Category: State Board of Education

Applications Open for Student Position on Maine State Board of Education

The Maine State Board of Education is currently seeking applications for its newest student member to join the Board. This is an extraordinary opportunity for Maine students to practice civic engagement and serve as both a representative of Maine students and an active education leader in the state.

Applications will be accepted through Friday, February 28, 2025, for students from Maine’s First Congressional District, which includes Cumberland, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, York, and part of Kennebec Counties. All applicants must currently be a high school sophomore.

The Maine State Board of Education has two non-voting student members who serve two-year terms on the Board. Students join the Board as a high school junior and end their two-year term after their senior year. One student is enrolled in a public school in Maine’s First Congressional District, and the other is enrolled in a public school in Maine’s Second Congressional District. At all times, the Board has one high school junior and one high school senior as members, with staggered appointments.

Application materials for students are available on the State Board of Education webpage. The Board has also mailed application materials to all First Congressional District high school principals, school counselors, and Career and Technical Education directors.

Completed applications may be sent either in hard-copy form via U.S. mail or electronically via email.

  • Please send applications via U.S. mail to:

Emily Cummins
State Board of Education
23 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0023

  • Please send electronic application materials to:

Emily.C.Cummins@maine.gov

After applications close on February 28, a screening committee of the State Board of Education will be inviting semi-finalists to participate in a Zoom interview, after which three finalists will be chosen. The names and application materials of those finalists will be sent to the Governor’s Office for final selection.

Then, the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs of the Maine State Legislature will interview the nominee in a public hearing and make a recommendation about the nominee to the Maine Senate. The Maine Senate is charged with confirming the appointment.

For further information about this opportunity or the application process, please email Emily Cummins at Emily.C.Cummins@maine.gov or call 207-624-6616.

Cedar Worster Welcomed as Newest State Board of Education Student Member

The Maine State Board of Education is very pleased to welcome its newest student member.  Cedar Worster from Harrison is entering her junior year at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School in South Paris. Cedar is involved in a number of school and community activities including Student Council, the Interact Club, high school athletics, performing with school bands and those focusing on civil rights and diversity, equity and inclusion.

Each year the State Board of Education seeks applications from interested public school sophomores to serve two-year terms during their junior and senior years as non-voting members.  The two students, one from each congressional district, are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the legislature.  They join nine adult SBE members who truly value what their younger colleagues bring to the table through awareness of what is going on in their schools and other networking activities.  In addition, the student members are, with the assistance of the Maine Department of Education, Facilitators and Co-Chairs of the DOE’s Student Cabinet which brings together students from across the state to share topics which are important to them and their fellow students.

Also serving as a student SBE member during the upcoming year is Deering High School Senior Phat Thai.

Removing Barriers to Student Leadership

The following is a piece from The State Education Standard, a journal of the National State Boards of Education, written by Maine State Board of Education Student Representative Ryan Hafner. Ryan is a Senior at Hampton Academy and co-chairs the Maine DOE Student Cabinet.

In the September 2022 issue of the Standard, students from the District of Columbia State Board of Education offered three ways to boost the state board’s engagement with students: including a student member seat on the board, creating a space specifically for student voice, and requiring student consultation on policy in bylaws. Inspired by what I have seen in my community, state, and state board, I want to provide a few more recommendations to encourage state leaders to support student members in their development as leaders.

Supporting student members from the start of their term leads to an environment where they feel comfortable engaging with adults when tough policy topics arise. Helping student members grow as leaders helps them better represent their peers. Programs like NASBE’s Student Engagement Collaborative and organizations like the National Student Board Member Association have provided me with spaces to build relationships with other student members, engage with subject-matter experts, and learn strategies to be more effective.

It is important to encourage students to engage with a wide variety of policymakers. I co-chair the Maine Department of Education Student Cabinet, a student-led body that regularly interacts with department staff, legislators, and other policymakers. Student involvement is a two-way street: Just as students benefit from having their voices heard and having opportunities to grow as leaders, adults benefit as well. This spring, the Student Cabinet presented on student mental health needs to Maine’s Education and Cultural Affairs Committee. They provided the legislators with a diverse set of perspectives they rarely hear in the State House.

To make sure that policymakers hear from students, it is important to break down barriers to student engagement and ensure a diverse range of voices at the table. A barrier as simple as a lack of access to transportation can make the difference between a student who is able to share a perspective and one who is not. Other barriers are more systemic, such as application processes that prioritize GPA or adult recommendations, which can leave out important and underrepresented voices. Considering whether an applicant has experienced hardship in their educational experience, is coming from a nontraditional educational model, or is a member of an underrepresented or marginalized community can also expand the number of student perspectives that policymakers can access.

While student voice has often been missing from policy discussions, the movement to engage students in education policymaking has made significant headway, with 33 states now involving more than 400 students. My experience as a board member and as the chair of a student advisory group has shown me just how important engaging students is in creating a more effective, equitable, and just education system for all. Whether it be a student-led presentation to legislators on the mental health needs of students or a conversation with policymakers on the need for a more diverse, inclusive curriculum, students can provide invaluable insights to those making the decisions that impact students the most.

NASBE Honors Maine State Board of Education Chair Fern Desjardins with Distinguished Service Award

The National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) has awarded Maine State Board of Education Chair Fern Desjardins the 2023 Distinguished Service Award. This national award honors current and former state board members who have made exceptional contributions to education. It represents one of the highest awards NASBE can bestow on a state board of education member.

Fern Desjardins currently chairs the Maine State Board of Education. She came to the state board in 2018 after a more than 40-year career in public education, first as a classroom teacher and then as a principal and superintendent in a rural school system. The U.S. Department of Education named Dr. Levesque Elementary a Blue Ribbon School during her tenure as its principal. Desjardins taught graduate courses at the University of Maine as an adjunct faculty member for almost a decade, was a member of the Maine Small Schools Coalition and the Maine Department of Education’s Multilingual Learner Advisory Council, and was a grant reader for Maine’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program.

“Beyond Fern’s formal titles and responsibilities, she is simply a person of great character who cares deeply about students, educators, and our state,” said fellow board member Kristin Bishop. “She models a genuine commitment to public service and a desire to contribute to the common good, one that is central to her identity and the work she holds dear; it is clear that education is her calling.”

A thoughtful, purposeful board leader, Desjardins has represented the board and its strategic plan in legislative testimony and has participated in at least five educator preparation program reviews. She also chairs the School Construction Committee and has been involved in other standing and ad hoc committees, including Certification and Higher Education, Legislative Action, and Student Membership. She previously served four years as board representative to the Maine Charter School Commission.

Desjardins is also an engaged member of NASBE. She was elected to be the new member representative on NASBE’s Board of Directors and served in this role for two years before becoming secretary-treasurer in 2021. In that same year, her keen interest in formulating policy and the governance of education led to her chairing the organization’s Public Education Positions Committee. She has participated in NASBE conferences and events and presented to fellow members about state board strategic planning and school building maintenance and construction.

“Fern exemplifies what it means to be the citizen’s voice in education,” said NASBE President and CEO Paolo DeMaria. “She is a passionate, dedicated public servant and her impact on public education in Maine will be felt for years to come. We are delighted to honor her with the 2023 Distinguished Service Award.”

NASBE’s full slate of annual awards will be presented during its Annual Conference in San Diego, California, October 25-28, 2023.

 

New Members Appointed by Governor Mills to the Maine State Board of Education

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) and the Maine State Board of Education today announced the new members of the Board and member reappointments.

The Board consists of nine voting members and two nonvoting student members appointed by the Governor. Board members serve staggered, five-year terms and nonvoting student members serve staggered, two-year terms.

New Maine State Board of Education Student Member:

Phat Gia Thai

Phat Gia Thai of Portland will begin serving his appointment to the State Board of Education as a student member on July 22, 2023. Thai will be a Junior at Deering High School where he is currently an honors and AP student. He is an active member of his school community and a member of many extracurricular activities including Deering High School Student Council, President and Founder of Deering Asian Student Union, Class of 2025 Student Senate, Natural Helpers Club, and the Varsity Tennis Team. Thai has been involved in the organization Seeds of Peace and has led a school mural project in collaboration with the nonprofit organization Painting For A Purpose. He stated, “My main goal in creating this mural was to celebrate the importance of diversity in our community.”

New Maine State Board of Education Member:

Denham Ward, MD, PhD of Bowdoinham was appointed to the State Board of Education on March 20, 2023. Dr. Ward received his BS(EE) at the University of Maine and went on to get his PhD in Systems Science at UCLA. Becoming interested in physiology, he then went to the University of Miami to obtain his MD. Following his residency in Anesthesiology, he started his career in academic medicine at UCLA. Besides his clinical and research interests, he has been heavily involved in medical education, serving as residency program director at UCLA and then as the chair of Anesthesiology at the University of Rochester. While at the University of Rochester, Dr. Ward was President of the Association of Anesthesiology Program Directors. With a major interest in how medical school faculty teach, he became the Associate Dean for Faculty Development at Rochester and was instrumental in developing a Master’s Degree in Health Professions Education. After retiring clinically, Dr. Ward returned to Maine. He was President and CEO of the Foundation for Anesthesiology Education and Research, which gave grants to improve clinical teaching in Anesthesiology. Dr. Ward has been involved with education at Maine Medical Center, helping to start the Academy at the Maine Health Institute for Teaching Excellence and has continued his association with the University of Maine, currently serving on the Honors College Board of Advocates.

Maine State Board of Education Member Reappointments:

Fern Desjardins of St. Agatha was recently reappointed to a second five-year term on the State Board of Education. She has served on the School Construction Committee (currently Chair), Certification & Higher Education Committee, Legislative Action Committee, Maine Charter School Commission, Board Effectiveness Committee, and several other committees of the State Board. She represents the State Board on the Maine Education Policy Research Institute Steering Committee and on other education committees. Desjardins was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Association of State Boards of Education in June 2019 and has served on a number of their committees. She was elected secretary-treasurer of the organization in October 2021. Desjardins worked for 43 years in RSU 33/MSAD 33 as a teacher, elementary school principal, and superintendent of schools before retiring in 2017. She has taught graduate level courses for UMaine as an adjunct faculty member, worked as a facilitator for school systems, and served on various committees and special projects of the Maine DOE. She holds a Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership and a Master’s Degree in Language Arts from UMaine, a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Educational Leadership from USM, and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from UMFK.

Wendy L. Ault of Wayne was recently reappointed to a second five-year term on the State Board of Education. Ault serves on the Certification & Higher Education Committee (currently Chair), Career & Technical Education Committee, Legislative Action Committee, Student Voices Committee (Co-Chair), and Board Effectiveness Committee. Ault is a graduate of Bates College in Lewiston. She served as the Associate Director of Admissions at the University of Maine at Farmington for 17 years. During her tenure at UMF, she was elected to four terms in the Maine House of Representatives representing part of Kennebec County from 1988 through 1996. She served all eight years as a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs, serving as its House Chair during her final term. Ault is the Executive Director of the MELMAC Education Foundation.

Fern Desjardins, Chair of the Maine State Board of Education, stated: “The board will benefit from the reappointment of the most senior member of the board, Wendy Ault, who joined the board in October 2017; and the recent addition of Denham Ward, whose vast knowledge and experiences, especially in higher education, greatly supports the board’s efforts in carrying out its duties and responsibilities. I was very impressed with Phat Gia Thai’s testimony at his recent confirmation hearing in front of the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs and look forward to welcoming him to the State Board in July. I am blessed and deeply humbled by my reappointment to the board and for having had the honor of serving as chair of the board for almost two years. Leading a board of dedicated individuals committed to the board’s mission ‘to provide leadership and to support policy development that promotes equitable access to high-quality educational opportunities for all students in safe, healthy, and inclusive school environments’ is energizing and highly rewarding. As a board, we continue to make great strides toward our vision that all students will receive a high-quality education.”

For more information about the State Board of Education, visit their website https://www.maine.gov/doe/about/leadership/stateboard

Application Deadline Extended to March 10 for Student Position on Maine State Board of Education

The Maine State Board of Education is currently seeking applications for the newest student member to join the Board. Applications are being accepted from February 1, 2023, through March 10, 2023. The deadline for applications has been extended from March 1st to March 10th.

“Student voice is critically important to the State Board of Education’s decision-making process,” said Fern Desjardins, State Board of Education Chair. “We are pleased to open applications to public high school sophomores in Maine’s First Congressional District and look forward to hearing from the incredible student leaders in Maine schools.”

The Maine State Board of Education has two nonvoting student members who join the Board as high school juniors and serve for two years, one enrolled in a school in Maine’s First Congressional District; the other enrolled in a school in the Second Congressional District. At all times, the State Board has one high school junior and one senior as members, with staggered appointment.

Applications are currently being accepted from students who attend public school in the First Congressional District (Cumberland, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, York, and part of Kennebec County) and are currently a high school sophomore.  Application materials are available on the State Board of Education web page. The Board has also mailed application materials to all First Congressional District high school principals and school counselors. Completed applications, both hard copy and digital copy,  should be sent to:

Sandra Bourget
Office Specialist
Maine State Board of Education
23 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0023
Phone: (207) 624-6616
Sandra.A.Bourget@maine.gov

After applications close on March 10, 2023, they will be reviewed according to the process described in Maine Education and School Statutes, Title 20-A, Chapter 5, State Board of Education. Semifinalists will be interviewed in March 2023,  after which three finalists will be chosen. The names and application materials of the finalists will be sent to the Governor’s office for final selection. The Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs of the Maine State Legislature interviews the nominee in a public hearing and makes a recommendation about the nominee to the Maine Senate.  The Maine Senate is charged with confirming the appointment.

This is an extraordinary opportunity for Maine students to practice civic engagement while serving as both a representative of Maine students and an active education leader in our state.

For further information please visit the Maine State Board of Education web page or contact Sandra Bourget, Office Specialist, at 207-624-6616 or via email at Sandra.A.Bourget@maine.gov.

MEDIA RELEASE: Application Process Open for Student Position on Maine State Board of Education

The Maine State Board of Education is currently seeking applications for the newest student member to join the Board. Applications are being accepted February 1, 2023 – March 1, 2023.

“Student voice is critically important to the State Board of Education’s decision-making process,” said Fern Desjardins, State Board of Education Chair. “We are pleased to open applications to public high school sophomores in Maine’s First Congressional District and look forward to hearing from the incredible student leaders in Maine schools.”

The Maine State Board of Education has two nonvoting student members who join the Board as high school juniors and serve for two years, one enrolled in a school in Maine’s First Congressional District; the other enrolled in a school in the Second Congressional District. At all times, the State Board has one high school junior and one senior as members, with staggered appointment.

Applications are currently being accepted from students who attend public school in the First Congressional District (Cumberland, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, York, and part of Kennebec County) and are currently a high school sophomore.  Application materials are available on the State Board of Education web page. The Board has also mailed application materials to all First Congressional District high school principals and school counselors. Completed applications, both hard copy and digital copy,  should be sent to:

Sandra Bourget
Office Specialist
Maine State Board of Education
23 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0023
Phone: (207) 624-6616
Sandra.A.Bourget@maine.gov

After applications close on March 1, 2023, they will be reviewed according to the process described in Maine Education and School Statutes, Title 20-A, Chapter 5, State Board of Education. Semifinalists will be interviewed in March 2023,  after which three finalists will be chosen. The names and application materials of the finalists will be sent to the Governor’s office for final selection. The Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs of the Maine State Legislature interviews the nominee in a public hearing and makes a recommendation about the nominee to the Maine Senate.  The Maine Senate is charged with confirming the appointment.

This is an extraordinary opportunity for Maine students to practice civic engagement while serving as both a representative of Maine students and an active education leader in our state.

For further information please visit the Maine State Board of Education web page or contact Sandra Bourget, Office Specialist, at 207-624-6616 or via email at Sandra.A.Bourget@maine.gov.

New Student Member Appointed by Governor Mills to the Maine State Board of Education

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) and the Maine State Board of Education announced the newest student member of the Board and newly elected officers.

The Board consists of nine members appointed by the Governor along with two nonvoting student members appointed by the Governor. Board members serve staggered, five-year terms and nonvoting student members serve staggered, two-year terms.

New Maine State Board of Education Student Member:

State Board Student Member

Ryan Hafener

Ryan Hafener of Hampden was appointed to the State Board of Education as a student member in May 2022.  He will fill seat 10 in the second congressional district.  Mr. Hafener is currently a Junior at Hampden Academy where he is an honors and AP student.  He is an active member of his school community and is a member of many extracurricular activities including Hampden Academy Student Council, the Tennis Team, Key Club, Spanish Club, Jazz Band and the Beekeeping Club.  Mr. Hafener is also a natural leader having been involved in organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America, Key Club International and was a volunteer at the Bangor Challenger Learning Center, which is a nonprofit organization that focuses on teaching elementary and middle school-aged children the importance of STEM, and as Ryan notes, “an endeavor he is very passionate about”.  Ryan’s excellent academic profile, civic-engagement and community leadership will lend a positive prospective to the State Board of Education.

Committee appointments: Student Voices Committee

New Officers Elected to the Maine State Board of Education

At the June 15, 2022 State Board of Education Meeting, the Board re-elected Fern M.Y. Desjardins to serve as Chair of the Board and elected Paulette Bonneau to serve as Vice Chair of the Board for a one-year term beginning July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023.

Fern DesjardinsFern Desjardins of St. Agatha was appointed to the State Board of Education in April 2018. She has served on the School Construction Committee (currently Chair), Certification & Higher Education Committee, Legislative Action Committee, Maine Charter School Commission and a number of other committees of the State Board. She represents the State Board on the Maine Education Policy Research Institute Steering Committee and on other education committees.  Desjardins was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Association of State Boards of Education in June 2019 and has served on a number of their committees, including being chair of their Public Education Positions Committee.  She was elected secretary-treasurer of the organization in October 2021 for a two-year term.  Desjardins worked for 43 years in RSU 33/MSAD 33 as a teacher, elementary school principal, and superintendent of schools before retiring in 2017.  She has taught graduate level courses for UMaine as an adjunct faculty member, worked as a facilitator for school systems, and served on various committees and special projects of the Maine DOE where she proudly continues to serve on the Multilingual Learner Advisory Council.  She holds a Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership and a Master’s Degree in Language Arts from UMaine, a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Educational Leadership from USM, and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from UMFK.  “It is an honor and true privilege for me to continue serving as Chair of the State Board for a second year.  I am humbled by this outstanding opportunity to lead a board of very dedicated individuals committed to providing policy leadership and support for effective schools so all students are prepared to succeed in school, work, and life,” stated Desjardins.

Paulette BonneauPaulette Bonneau of Biddeford was appointed to the State Board of Education in June of 2021.  She serves seat 7 in the first congressional district.  Ms. Bonneau attended Stonehill College and received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Upon graduating, Ms. Bonneau became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker focusing on Mental Health and Substance abuse.  At the same time, Ms. Bonneau also worked as a School Social Worker at the John F. Kennedy School supporting students and their families from grades 3-5. In 2004, Ms. Bonneau was awarded her master’s in Social Work from the University of Michigan and in 2006 received a Graduate Certificate of Advanced Studies in Educational Leadership/Administration from the University of Southern Maine. Shortly before getting her Graduate Certificate, Ms. Bonneau transitioned into the position of Assistant Principal at the John F Kennedy School and the Biddeford Intermediate School. Once again, she transitioned in 2007 into the role of Principal at the John F Kennedy School and remained in this role until 2015. From the John F. Kennedy School, Ms. Bonneau moved to her current position as the Director of the Biddeford Regional Center of Technology. Outside of her work, Ms. Bonneau is a member of the Biddeford Workforce Development Committee, the Maine Association of Adult Education, the Coalition on Adult Education, the York County United Way Early Child Development Committee and the CTE-EPS formula work group.
Committee appointments: Career & Technical Education Committee, Board Effectiveness Ad Hoc Committee (chair), and Legislative Action Committee.

MEDIA RELEASE: Three New Maine State Board of Education Members Appointed by Governor Mills

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) and the Maine State Board of Education today announced the newest members of the Board and their committee assignments.

The Board consists of nine members appointed by the Governor along with two nonvoting student members also appointed by the Governor. Board members serve staggered, five-year terms and nonvoting student members serve staggered, two-year terms.

New Maine State Board of Education Members:

Mark Balfantz
Mark Balfantz of Portland was appointed to the State Board of Education in February of 2022.  He will fill seat 8 in the first congressional district.  Mr. Balfantz served in the United States Marine Corps for 10 years.  He is a Maine citizen who has served on his local school board in Portland for three years.  He is the Vice President, General Counsel and Lending Compliance Officer at Kennebunk Savings Bank.  Mr. Balfantz has years of experience as an attorney as well as a background in financial investment.  He understands policy and financing in addition to the comprehension of the Department of Education’s goals and challenges having served at the local level.  He holds a BS in Business Administration with focus on Finance and attended Temple University’s Beasley School of Law.  He has been a member of the Maine Bar Association since 2016.

Kristin Bishop
Kristin Bishop of Madison was appointed to the State Board of Education in April of 2022.  She will fill seat 4 in the second congressional district.  Ms. Bishop is not a stranger to serve on the State Board of Education as she served as a student member of the Board from 2012 to 2014.  Currently, she is the Program and Outreach Coordinator for Civic Engagement at Colby College.  Ms. Bishop holds a BA in Education and Government & Legal Studies from Bowdoin College.  She is currently pursuing her graduate studies at Thomas College in Waterville, Maine and expects to complete her MBA the summer of 2022.  Ms. Bishop holds a lifelong dedication to public service and community engagement and has been involved with numerous higher education service and civic organizations.
Committee appointments: Career and Technical Education

Thomas Keller
Thomas “Tom” Keller of Newcastle was appointed to the State Board of Education in March of 2022.  He will fill seat 6 in the first congressional district.  Mr. Keller is a retired educator and has been a classroom teacher, a school administrator, a Scientist and educational researcher.  He’s worked in education policy, and is the Founding President of STEM Education Strategies, LLC, an organization in which he works collaboratively with educators and institutions to streamline the system of science education.  He believes that there is value in interconnecting various sectors of education, that good assessment facilitates good instruction, that teacher competence breeds confidence, and that policies must support high-quality learning.  Dr. Keller has served as an Executive Director of the Maine STEM Council, he is a member of the University of Maine at Augusta Board of Visitors and serves in many other educationally formulated organizations.  Dr. Keller holds a BS in Zoology from Texas A&M University and his Ed.D. from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Committee appointments: Certification and Higher Education Committee

Fern Desjardins, Chair of the Maine State Board of Education, stated that the new members have brought knowledge and experiences that already benefit the work of the Board in carrying out its duties and responsibilities.

“Their energy and enthusiasm in getting appointed to the board’s committees and in being of service in any way needed to help the board accomplish its goals is greatly appreciated. Their contributions will help advance the work of the State Board in carrying out its policy-making, administrative and advisory functions,” said Desjardins.

For more information about the State Board of Education, visit their website https://www.maine.gov/doe/about/leadership/stateboard.

PRIORITY NOTICE: State Board of Education Adopts New Chapter 115 Regulations for the Credentialing of Education Personnel

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is pleased to announce that on May 11, 2022, the State Board of Education voted in favor of final adoption of Rule Chapter 115: The Credentialing of Education Personnel. These changes come after more than two years of work with numerous stakeholders to ensure unnecessary barriers were removed, and that Maine continues to have well-prepared educators to work with students in our schools. The final version includes changes required by the Maine Legislature.

Some of the highlights of the new rule include:

  • Praxis exams are no longer required.  Instead of this specific requirement, an applicant for certification may choose to pass Praxis I, utilize a summative grade point average (gpa) of 3.0 for courses required for the certification, or submit a portfolio for review.
  • References to the latest versions of professional standards for many certificates have been updated.
  • Language was enhanced to include greater flexibilities with degrees, as well as work and academic experiences.
  • Course requirements for human development as well as diversity-centered content related to today’s classroom have been added.
  • Many updates to Career and Technical Education certificates and endorsements have been made.
  • Some grade spans have been expanded to include pre-kindergarten.
  • Greater flexibilities for international teachers and alternative education teachers have been added.
  • Renewal requirements for some administrator certificates have been changed.

The new regulations will now be filed with the Maine Secretary of State and become effective 30 days after. The new rule will be posted here.

To assist in understanding the new regulations, the DOE is offering a webinar series, which will be recorded, for anyone in the field.  Please see below for dates, topics, and a link to the webinars:

May 18 – New Ch. 115 Regulations: How Did We Get Here? 

May 25 – Overview of Chapter 115 Changes 

June 8 – How to Best Support Educators Through the Certification Process 

The Certification Team is hard at work implementing the new changes and providing updated resources on the website www.maine.gov/doe/cert. The best way to reach the team is to email cert.doe@maine.gov.