Maine DOE Update – September 11, 2026

From the Maine Department of Education

News & Updates

Launching Dirigo Schools of Distinction Framework in 2026-2027 School Year

We are excited to share the Dirigo Schools of Distinction (DSD) framework as a resource for Maine schools. DSD is intended to celebrate Maine schools that are making a meaningful difference for students, staff, and communities. DSD also offers a clear, supportive roadmap for schools and school administrative units (SAUs), as they consider where to focus time, energy, and resources to strengthen student outcomes. |  More

Reminder: Recognize Your Outstanding School Staff: RISE Award Now Accepting Nominations

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) invites students, friends, families, community members, educational organizations or associations, co-workers, and supervisors to nominate school employees for the RISE Award. Anyone can nominate! |  More

Maine Schools Sharing Success Stories

From Trees to Table: RSU 74 Alternative Education Students Turn a Sugaring Project into a Lesson in Grit and Teamwork

For students in RSU 74’s Alternative Education program, learning this spring started in the forest and ended with maple syrup on ice cream. A month-long maple sugaring project gave students an opportunity to experience the full process of making maple syrup while building skills in observation, data collection, problem-solving, teamwork, and perseverance. |  More

Better Together: County Teachers of the Year Open Their Classroom Doors to Learn From One Another

In the very early morning hours of August 28, Marcy Soucy, a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher at Fairmount School in Bangor and the 2026 Penobscot County Teacher of the Year, headed north. And not just north, north north, to the picturesque, close-knit community of St. Agatha, Maine, to visit fellow educator and 2026 Aroostook County Teacher of the Year Kathy Theriault, the high school math teacher at Wisdom Middle and High School, part of MSAD #33. |  More

Submit good news to the Maine Department of Education here.

Professional Learning/Training Opportunities

Registration Open for EngageMEnt 2026-2027: Cultivating Innovative Teaching and Learning

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Offices of Teaching and Learning and Innovation are pleased to announce that registration is now open for EngageMEnt 2026-2027, a statewide professional learning opportunity designed to support educators in exploring innovative, engaging, and impactful practices for teaching and learning. Offered in partnership with the University of Maine and University of Southern Maine, EngageMEnt creates opportunities for educators from across the state to learn, collaborate, reflect, and apply new ideas in their classrooms, schools, and communities. The initiative also provides opportunities for practicing educators and pre-service educators to learn alongside one another while exploring current educational priorities and practices. |  More

Maine DOE to Host Virtual ‘For ME Instructional Programming’ Professional Learning Communities for Pre-K through Grade 2 During 2026-2027 School Year

The Maine Department of Education (DOE), in collaboration with teacher leaders from across the state, is once again offering professional learning communities (PLCs) for educators and caregivers implementing the For Me Instructional Programming, which include Pre-K for ME, K for ME, 1st Grade for ME, and 2nd Grade for ME. |  More

Maine Educators Invited to Explore Genealogy and Local History Through New Professional Learning Cohort

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Office of Teaching and Learning invites educators to apply for American Ancestors: Unlocking Maine’s Story, a free professional learning cohort that begins with an in-person kickoff on October 13, 2026, at the University of Maine at Farmington from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The cohort is designed to help educators use genealogy and local history to strengthen classroom learning. |  More

Registration Open for 16th Annual PBIS Conference

Maine’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (Maine PBIS) program, a collaboration between the Maine Department of Education (DOE) and the University of Maine System (UMS), will host its annual conference on November 19, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Augusta Civic Center. |  More

Maine DOE Launches Free Virtual Literacy Learning Series

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Offices of Teaching and Learning and Special Services and Inclusive Education invite educators and education professionals—including teachers, administrators, literacy specialists, and educational technicians—to participate in a free virtual literacy professional learning series during the 2026–2027 school year. |  More

View the Maine Department of Education’s Events Calendar here.

Career/Project Opportunities:

Find education-related jobs in Maine.

Better Together: County Teachers of the Year Open Their Classroom Doors to Learn From One Another

Kathy Theriault (left), a high school math teacher at Wisdom Middle and High School, part of MSAD #33, and 2026 Aroostook County Teacher of the Year, and Marcy Soucy (right), a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher at Fairmount School in Bangor and the 2026 Penobscot County Teacher of the Year.

In the very early morning hours of August 28, Marcy Soucy, a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher at Fairmount School in Bangor and the 2026 Penobscot County Teacher of the Year, headed north. And not just north, north north, to the picturesque, close-knit community of St. Agatha, Maine, to visit fellow educator and 2026 Aroostook County Teacher of the Year Kathy Theriault, the high school math teacher at Wisdom Middle and High School, part of MSAD #33.

The nearly 200-mile trip was about much more than a classroom visit. It was an opportunity for two educators from different grade levels, schools, and regions of Maine to open their classroom doors, learn from one another, and explore a simple question: What happens when teachers become students of one another’s practice? 

The plan began months earlier during a workshop for the 2026 Maine County Teachers of the Year. In addition to being selected and recognized as County Teachers of the Year and considered for Maine Teacher of the Year, these educators spend a year in service, participating in professional learning and leadership opportunities with the Maine Department of Education (DOE) and Educate Maine. They also form a cohort and work on individual and group projects designed to strengthen Maine’s education landscape and elevate the voices of Maine educators through grassroots, teacher-led efforts.

It was during one of these professional learning opportunities this summer that County Teachers of the Year were encouraged to step outside their own classrooms, visit one another’s schools and learn from the incredible educators who make up the cohort.

“Kathy and I didn’t need much convincing. We wanted to see the amazing work of other educators.” Soucy stated. “We had already discovered how much we could learn from one another through conversations about our classrooms, our students, and our shared love for math. So we decided to turn those conversations into action.” The decision was made; the collaboration would be a two-way learning experience. Soucy would travel north in August to spend time learning alongside Theriault and her students, and during Potato Harvest Break in Northern Maine, Theriault would travel south to visit Fairmount School, an elementary school in Bangor. 

This year, MSAD #33 has placed a districtwide emphasis on student engagement, with educators drawing inspiration from Jonathan Alsheimer’s School of Engagement and exploring strategies designed to increase connection, participation, and joy in learning. Drawing on work from her master’s program in Human Relations at Husson University, with a focus on creating positive classroom environments, Soucy gathered a collection of team-building games and collaborative activities. When asked his thoughts, WMHS Principal Robby Nadeau said, “The best ideas in education usually come from collaboration, rather than a singular thought.”

Although Soucy wondered if the team building activities would translate from her younger classroom to Theriault’s older classroom, Theriault wasn’t worried at all. “I was so excited to share my classroom with Marcy and knew she would have insight on team-building activities. I loved how she set the ‘stage’ with essential questions and criteria while allowing students to feel comfortable choosing to participate or help in another way,” Theriault said. “I am totally going to steal that for the future!”

And then the students walked into the room. The first activity was a simple game of competitive Rock, Paper, Scissors, one of Soucy’s favorites. Simple, perhaps, but within minutes, the room was buzzing.

Students interacting
Students interacting


Students were laughing, cheering for their classmates, celebrating wins, and playfully groaning over losses. The energy continued to build as students moved around the room, challenging one another and searching for their next opponent. What began as a familiar childhood game quickly became something much bigger: an opportunity to connect, encourage one another, and simply bring joy into the learning process. The engagement was immediate and genuine. There was no need to convince students to participate. They were in it.

Teacher with students

Soucy stated, “As I watched the room, I was struck by how quickly joy can open the door to connection. Students were interacting, practicing positive sportsmanship, and discovering that learning together can feel a lot like play. It was magic.”

With the next game of Bottle Flip Team Tic-Tac-Toe, students who initially hung back began participating. Teams began communicating more intentionally. Students encouraged classmates who were struggling. The room became louder, more animated, and more connected.

The impact was perhaps best captured not by either teacher, but by the students themselves. When Soucy invited students to reflect on the experience, seventh grader Elsi Picard explained, “It makes you energized when your team is cheering for you!”

This is what happens when educators open the doors to their classrooms and allow themselves to be learners, too. “Kathy and I come from different educational settings and work with different age groups, but our goals are remarkably similar. We both want students to feel connected and feel that sense of belonging to their learning community. We want them to see themselves as capable and a valued member. We want them to take risks, learn from mistakes, and understand that they matter. Great ideas don’t belong to one grade level, one school, or one district. We were not trying to create a perfect lesson. We were trying something new. We talked. We questioned. We adjusted. We laughed. We learned, ” Soucy said in her reflection.  

As educators, it can be easy to become focused on our own classrooms, our own students, and our own responsibilities. Yet some of our greatest professional learning can happen when we step outside those four walls. The invitation to visit one another’s classrooms was simple: Get out. Visit. Learn from each other. Soucy said, “I am so grateful that Kathy and I said yes.” 

That day at Wisdom Middle and High School was about much more than team-building activities. It was about professional generosity. It was about trusting another educator enough to open the door and say, Come see what I’m doing. Let me see what you’re doing. Let’s figure this out together. That kind of collaboration makes all educators better. And it reminds us that learning isn’t something that ends when we become teachers.  Teachers are still learners. They are still curious. They are still trying new things.

When educators model that curiosity for one another, students see something important: learning is not something that ends when we leave school. It is a lifelong process and it can be joyful.

The collaboration between Soucy and Theriault is only halfway finished. During Northern Maine’s Potato Harvest Break, Theriault will head south to Fairmount School in Bangor, where the roles will reverse and she will step into Soucy’s elementary classroom as the learner.

Because when educators open their classroom doors to one another, everyone learns.

This story was submitted by Maine 2025 County Teachers of the Year Marcy Soucy (Penobscot County) and Kathy Theriault (Aroostook County). To submit a good news story to the Maine DOE, please fill out the good news submission form.

Maine Educators Invited to Explore Genealogy and Local History Through New Professional Learning Cohort

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Office of Teaching and Learning invites educators to apply for American Ancestors: Unlocking Maine’s Story, a free professional learning cohort that begins with an in-person kickoff on October 13, 2026, at the University of Maine at Farmington from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The cohort is designed to help educators use genealogy and local history to strengthen classroom learning.

The cohort is designed for educators serving students in grades 4–8, with an emphasis on English language arts, social studies, and humanities instruction. Participants will explore how interdisciplinary learning can strengthen literacy and historical thinking while engaging students in meaningful research and inquiry. Genealogical research provides students with meaningful opportunities to work directly with primary sources and historical evidence. Throughout the cohort, educators will explore ways to support students in investigating family and community histories, examining archival materials, developing questions, evaluating sources, and sharing their discoveries.

The approximately 30-hour cohort includes both synchronous and asynchronous learning. Participants will engage in an in-person kickoff, four monthly one-hour virtual synchronous meetings, and two to eight hours of online individual or small-group coaching with American Ancestors, depending on each group’s needs. The remaining time will be completed asynchronously through the Maine DOE learning management system, EnGiNE. Approximately half of the cohort will consist of synchronous learning, with the exact balance depending on participants’ coaching needs.

The initiative brings together organizations with expertise in Maine history and education, including American Ancestors, the Maine Historical Society, the Maine Genealogical Society, and the University of Maine at Farmington. Participants will collaborate with staff from these organizations, historians, archivists, Maine DOE specialists, fellow educators, and community partners to develop interdisciplinary learning experiences that integrate literacy, history, research skills, and inquiry-based learning. These partners will provide access to historical resources, archival expertise, and perspectives that can help bring Maine’s diverse history into the classroom.

Participants can earn professional development contact hours and may qualify for a $500 implementation grant to support classroom projects incorporating genealogy, local history, research, and interdisciplinary learning.

To expand access to professional learning opportunities across Maine, preference will be given to educators from underserved areas. Overnight accommodations will be provided for participants traveling more than 50 miles to the University of Maine at Farmington.

A limited number of spots are available. Apply online.

For more information, please contact Interdisciplinary Instruction Specialist Geoffrey Wingard at Geoffrey.Wingard@maine.gov

Maine DOE Launches Free Virtual Literacy Learning Series

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Offices of Teaching and Learning and Special Services and Inclusive Education invite educators and education professionals—including teachers, administrators, literacy specialists, and educational technicians—to participate in a free virtual literacy professional learning series during the 2026–2027 school year.

Designed to provide flexible, connected learning opportunities, the series allows participants to choose a professional learning path based on their grade span, interests, and learning goals.

Choose Your Literacy Learning Path

In November of 2026, and January and March of 2027, participants can engage in three connected literacy learning opportunities. Each month will focus on a different aspect of literacy instruction, with sessions tailored to three grade spans: Prek through grade 3, upper elementary and middle school, and high school.

Participants may choose from two learning pathways:

  • Explore Across Grade Spans and Topics: Register for all nine sessions to engage in nine hours of literacy professional learning across multiple grade spans and topics.
  • Deepen Learning Within a Grade Span: Follow one grade-span strand across the three sessions for a total of three hours of literacy professional learning, building knowledge and connections across the series.

Educators may also register for individual sessions based on their interests and professional learning needs. Contact hours will be awarded based on the number of sessions attended.

Whether educators are looking to broaden their understanding of literacy instruction or deepen their practice within a specific grade span, the series offers opportunities to learn, reflect, and connect evidence-based literacy practices to classroom instruction.

Registration

Session descriptions, dates, and registration links are provided below. Participants must register separately for each session they plan to attend.

November – Vocabulary & Morphology 

Vocabulary & Word Study for Young Learners (PreK-3)
November 5, 2026, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Dee Saucier, Maine DOE Inclusive Education Literacy Specialist & Dyslexia Coordinator

In session 1, participants will explore several explicit word study opportunities, such as vocabulary routines, word play, phonics, word analysis, and varied word sorts, to strengthen reading and language skills in young learners. 

Register Here

Cracking the Code: Words in Upper Elementary & Middle School
November 12, 2026, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Heather Martin, Maine DOE Interdisciplinary Instruction Specialist

Explore how understanding meaningful word parts—prefixes, suffixes, roots, and base words—can help students unlock vocabulary, make connections across disciplines, and become more confident readers and learners. 

Register Here

Cracking the Code: Words in High School
November 19, 2026, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Cee Belolan, Maine DOE Interdisciplinary Instruction Specialist

Examine how morphology supports increasingly complex vocabulary, disciplinary language, and comprehension, with strategies for helping students analyze and apply word structures across academic disciplines. 

Register Here

January – Vocabulary, Background Knowledge, & Verbal Reasoning

Oral Language to Build Vocabulary & Background Knowledge in Young Learners (PreK-3)
January 7, 2027, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Dee Saucier, Maine DOE Inclusive Education Literacy Specialist & Dyslexia Coordinator

In session 2, participants will explore the critical importance of oral language in a comprehensive literacy program and consider how rich oral language opportunities can support explicit vocabulary instruction and the developement of background knowledge. 

Register Here

Say it Like You Mean It: Disciplinary Discourse and the language of learning in Upper Elementary & Middle School
January 14, 2027, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Heather Martin, Maine DOE Interdisciplinary Instruction Specialist

Explore how students can use the language of different disciplines to explain ideas, ask questions, build on others’ thinking, and communicate their understanding through purposeful speaking, listening, reading, and writing. 

Register Here

Say it Like You Mean It: Disciplinary Discourse and the language of learning in High School
January 21, 2027, 3:30-4:30 p.m.  
Cee Belolan, Maine DOE Interdisciplinary Instruction Specialist

Examine how disciplinary discourse helps students engage in academic conversations, construct and defend ideas, and communicate using the language, evidence, and conventions of different fields. 

Register Here

March – Verbal Reasoning, Literacy Knowledge, and Language Structures 

Say Language Structures & Verbal Reasoning to Develop Critical Thinking for Young Learners (PreK-3)
March 4, 2027, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Dee Saucier, Maine DOE Inclusive Education Literacy Specialist & Dyslexia Coordinator

In session 3, participants will explore the remaining language comprehension strands of Scarborough’s Reading Rope, with a focus on language structures, verbal reasoning, and building deeper understanding for young learners.

Register Here

Text Complexity & Critical Thinking in Upper Elementary & Middle School
March 11, 2027, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Heather Martin, Maine DOE Interdisciplinary Instruction Specialist

Explore how increasingly complex texts challenge students to make connections, draw inferences, and build deeper understanding, with strategies to help students navigate challenging texts while maintaining rigorous thinking demands.

Register Here

Text Complexity & Critical Thinking in High School
March 18, 2027, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Cee Belolan, Maine DOE Interdisciplinary Instruction Specialist

Explore how increasingly complex texts create opportunities for more sophisticated thinking and examine how students can analyze, interpret, evaluate, and question complex ideas in disciplinary texts.

Register Here

We hope you will join us in strengthening literacy instruction and supporting Maine students as readers, writers, and thinkers.

If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Bertini, Maine DOE Interdisciplinary Instruction Team Coordinator, at Kathy.bertini@maine.gov or Dee Saucier, Maine DOE Inclusive Education Literacy Specialist & Dyslexia Coordinator, at danielle.m.saucier@maine.gov.

Maine DOE to Host Virtual ‘For ME Instructional Programming’ Professional Learning Communities for Pre-K through Grade 2 During 2026-2027 School Year

The Maine Department of Education (DOE), in collaboration with teacher leaders from across the state, is once again offering professional learning communities (PLCs) for educators and caregivers implementing the For Me Instructional Programming, which include Pre-K for ME, K for ME, 1st Grade for ME, and 2nd Grade for ME.

These monthly virtual PLCs are designed to deepen participants’ understanding of program design and implementation. Participants will explore units and program components in greater depth through real-world examples, shared practices, open discussion, and student work. Whether you are new to a program or have been using it for several years, these PLCs offer valuable support for teachers, educational technicians, instructional coaches, and other staff.

Pre-K for ME PLCs 2026-2027
Participants may choose from two meeting times: 3:30-4:30 p.m. or 6:00-7:00 p.m., on the first Monday of each month. The same content will be offered during both sessions.

  • October 5, 2026
  • November 2, 2026
  • December 7, 2026
  • January 4, 2027
  • February 1, 2027
  • March 1, 2027
  • April 5, 2027
  • May 3, 2027

K for ME, 1st Grade for ME, and 2nd Grade for ME PLCs 2026-2027
Sessions will be held virtually from 3:30-4:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month:

  • October 13, 2026
  • November 10, 2026
  • December 8, 2026
  • January 12, 2027
  • February 9, 2027
  • March 9, 2027
  • April 13, 2027

Registration

While regular attendance is encouraged, participants do not need to commit to every session. Access details will be provided after registration. 

Please register by Friday, September 25, 2026. You may do so using the following links:

Questions?

From Trees to Table: RSU 74 Alternative Education Students Turn a Sugaring Project into a Lesson in Grit and Teamwork

For students in RSU 74’s Alternative Education program, learning this spring started in the forest and ended with maple syrup on ice cream.

A month-long maple sugaring project gave students an opportunity to experience the full process of making maple syrup while building skills in observation, data collection, problem-solving, teamwork, and perseverance.

Serving students from Anson, Embden, New Portland, and Solon, RSU 74’s Alternative Education program began the project on March 6 by heading outdoors to identify maple trees using the Forest Trees of Maine book. Once they identified the right trees, students drilled the trees, installed spiles, and connected the tubing to the collection buckets.

From there, the students took responsibility for monitoring their sugarbush each day. They collected sap, recorded the quantity gathered, and documented the day’s temperature and weather conditions. They also developed a plan for storing the sap until they had collected enough to begin boiling.

Their goal was to collect 40 gallons of sap and turn it into approximately one gallon of maple syrup.

They surpassed that goal.

By the time they began boiling on March 30, students had collected 53 gallons and 5 ounces of sap. After several days of boiling, they finished on April 3 with approximately 1½ gallons of maple syrup.

The process wasn’t always easy.

The students faced cold, wind, rain, and snow throughout the project. At one point, strong winds blew away about half of their buckets, requiring them to work together to find a solution. During the boiling process, students used tarps to help preserve heat when temperatures dropped.

Rather than letting the challenges stop them, students adapted and kept going.

“The weather was not on our side sometimes, but we made it, and that’s what matters,” one student reflected.

The boiling process itself became another lesson in patience and perseverance. Students spent a total of 25 hours and 53 minutes working through the process, learning that making maple syrup requires much more time, labor, and fuel than they might have expected.

Sap boiling

They learned vocabulary associated with maple sugaring, tracked data, and observed how weather conditions affected the process. They also gained a firsthand understanding of the resources required to turn a natural product into something ready for the table.

“The whole process took us 25 hours and 53 minutes,” one student reflected. “This was a fun experiment. I would like to do this again.”

Another student recalled tasting the sap for the first time: “It tasted like water with a hint of a sugary taste.”

As the syrup production progressed, students began thinking creatively about how they could use what they had made. Ideas included maple syrup on ice cream and ployes, as well as candied nuts and snack cakes. The school’s culinary class also joined in, baking a traditional Tarte su sirop d’érable—a maple syrup pie—for the Alternative Education students.

The project culminated in a celebration where students enjoyed their maple syrup on ice cream and with ployes. Each student was also able to take a container of the syrup home.

maple syrup in glass containers

For the students, however, the biggest takeaway may not have been the syrup itself.

“It was a long process, but I enjoyed it even if it was freezing outside,” one student said. “Working outside was good.”

The project gave students an opportunity to see how persistence, teamwork and problem-solving can turn a challenging process into something tangible they could be proud of. From identifying trees and collecting data to troubleshooting equipment and enduring unpredictable spring weather, students were engaged in learning that connected the classroom to the land and to their own community.

RSU 74 also extends a special thank-you to Moscow Maple for its generous donation of buckets and lids, spiles, tubing, and a drill bit. The equipment and supplies helped make the hands-on learning experience possible.

In the end, the students didn’t just make maple syrup. They experienced patience, teamwork, and the grit it takes to make something from start to finish—and got a sweet reward for their efforts.

This story was written in collaboration with RSU 74’s Alternative Education program. To submit a good news story to the Maine DOE, please fill out the good news submission form.

Launching Dirigo Schools of Distinction Framework in 2026-2027 School Year

We are excited to share the Dirigo Schools of Distinction (DSD) framework as a resource for Maine schools.  DSD is intended to celebrate Maine schools that are making a meaningful difference for students, staff, and communities. DSD also offers a clear, supportive roadmap for schools and school administrative units (SAUs), as they consider where to focus time, energy, and resources to strengthen student outcomes.

Through extensive conversations and data collection across the state, the Measure What Matters initiative identified the conditions, practices, and outcomes that Mainers consistently value and have deemed the most important in their public schools. From this data, a report was published and used to create a framework called “Dirigo Schools of Distinction.” That framework is organized into seven pillars, each with a set of indicators that reflect the priorities voiced by Mainers. Across all pillars, DSD emphasizes a set of critical life skills identified through the Measure What Matters initiative and aligned closely with Maine’s Guiding Principles.

The framework will be a living document, informed by the DSD Advisory Committee (including DOE team members and experts from the field) who will make recommendations for updates and additions each spring. You can find more about this initiative along with a pdf version of the framework and a webform application here. 

The DSD framework features seven pillars of excellence:

  • Excellence in Academics and Instructional Practices
  • Excellence in Community and Family Engagement
  • Excellence in Health and Wellness
  • Excellence in Culture and Climate
  • Excellence in Innovation and Innovative Practices
  • Excellence in School Leadership, Educators, and Staff
  • Excellence in Student Engagement

Each year, beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, schools may apply to be recognized for excellence in one of these DSD pillars. Those who opt to participate will complete an online application that contains the rubric for the pillar for which they are applying. The DSD Advisory Committee will review application submissions and select awardees.

To be eligible to apply for a DSD pillar of excellence, a school must first complete the Outcomes and Continuous Growth section of the DSD rubric. Many of the listed Measures are data points that are already collected for state reporting each year and those can be pre-filled to support ease of application. A school may choose to mark Outcomes if it has achieved the indicated Measure. If a school has not achieved the indicated Measure but has seen significant improvement in that area, it may choose to mark Continuous Growth and provide a brief supporting narrative. Elementary schools must achieve three Outcomes/Continuous Growth Measures to be eligible for a DSD recognition. Middle/high schools must achieve five.

For those seeking a DSD recognition, scoring will work as follows:

  1.  Each indicator within a pillar has an “evidence of practice” measure, based on the extent to which an indicator is in place. The applicant school self-assesses to determine this score, explaining the rationale in a brief narrative.
  1. = emerging/partly in place/a practice or quality in some classrooms or teams
  2. = mostly in place/a practice or quality across the school
  3. = fully in place/a practice or quality that is generalized throughout the school
  1. A “Priority Multiplier” is pre-filled in the rubric for each indicator to recognize that some indicators are more important or more complex, requiring more commitment and effort than others.
  2. The evidence of practice measures are multiplied by their priority multipliers, generating a total for the pillar.

DSD Advisory Committee members will provide peer review of self-scoring through a collaborative process with applicant schools, and additional evidence may be included during this process.

To be recognized for a DSD pillar, a school must achieve at least 90% of the total possible score indicated on the rubric. (The total possible score for each pillar may vary slightly for elementary).      

If you are interested in participating in the inaugural year of the DSD initiative, please complete this online application by January 30, 2027. Schools that are ultimately recognized for a DSD pillar will earn a DSD Badge of Excellence for that school year and be celebrated during a statewide event in the spring.

With questions or for more information, please contact Page Nichols, Maine DOE Chief Innovation Officer, at page.nichols@maine.gov.

We look forward to celebrating excellence in your schools!

Maine DOE Update – September 4, 2026

From the Maine Department of Education

News & Updates

2027 Maine Teacher of the Year State Finalists Announced

Four Maine educators have been announced as state finalists for 2027 Maine Teacher of the Year. Abby McCoy, a Chemistry and Forensic Science Teacher at Lewiston High School; Adrianne Shetenhelm, an English and Alternative Education Teacher at Windham High School; Gretchen Livingston, a Spanish Teacher at Cony Middle and High School; and Gina Welch, a Pre-K Teacher at Crescent Park Elementary School, were selected from the 2026 Maine County Teachers of the Year cohort to move forward in the Teacher of the Year process. |  More

Joint Maine DOE and DHHS Guidance on IEPs and MaineCare Sections 28 and 65 Services – Repeat and Expanded Virtual Session

The Maine Department of Education (DOE), in collaboration with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), will provide an additional training on September 11, 2026, repeating and building upon the virtual training that was held on August 26, 2026. This training will cover the recently issued joint guidance related to Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and updates and clarifications to MaineCare Sections 28 and 65 services, which include behavioral and developmental services. |  More

Maine DOE Launches Wabanaki Studies Indigenous Literature Grant Program

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is pleased to announce the Wabanaki Studies Indigenous Literature Grant Program, a funding opportunity designed to expand and strengthen the teaching of Wabanaki Studies. School entities, including school administrative units (SAUs), private schools approved for public tuition purposes, Indian Education Schools, and Education in Unorganized Territories (EUT) schools are eligible to receive up to $500 to purchase books that support Wabanaki Studies. |  More

Maine Engagement and Attendance Center Continues Bringing Statewide Partners Together to Strengthen Student Attendance

On June 17, educators from the Maine Department of Education (DOE) and partners from across Maine gathered for a meeting of the Maine Engagement and Attendance Center (MEAC), a statewide collaboration working to strengthen student engagement and attendance and to address chronic absenteeism in Maine schools. |  More

National Grant Opportunity for Public School Districts

The national program Public School Districts’ Opioid Recovery Trust (PSDORT) has announced that applications are open for a grant opportunity to help public school districts in recovering from the opioid epidemic by supporting students harmed by the opioid epidemic. The funds target students who were born with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome or students who have suffered traumatic family loss and educational interruptions because of the opioid epidemic. |  More

Reminder: Recognize Your Outstanding School Staff: RISE Award Now Accepting Nominations

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) invites students, friends, families, community members, educational organizations or associations, co-workers, and supervisors to nominate school employees for the RISE Award. Anyone can nominate! |  More

Maine Schools Sharing Success Stories

Submit good news to the Maine Department of Education here.

Professional Learning/Training Opportunities

FBI Boston and Maine School Safety Center to Offer Training on Bomb Threats and Swatting Hoaxes

The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Boston Field Office, in collaboration with the Maine Department of Education, Maine School Safety Center, will offer a 90-minute virtual training on September 17, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. |  More

Maine Department of Education to Offer Professional Learning Webinar Series on Multi-Tiered System of Supports

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) will offer a virtual professional learning series focused on school-level implementation of a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) beginning September 29, 2026. The series will provide school teams with opportunities to deepen their understanding, reflect on their current implementation, consider how to begin, and/or identify action steps to strengthen their system. |  More

Registration Open for 16th Annual PBIS Conference

Maine’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (Maine PBIS) program, a collaboration between the Maine Department of Education (DOE) and the University of Maine System (UMS), will host its annual conference on November 19, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Augusta Civic Center. |  More

Maine DOE Launches Democracy Lab to Bring Civic Learning to Life

In recognition of Constitution Day on September 17, the Maine Department of Education is pleased to announce Democracy Lab, a new facilitator’s guide designed to support educators and students in exploring the nation’s founding ideals. This interactive resource examines principles expressed in the Declaration of Independence, including natural, unalienable rights, equity, the consent of the governed, and the belief that governmental authority rests with the people. While Constitution Day commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution, the Democracy Lab helps participants explore the ideas that influenced the nation’s system of government. |  More

Maine Educators have FREE Access to Family Math Academy Professional Learning Series

The Center for Family Math at the National Association for Family, School and Community Engagement (NAFSCE) and the Consortium for Engaging Families Across Maine (CEFAM) are hosting a free professional learning opportunity for Maine educators to support student learning and family engagement across Maine. |  More

View the Maine Department of Education’s Events Calendar here.

Career/Project Opportunities:

Find education-related jobs in Maine.

Joint Maine DOE and DHHS Guidance on IEPs and MaineCare Sections 28 and 65 Services – Repeat and Expanded Virtual Session

The Maine Department of Education (DOE), in collaboration with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), will provide an additional training on September 11, 2026, repeating and building upon the virtual training that was held on August 26, 2026. This training will cover the recently issued joint guidance related to Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and updates and clarifications to MaineCare Sections 28 and 65 services, which include behavioral and developmental services.

Maine DOE and DHHS are offering this additional session to provide further explanation and support consistent implementation across the state in response to the significant level of participation and questions received following the initial training. Representatives from Maine DOE and the Office of MaineCare Services (OMS) will review changes to eligibility for Sections 28 and 65 services, discuss implications for IEP development and service provision, and revisit key questions raised during the initial session.

The training will support school administrative units (SAUs), providers, and other stakeholders in understanding and implementing the updated guidance. Focus will be on the intersection of IEP requirements and MaineCare-covered services, compliance with applicable federal and state requirements, and clarification of how MaineCare funding may be accessed for eligible services.

Date: September 11, 2026
Time: 12:00–2:00 p.m.

Register in advance for this meeting:

Meeting Registration – Zoom

Individuals who are unable to attend the live training will be able to access shared materials and a recording of the session following the event.

For further information, please contact Erin Frazier at erin.frazier@maine.gov, Maine Department of Education, or Trista Collins at trista.collins@maine.gov, Maine DHHS, Office of MaineCare Services.

Maine Educators have FREE Access to Family Math Academy Professional Learning Series

The Center for Family Math at the National Association for Family, School and Community Engagement (NAFSCE) and the Consortium for Engaging Families Across Maine (CEFAM) are hosting a free professional learning opportunity for Maine educators to support student learning and family engagement across Maine. 

The Family Math Academy is a free, limited-space professional learning opportunity designed for family coordinators (any personnel who support connections between home and school) and educators working across learning environments. The Academy involves participation in two live online sessions taking place in September 2026 and three asynchronous video modules that each take approximately 1 hour to complete.

  • Live Session 1: September 9, 2026, from 4 – 5:00 p.m.
  • Live Session 2: September 23, 2026, from 4 – 5:00 p.m.

What is included? The 10 self-paced learning modules feature the following:

  • Videos of family math in action, with real families
  • Exclusive interviews with family math experts
  • Messages from parent leaders across the country
  • “Try it today!” activities to help participants apply ideas in their own contexts
  • Resources to support educators and families to engage in family math
  • Connection to other family-facing professionals through an online learning community

Ways Maine educators will strengthen their skill set:

  • What is family math? Understand what family math is and why it is important.
  • Core Competencies – Learn to reflect, to connect, to collaborate and to lead alongside families.
  • Family Math Outcomes – Build persistence, capability, confidence and motivation in math.
  • Overcome barriers – Address societal, psychological and structural barriers to family math.
  • Learn more about the Family Math Academy here.

Click here to register.

CEFAM is a five-year Statewide Family Engagement Center grant through MAEC that functions as a partnership among MAEC’s technical assistance providers, the Maine Department of Education (DOE), NAFSCE, the National Network of Partnership Schools, ParentPowered, Maine Parent Federation, and MeCAP.  CEFAM provides services and training to parents and caregivers; strengthens communication among families, the Maine DOE, and local and national family engagement organizations; and conducts efforts to learn about and to respond to the needs and experiences of Maine families.

MAEC receives funds from the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to support the implementation of this project, which is federally funded and directly attributed to project implementation. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, ED or the U.S. government.