The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education, in collaboration with the Transition Maine Regional Transition Collaborative Fellows, invites you to save the date for the third annual “I Belong” Youth Summit, to be held at Central Maine Community College in Auburn on May 21, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Information regarding registrations for middle and high schools will be released soon. A school interest form is now available for those planning to bring students to the event: Access the School Interest Form here.
The “I Belong” Youth Summit invites schools from across Maine to join a transformative initiative designed specifically for transition-aged students with disabilities. This dynamic gathering goes beyond traditional career fairs to offer meaningful exploration, skill-building, and work-based learning opportunities tailored to each student’s interests and abilities. Check out this article about the second annual “I Belong” Youth Summit.
By participating in this event, you will become part of a statewide movement to reshape post-secondary pathways for all Maine students with disabilities. Your involvement creates ripple effects of opportunity:
Students discover career paths they may never have considered, building confidence and practical skills for their future.
Educators gain valuable resources, evidence-based practices, and direct connections with industry partners.
Businesses develop tomorrow’s workforce, while fulfilling community engagement goals.
Help your students find where they belong in Maine’s future workforce. The “I Belong” Youth Summit provides a student-centered environment for youth to explore career pathways at their own pace, connect with potential employers, and envision new possibilities for their lives after school. Together, we can create a more inclusive, opportunity-rich future for Maine’s students with disabilities.
For more information, please contact Tracy Whitlock, Maine DOE Special Projects and Educator Supports Coordinator, at tracy.w.whitlock@maine.gov.
The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is now accepting applications for the 2025-2026 Maine DOE Student Cabinet, a group of students who collaborate with Maine DOE staff to provide input on educational opportunities and generate ideas. The deadline to apply is Thursday, November 20, 2025.
This is the sixth year that the Maine DOE has appointed students to a Student Cabinet, with the goal of integrating student voices into decision-making on education issues that impact their journey through Maine’s education system. In past years, students have helped to identify mental health needs at school, raised issues of racial equity and school safety, and brainstormed ways to individualize learning.
Students in grades 4-12 and the first year of college are eligible to apply for membership in the Student Cabinet. Selection aims to maximize student participation while ensuring equitable representation from across the state, county, community, and age groups. Interested past participants are encouraged to apply and will be considered for reappointment, subject to space availability.
The newly appointed Student Cabinet members will serve during the current school year, starting in December of 2025 and continuing through May of 2026. Members will be expected to prepare for and attend virtual meetings held on the second Wednesday of each month from 3:30 to 5 p.m. for the duration of their term of appointment. Meeting dates are as follows:
December 10, 2025
January 14, 2026
February 11, 2026
March 11, 2026
April 8, 2026
May 13, 2026
In these meetings, Student Cabinet members will be expected to listen to the presented topics and express their views and opinions openly, constructively, and respectfully, while working collaboratively with one another and Maine DOE staff.
Instructions for applying: Students interested in serving on the Maine DOE Student Cabinet should submit their electronic applications here by November 20. The three main application questions are as follows:
Why would you like to be part of the Student Cabinet?
What do you hope to gain from your time on the Student Cabinet?
What do you hope to contribute during your time on the Student Cabinet?
For more information, please contact Rachel Paling, Maine DOE Communications and Outreach Manager, at rachel.paling@maine.gov.
The Maine Department of Education’s (DOE) Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) invites students from SAUs participating in the MLTI program to enter the 2026 Maine Winter Classic T-shirt design competition! The deadline to submit a T-shirt design is January 5, 2026.
A single student-created T-shirt design will be selected and featured on T-shirts distributed to thousands of participants from across Maine for MLTI’s 2026 Maine Winter Classic from March 2-6, 2026. This annual event is a game-based learning experience where students “travel” virtually around Maine, completing challenges, earning tokens, and exploring topics like computer science, digital citizenship, digital design, and gamification. Through these engaging, collaborative activities, students develop digital skills, connect with peers across the state, and discover how technology can serve as a tool for creativity, problem-solving, and innovation in everyday life.
On Constitution Day this year, Wednesday, September 17, 2025, Maine third-grade teachers are invited to have their classes take part in a unique national virtual learning experience: the Third Grade Virtual Mock Trial, hosted by Olathe Public Schools in partnership with the Kansas 10th Judicial District Court.
What Is Involved
Event Date and Time: September 17, 2025, beginning at 11:30 a.m. EST (10:30 a.m. CT)
Format: A live, interactive mock trial designed especially for third graders—offering a fun, civic-themed activity to celebrate Constitution Day and Freedom Week. It’s completely free and accessible to educators across Maine and beyond.
This engaging mock trial supports the Maine third-grade social studies standard—that societies are shaped by the identities, beliefs, and practices of individuals and groups, and that choices have consequences, and individuals have rights and responsibilities. Students will connect with civic concepts such as:
Understanding why we have laws and rules
Learning about the roles of court officials
Exploring how giving back through civic duties, like jury service, strengthens the community
Experiencing the workings of the judicial branch and Constitution firsthand
Ready-Made Classroom Tools
To ensure a seamless and enriching experience, participating teachers can access:
Instructional materials that support classroom learning before, during, and after the event.
Lessons exploring rule-making, the various roles in a courtroom, and even a virtual courtroom tour!
Launched more than a decade ago by Judge Robert J. Wonnell at Forest View Elementary in Olathe, the Third Grade Virtual Mock Trial has grown from a local classroom activity to a nationwide celebration of civic learning.
In 2024, the mock trial engaged more than 13,000 students across 542 classrooms in Kansas alone, featuring notable appearances by Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Marla Luckert, Governor Laura Kelly, and U.S. Senator Jerry Moran via livestream—and even attracted attention from the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
NASA is launching an exciting opportunity for middle and high school students across the country—and it’s free to participate! Applications are now open for the NASA TechRise Student Challenge, which invites students in grades 6-12 to submit ideas for science and technology experiments that could fly on a suborbital flight, such as a high-altitude balloon or rocket from the commercial space industry.
This is more than just a science project; it’s a chance for students to get hands-on experience designing experiments for real NASA-sponsored flights, working like NASA engineers and scientists and engaging deeply in STEM learning.
Winning teams receive:
$1,500 to build their experiment.
A spot on a NASA-sponsored flight.
Technical support from expert NASA TechRise advisors.
Additionally, every participating educator and student team will gain access to:
Free educational resources to support classroom instruction.
An exciting student virtual field trip in the fall.
Optional informational sessions for educators and organizations to learn more and get involved.
The NASA TechRise Student Challenge welcomes teams of all skill levels, whether your students are experienced in STEM or just getting started. Maine is already represented among the stars! Check out thewinning experiment from Gorham High School, which flew during the 2024-2025 NASA TechRise Student Challenge.
You may visit the NASA TechRise Student Challenge website to register for the challenge, find updates, and view the challenge flyer. Additionally, your school, district, or organization can request a NASA TechRise information session tailored to your needs. Complete this form to schedule a session and learn how to bring this opportunity to your community.
Applications are now open for the Foundations of Machining Training Bootcamp this summer for recent Maine high school graduates. Hosted by York County Community College, this 16-day training provides both classroom and hands-on machine time for students to learn how to safely operate mills and lathes and receive an introduction to CNC operations. Students who complete this program will be ready to apply for high-demand careers.
This program is no cost to Maine students, thanks to the generosity of the Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine’s Workforce.
Participants will learn:
Shop Safety Blueprint
Reading Math for Manufacturing
Precision Measurement
Lathe and Mill Operation
Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing
Metallurgy Essential Skills for the Workplace
Foundations of Machining Training Bootcamp schedule (Monday-Thursday):
July 7-10: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
July 14-17: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
July 21-24: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. July 28-July 31: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For more information and to apply, please contact York County Community College at YCCCworkforce@mainecc.edu or by calling 207-216-4475.
(Students from the Winslow High School Cheerleading Team pose with Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows.)
The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education held its second annual “I Belong” Youth Summit at Central Maine Community College on Thursday, May 29. This event brought together students from across the state with individualized education plans (IEPs) for a day dedicated to empowerment, connection, and celebration of student voice. Student participants ranged in age from 10 to 22 years old.
The summit is an initiative that happens through the Transition Maine program, which was developed by the Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education to provide accessible and inclusive transition services for students moving from high school into adulthood. The Executive Student Transition Committee, a team of students who assist with the Transition Maine program, plays a large role in the organization of this event, designed to amplify the voices of youth with varying abilities.“To see our students meaningfully engage and included in hands-on activities to help them imagine their future makes me and our team very proud,” Executive Student Transition Committee Co-Chair Connor Archer said, reflecting on the success of the summit. “As someone who received special education services right here in Maine, I know how unique and powerful this experience is.”
Secretary of State Shenna Bellows kicked off the summit by speaking with students about Maine’s new accessible voting machines, known as the ExpressVote.
The system allows voters to mark their ballots using a touchscreen or keypad, and it includes audio instructions for those who are visually impaired. It then prints a paper ballot that can be scanned and counted. Bellows emphasized the importance of civic participation and ensuring that all Mainers, including those with disabilities, have full access to the process.
The daylong event allowed students to discover post-secondary opportunities through engaging, hands-on activities. Career paths in trades, culinary arts, agriculture, health care, media, and more were highlighted throughout the day. Students practiced knife skills with chefs, pulled lobsters from traps, and planted vegetables. They participated in Central Maine Power’s “Safety City” demonstration, regarding safety around power lines, and joined the Maine DOE Rethinking Responsive Education Ventures (RREV) team, along with the Student Leadership Ambassadors of Maine (SLAM) from Nokomis High School, for mock media interviews, designed for those interested in journalism and broadcasting.
L.L. Bean introduced the students to the world of retail through an interactive clothing activity that focused on merchandising and apparel knowledge. The iconic “Bootmobile” was also on display, drawing students in and sparking conversations about careers in retail and outdoor recreation.
“I want to become an EMT. If that doesn’t work out, I want to work in a mortuary,” Abagail Giles, a student from Stearns High School, shared in an interview with NEWS CENTER Maine.
Educators and business partners at the summit emphasized the importance of creating inclusive pathways to employment.
“There is a ton of value, skill, brainpower, and I think it’s essential not to exclude a segment of the population,” Kim Cotta, Talent Development Manager at Darling’s Auto Group, said.
Titus O’Rourke, the Transition Specialist with the Maine DOE, emphasized the goal of the event in an interview with NEWS CENTER Maine: “[These students] belong in every single career pathway, and it’s important for students to understand what is available to them.”
By connecting students with real-world experiences and professional mentors, the “I Belong” Youth Summit helps to ensure that all Maine students with IEPs have the tools and confidence they need to shape their futures.
The third annual “I Belong” Youth Summit is set to take place in the Bangor area next spring. Due to the strong student participation from across the state for this event, Transition Maine and the Executive Student Transition Committee have plans to expand the “I Belong” Youth Summit.
For more information about the Maine DOE Transition Maine program, click here. Educators interested in connecting with someone about the Transition Maine program may contact her Titus O’Rourke at titus.orourke@maine.gov.
Are you ready to open doors to boundless possibilities for your students? Consider registering for the Maine Department of Education (DOE) Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education’s (OSSIE) second annual ‘I Belong’ Youth Summit, scheduled for Thursday, May 29, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Central Maine Community College.
This Summit invites schools across Maine to join a transformative initiative, designed specifically for students with disabilities who are at the age of transitioning from school to their future. This dynamic gathering goes beyond traditional career fairs to offer meaningful exploration, skill-building, and work-based learning opportunities, tailored to each student’s interests and abilities.
Making a Difference Together
By participating in this summit, you become part of a statewide movement to reshape post-secondary pathways for ALL Maine students with disabilities. Your involvement creates ripple effects of opportunity:
Students discover career paths they may never have considered, building confidence and practical skills for their future.
Educators gain valuable resources, evidence-based practices, and direct connections with industry partners.
Businesses develop tomorrow’s workforce, while fulfilling community engagement goals.
Join the Movement
Help your students find where they belong in Maine’s future workforce. The ‘I Belong’ Youth Summit provides a student-centered environment for youth to explore career pathways at their own pace, connect with potential employers, and envision new possibilities for their lives after school.
Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of something extraordinary! Together, we can create a more inclusive, opportunity-rich future for Maine’s students with disabilities.
Maine middle and high schools may register their students here if they plan to bring them to the second annual ‘I Belong’ Youth Summit.
For more information, please contact Maine DOE Transition Specialist Titus O’Rourke at titus.orourke@maine.gov.
Are you ready to open doors to boundless possibilities for your students? Consider registering for the Maine Department of Education (DOE) Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education’s (OSSIE) second annual ‘I Belong’ Youth Summit, scheduled for Thursday, May 29, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Central Maine Community College.
This Summit invites schools across Maine to join a transformative initiative, designed specifically for students with disabilities who are at the age of transitioning from school to their future. This dynamic gathering goes beyond traditional career fairs to offer meaningful exploration, skill-building, and work-based learning opportunities, tailored to each student’s interests and abilities.
Making a Difference Together
By participating in this summit, you become part of a statewide movement to reshape post-secondary pathways for ALL Maine students with disabilities. Your involvement creates ripple effects of opportunity:
Students discover career paths they may never have considered, building confidence and practical skills for their future.
Educators gain valuable resources, evidence-based practices, and direct connections with industry partners.
Businesses develop tomorrow’s workforce, while fulfilling community engagement goals.
Join the Movement
Help your students find where they belong in Maine’s future workforce. The ‘I Belong’ Youth Summit provides a student-centered environment for youth to explore career pathways at their own pace, connect with potential employers, and envision new possibilities for their lives after school.
Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of something extraordinary! Together, we can create a more inclusive, opportunity-rich future for Maine’s students with disabilities.
Maine middle and high schools are invited to fill out a school interest form, if they are planning to bring students to the second annual ‘I Belong’ Youth Summit. (Registrations for individual students will be sent directly to schools that complete the interest form.)
For more information, please contact Maine DOE Transition Specialist Titus O’Rourke at titus.orourke@maine.gov.
Registration is now open for the ninth annual New England Youth Identity Summit, which will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2025, on the campus of Waynflete School in Portland. This event is free to attend, with lunch included for high school students from Maine and across New England who register in advance. This full-day program will feature inspiring speakers, student-led workshops, and performances designed to foster relationships within and across communities.
With support from Educate Maine, the Summit will include an educator track with morning and afternoon workshops for educators who come with their students. Led by teachers for teachers, these workshops will explore how to develop and support cultures of civil dialogue and civic engagement in schools and communities.
Transportation for Students
Thanks to program support from M&T Bank, a limited number of transportation grants will be provided to schools in need. You may use this link to apply.
Maine DOE Newsroom 