Math4ME Project Accepting Applications – Deadline Extended

The Math4ME Project is accepting applications for the newest cohort of schools. Math4ME is a free, three-year project that supports and lifts mathematics education for all students and focuses on grades PK-8.

Math4ME is not a curriculum, but rather a support to lift your current mathematics curriculum and make mathematics accessible to all learners. Math4ME supports the inclusion of all learners in the general education setting through the use of effective, engaging, high-leverage routines, supportive, positive mathematics culture and communities, and the support and use of family engagement strategies. Math4ME is not a replacement curriculum but rather a philosophy and way of utilizing your current mathematics curriculum to lift all learners.

The Math4ME Project has a focus on the joy and shift in mathematics mindset and pedagogy. A few quotes from our current Teachers of Influence (TOI).

“At our staff meetings I share new activities teachers can do with their students after I attend the TOI trainings. It’s great to see these new math routines/concepts being done across the whole school. Math4ME has been a positive addition to our math program at Lyman Elementary School. It’s great to see all students participating and enjoying math!” -Jon Marines (TOI)

“The Math4ME coaches came to model how to use the multiple cards with kindergarten and first grade. In one classroom a non-verbal first grader was able to interact with peers and a Math4ME coach to play the game. Inclusion at its best.” -TOI

For more information about the Math4ME Project, please view this informational session. For further questions, please contact Jen Robitaille, jennifer.r.robitaille@maine.gov or Sue Hogan, susan.hogan@maine.gov.

If Math4ME would be great fit for your school, please use the application here to apply. Applications are open until April 12, 2024.

Celebrating Early Childhood Education Day at the State House

Staff from Maine’s Department of Education’s (DOE) Early Learning Team and Child Development Services gathered with several other Early Childhood agencies, organizations, and programs in the Hall of Flags at the Maine State House in Augusta on Thursday, March 21st for the annual Early Childhood Day at the Hall of Flags.

The event allowed early childhood educators, families, and advocates to unite to celebrate and elevate the need for high-quality early care and education (ECE) opportunities and the importance of a strong ECE workforce in Maine.

Maine DOE Early Learning Team and members of Child Development Services (pictured above) took part in the event by sharing resources and facilitating a session related to public pre-k partnerships.

For more information and resources on early learning in Maine, visit:

Maine DOE Seeks Comments on Maine’s IDEA Part C Application

The Maine Department of Education (DOE), Child Development Services – Early Intervention for ME is seeking comments from the public on its annual application for federal funds under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which covers early intervention services for infants and toddlers with developmental delays and/or suspected disabilities from birth to their third birthday.

The application, which covers Maine fiscal year 2025 (starting July 1, 2024) is posted on the Maine DOE’s website at Part C Application. The Part C budget is estimated/projected based on Maine’s current award, pending the State’s receipt of the finalized federal award for the coming year. Both documents will be posted from March 22, 2024, through May 22, 2024.

Written comments will be accepted from Monday, April 1, 2024, until 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. Please send comments to Erin Frazier at erin.frazier@maine.gov or 23 State House Station, Augusta, ME. 04333

Maine DOE Seeks Comments on Maine’s IDEA Part B Application

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is seeking comments from the public on its annual application for federal funds under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which covers services to children with disabilities, ages 3-22.

The application, which covers Maine fiscal year 2025 (starting July 1, 2024) is posted on the Maine DOE’s website at https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/specialed/fiscal. The Part B budget is estimated/projected based on Maine’s current award, pending the State’s receipt of the finalized federal award for the coming year. Both documents will be posted from March 19, 2024, through May 18, 2024.

Celebrating National Preschool Teacher Appreciation Day on March 15, 2024

Preschool education is the essential foundation in a child’s developmental and educational journey. Neuroscience has demonstrated that the greatest period of brain development occurs in the preschool years, making high-quality experiences during this time pivotal for supporting life-long learning. The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is proud to celebrate National Preschool Teacher Appreciation Day on March 15, 2024, honoring Maine’s amazing public preschool programs and especially the backbone of these high-quality programs which are teachers themselves.

In Maine, preschool represents a lot of different programs funded by the state and federal government including Maine’s Child Development Services (CDS), which provides special education services to preschool and school-aged children through a network of nine regional sites, in addition to Head Start, a federal program that promotes the school readiness of children from low-income families with currently 11 programs across the state, as well as the 255 schools in over 165 school administrative units throughout Maine enrolling students in Maine’s amazing public pre-K programs.

“In preschool, children are beginning to develop their identities as lifelong learners, to love school, and to be curious,” said a pre-K teacher at Brunswick School Department. “They become curious about themselves, curious about each other, and curious about the world. Being the first stop in a child’s educational journey is part of the magic of being a preschool teacher.”

Maine is fortunate to have such a robust system for preschool children that is growing larger and stronger every year. The strength of these programs and the very reason they are successful is because of the preschool teachers and their dedication to meeting the needs of Maine children and their families. The return on investment in early education is larger than investments made in adolescence and adulthood, making the impact of preschool educators even more significant.

Here are what some of Maine’s preschool program coordinators had to say about their preschool teachers:

“Our preschool teachers are consistent and caring with the children at the CDS Preschools,” said Heather West, one of Maine’s Child Development Coordinators. “The kids light up when they see their teachers at arrival time, and it shows how important they’ve become to each other. You can tell that the teachers truly care about each child and family they work with!”

“SKCDC is so grateful to have an amazing team of early educators,” said Southern Kennebec Child Development Corporation (a Head Start program) Agency Director Cristina Salois. “They bring joy to their work, and children benefit from exploring, experimenting, and discovering indoors and out!”

Child Development Services Coordinator Deb Mullis shared what a parent told her recently, “My child lights up when we pull into the parking lot, and she sees her teacher ready to greet her.”

“Our children have been making tremendous progress toward their IEP [individualized education plan] goals due to the hard work and consistency of the teachers,” added West. “It wouldn’t be possible without the preschool teachers!”

Here are some pictures from preschool programs across Maine:

CDS preschool teachers

Artwork from a pre-K classroom

Children in a pre-K class

Activities in a Pre-K class

Children in a pre-K class

Children in Head Start

Inclusive Education Webinar Series Available: Inclusion for Students with IDD and Complex Needs & Assistive Technology (AT)

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Office of Special Services & Inclusive Education has three upcoming Inclusive Education Webinars Series planned.

Two-Part Inclusive Education Webinar Series: High Leverage Practice to Promote Inclusion for Students with IDD and Complex Needs

This two-part series, hosted by MAIER and the Office of Special Services & Inclusive Education, will provide well-structured content on different pedagogies and how high-leverage practice to promote inclusion can be conducted by developing strategies that promote inclusiveness and principles for students with IDD and Complex Needs.

Part 1 Wednesday, March 20th, 4:00 pm – Register here

In this session, presenters describe a practical approach for orienting our teaching practices toward ensuring students with IDD and Complex Needs can construct enviable lives within their self-selected communities. This practical session will meet teachers where they are on their inclusive practice journey and provide simple strategies for taking that next step.

Part 2 Thursday, April 4th, 4:00 pm – Register here.

In the second session, participants will learn new strategies and inclusive approaches necessary for assisting students with IDD and Complex Needs and how to provide intensive supports for students regardless of dis/ability. The session will help the participant to develop action points and strategies necessary for incorporating cultural practices into teaching and learning process.

Presenters (moved up presenter info)

Robert C. Pennington has served as the Assistant Director of Training and Executive Director for the Kentucky Autism Training Center (KATC) and currently is an Instructor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Louisville. He earned his PhD at the University of Kentucky and has over 20 years of experience in working with individuals with disabilities and their families in school and communities’ contexts. He has served as a classroom teacher and district technical assistance provider, and piloted Jefferson County Public Schools’ first autism inclusion model (AIM). His research interests include autism spectrum disorders, applied behavior analysis, writing instruction, and teacher preparation.

Monique Pinczynski is a first generation doctoral student at the University of North Carolina Charlotte in Special Education. She was previously a classroom teacher in Henderson, NV where she taught students with autism and extensive support needs as well as students with learning disabilities. Monique earned her B.S. and M.Ed. in Special Education at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, where she also attained her Board Certified Behavior Analyst certification. Her research interests include implementing evidence-based practices with students with autism and extensive support needs with a focus on communication as well as supporting teachers in this area.

Inclusive Education Webinar Series: Dispelling Myths about Assistive Technology (AT) Devices and Services

Want to learn more about assistive technology use in the classroom to benefit all learners? Recent guidance on the myths and facts surrounding assistive technology was released from the federal government which supports reducing barriers that often lead to a lack of utilization of AT. This webinar, hosted by Maine CITE and the Office of Special Services & Inclusive Education, and led by Maine CITE director, Jessi Wright, will guide educators, administrators and ed techs through the latest AT information and provide insights on moving toward a more inclusive education environment.

This will be a two session event – March 12th from 4-5pm will include the overview of the myths and March 19th from 4-5pm will be an open forum for the public to come for conversations about the use of assistive technology in schools. Register here.

For more information or questions on either of these opportunities, contact Tracy Whitlock at tracy.w.whitlock@maine.gov

Inclusive Education Webinar Series: Dispelling Myths about Assistive Technology (AT) Devices and Services

Want to learn more about assistive technology use in the classroom to benefit all learners? Recent guidance on the myths and facts surrounding assistive technology was released from the federal government which supports reducing barriers that often lead to a lack of utilization of AT. This webinar, hosted by Maine CITE and the Maine Department of Education’s Office of Special Services & Inclusive Education, will guide educators, administrators, and ed techs through the latest AT information and provide insights on moving toward a more inclusive education environment.

This will be a two-session event:

March 12th from 4:00 – 5:00 pm will include the overview of the myths.
March 19th from 4:00 – 5:00 pm will be an open forum for the public to come for conversations about the use of assistive technology in schools.

For more information or questions, contact Tracy Whitlock at tracy.w.whitlock@maine.gov

Making Math Meaningful For All: Math4ME is Accepting Applications for Newest Cohort

Math4ME is a free, three-year, whole-school project designed to support all educators (classroom teachers, special educators, ed techs, and interventionists) to strengthen math proficiency for all learners with a specific focus on increased math proficiency for students with math IEP goals. The project will focus on building positive math school communities and classrooms, mathematical content and pedagogical skills, supporting inclusionary practices, increased family engagement, and formative assessment including the Early Mathematics Diagnostic Interview (EMDI).

For more details about the Math4ME project check out the informational video.

We are accepting applications for the 2024-2025 cohort until April 5, 2024. Math4ME Application

We will hold a virtual informational meeting on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 4:00 PM. Register here in advance for this meeting.

For questions or more information contact Susan Hogan, susan.hogan@maine.gov or Jen Robitaille, jennifer.r.robitaille@maine.gov.

Save the Date: Math4ME Informational Session on March 20th

The Maine Department of Education’s (DOE) Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education is hosting a Math4ME Informational Session on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, from 4:00-5:00 PM virtually via Zoom.

Math4ME is a free, three-year, whole-school project designed to support all educators (classroom teachers, special educators, ed techs, and interventionists) to strengthen math proficiency for all learners with a specific focus on increased math proficiency for students with math IEP goals. Interested educators, including administrators, should attend the informational session to hear about the project goals, ongoing supports, application process, and to ask any questions about the Math4ME Project as we begin to accept applicants into the 2024-2025 cohort.

For more information about Math4ME, visit https://www.maine.gov/doe/math4me. For further questions, contact Susan Hogan at susan.hogan@maine.gov or Jen Robitaille at jennifer.r.robitaille@maine.gov.

Webinar: Becoming a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairment or an Orientation and Mobility Specialist

Please join the Maine Department of Education (DOE) Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education, Education Services for Blind and Visually Impaired Children, and Catholic Charities Maine for a joint presentation about how to become a teacher of students with visual impairments or an orientation and mobility specialist.

Do you have a Bachelor’s Degree? Would you like a free Master’s degree? Do you enjoy working with children? Do you like variety in your job settings and enjoy travel? Are you looking to expand your professional skills? If you answered yes to these questions…

Please join us for a webinar to learn more about becoming a teacher of students with visual impairment or an orientation and mobility specialist.

Tuesday, January 30th
4:00 – 5:00 pm
Held virtually via Zoom – Register here

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. This webinar will be recorded for you to view at your convenience.

For additional information or questions please contact Amanda Castner at amanda.castner@maine.gov.