support (PBIS); Trauma and Resilience; Social-Emotional Learning (SEL); Student-Centered Learning; and Exploring Wabanaki Studies.
“Last fall, we reached out to the state’s teachers and school administrators to ask about their current priorities and needs. Addressing students’ mental, emotional and behavioral health quickly rose to the top,” says Penny Bishop, dean of the College of Education and Human Development. “We’re excited to work with this committed group of educators to tackle these important challenges, to help them plan for the year to come and to collaboratively strengthen our schools and communities.”
Participants have the option of earning three graduate credits or attending for professional development CEUs. More information, including registration options, is online: umaine.edu/summeruniversity/educators-institute.
The University of Maine Educators Institute is one of three opportunities available to educators as part of Summer University. Also in its first year is the University of Maine Climate Change Workshop: “Climate Change Teaching Tools,” July 12–13. Now in its sixth successful year, The Summer Technology Institute: “Cooperation Across Environments and Boundaries” runs Aug. 2–4.
All events are virtual and participants may choose to attend for graduate credit or professional development. Learn more about summer programming for educators at umaine.edu/summeruniversity/summer-workshops.
The University of Maine Climate Change Institute and Summer University will host the first Climate Change Workshop for pre-K–12 educators this summer. “Climate Change Teaching Tools” is designed for educators to learn more about climate change and, in particular, how to bring this important subject area into the classroom in meaningful ways for students.
Participants may choose to attend for graduate credit or professional development CEUs. The two-day online workshop will be held July 12–13. The graduate credit option includes a three-week online course, July 5–22, in addition to workshop attendance.
The event will feature renowned experts in climate change from the UMaine Climate Change Institute, the Gulf of Maine Research Center, the Maine Department of Education and panelists from the Maine Changemakers Network. Keynote speakers will discuss the impacts of climate change to the ocean, land and ice across the globe and here in Maine.
“The age of climate change decision is here, and our actions will define the course of civilization and the health of our planet,” says Paul Mayewski, director and professor of the University of Maine Climate Change Institute.
The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Adult Education team recently brought together 23 educators from adult education programs across Maine at the UMA-Lewiston campus to celebrate their capstone presentations for Teaching Skills that Matter in Adult Education (TSTM). The event was the culmination of a 7-month TSTM training provided by Maine DOE’s Adult Education Team.
Teaching Skills that Matter in Adult Education (TSTM) is a federal initiative of the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Career Technical and Adult Education (OCTAE) that was developed by the American Institutes for Research. The goal of the initiative is to train teachers to integrate the skills that adults need for success in career and life using evidence-based approaches that work across topics that are also important to adults (civics education, digital literacy, financial literacy, health literacy, and workforce preparation).
In 2020, the Maine DOE’s Adult Education Team applied to be part of a cohort of states to be trained in using the TSTM materials. A team of four Maine adult educators, Michael Emery from Augusta Adult and Community Education, Melanie North from MSAD 52 Adult and Community Education, Irina Petranek from Lewiston Adult Education, and Lyn Warne from Eastern Aroostook Adult Education, and Amy Poland, Maine DOE Adult Education PD Coordinator participated in an intensive yearlong training which resulted in a plan to bring the TSTM training to Maine’s adult education programs.
As a result of this effort, Maine’s first cohort of TSTM training kicked off in September 2021 at a 2-day, in-person event that was followed by virtual meetings to support their on-going efforts to teach TSTM in diverse teaching contexts, making math and science connections to TSTM lessons, and integrating TSTM into the existing curriculum. Participants also worked with a coach and coaching group on an ongoing basis from September 2021 through April 2022 meeting regularly to discuss using TSTM in the classroom. They also had two classroom observations, giving them a chance to reflect on their work.
The recently held event served as the wrap up event for Maine’s first TSTM cohort featuring 5 minute presentations from each adult education educator that participated in the training including: Washington County Adult and Community Education, RSU 24 Adult Ed, Mount Desert Island Adult Education, Ellsworth Adult Education, MSAD1 Adult and Community Education, Riverside Adult Education (RSU 22, 26, 34), Franklin County Adult Education, Spruce Mountain Adult and Community Education, Augusta Adult and Community Education, MSAD52 Adult & Community Education, RSU 16 Adult Ed, Lewiston Adult Education, Merrymeeting Adult Education, Portland Adult Education, Windham Raymond Adult Ed, and Marshwood Adult Education.
Christa Galipeau, SAD 1 Adult & Community Education, Presque Isle
Sue Lasselle, RSU 16 Adult Education (Mechanic Falls, Minot, Poland)
Phil Wormuth, RSU 24 Adult Education (Sullivan)
Bryan Brito, MSAD 52 Adult & Community Education, Turner
During each presentation, participants shared their experiences teaching using TSTM lessons in practice, how they adapted the lessons to fit what their learners needs, their lessons learned, and many other useful pieces of information relevant to their peers and the Maine DOE for future success with the TSTM program.
With culture as a common theme, many shared their experiences working both remotely and in-person to teach lessons that were both relevant and accessible to adult learners enrolled in their respective programs and regions.
There were also many shared experiences in working with adult learners which resulted in everything from sharing tips and tricks to turning common frustrations into something positive.
“The tech will get you every time,” said Valerie from Washington County Adult Education program. While her comment got a chuckle and a knowing head nod from most around the room, she turned it into an important lesson for educators about modeling working through a problem (such as a technology issue) in front of students, to show them how to problem-solve in real time – a handy skill for everyone to develop.
Also included in the training was a TSTM toolkit packed with high-quality lessons that are easily adapted for Maine’s varied adult education population (multilingual, adult basic education, high school completion, workforce training, college transitions, etc.). Also integrated into the toolkit are many of the employability skills (soft skills) already taught in Maine which are integrated into academic lessons that highlight relevant topics for adult learners, such as budgeting, reading workplace safety signs, and first amendment rights.
“TSTM pushed me to learn a variety of remote learning tools,” shared Rochelle from Portland Adult Education Program. Rochelle wasn’t the only one to talk about a journey with learning remote learning tools and refreshing their toolbox of digital tools that can help with in-person learning as well. Many of the educators in the room really benefited from their experience using the toolkit provided by TSTM, especially in the wake of the height of the COVID-19 pandemic which changed the way most educators teach.
A booklet created by Maine Snap-Ed (https://www.mainesnap-ed.org/) An example of a community resource used in Maine Adult Education programs
Another common theme among participants was how much more enriching and sustainable their lessons and curriculum became as a result of partnering with local agencies. For many, these connections were critical for things like food stamps and/or education materials, and to supplement their curriculum without having to reinvent something that community partners could come in and present or provide information and/or tools for.
Maine DOE’s Adult Education Team Professional Development Coordinator Amy Poland says, “We are currently planning next year, but we anticipate holding another statewide training similar to this year’s.” She adds that the team is also working on a community of practice which will feature a series of workshops around effective teaching practices using the TSTM Toolkit lessons, and convening a cohort of teachers who will create and curate new materials, and more for their fellow adult education educators across the State.
Are you interested in computer science professional development opportunities for your school? Maine’s 130th legislature, through a bill sponsored by Senator Pouliot, created a pilot grant program to provide funding for high-quality, teacher-developed or teacher-led professional development for PK-12 computer science pedagogy and content.
Priority will be given to applicants that:
Are located in one (or more) of the following counties where no awards have been made in previous application rounds: Sagadahoc, York, Aroostook, Somerset, Washington, Oxford, Waldo, Knox, Lincoln, Franklin, and Kennebec.
Do not currently offer computer science learning opportunities;
Serve socioeconomically disadvantaged school districts;
Prioritize student populations traditionally underrepresented in computer science;
Demonstrate a commitment to pursuing high-quality educator professional development that emphasizes integration of computer science into other course work and curricula or establishes or expands access to courses that offer college credit and other certificates of value, or both; and
Collaborate or partner with other entities, including but not limited to other local education agencies, the business community, nonprofit organizations and private entities.
The application window opens Monday, May 9th, 2022 and closes Friday, May 20th, 2022. Applications will be reviewed in the order in which they are received. All applicants will be notified of their application status within two weeks of the application deadline.
There is no limit to the grant amount awarded per applicant; however, funds will be dispersed equitably across all applications based on county and throughout PK-12.
Maine DOE Newsroom 