The Office of Federal Programs manages funding received by the Maine Department of Education from the US Department of Education for state assessment, child nutrition, ESEA programs (Titles I, II, III, IV, and V), and Emergency Federal Relief. This funding enables students, teachers, and other staff members to have equitable opportunities for achievement and professional growth and access to healthy meals and food while also supporting schools in their response to the COVID-19 global pandemic. The Office of Federal Programs distributes funds/allocations to School Administrative Units (SAUs) from several of these federal grants. Typically, federal education law requires that funding be spent on the program identified by that program. The Office of Federal Programs in collaboration with other Offices and teams across the Maine DOE seeks to support the coordination of funding sources to be “braided or blended” to support student outcomes. Using multiple funding sources braided to support specific educational initiatives can help ensure consistency and eliminate duplication of services.
programming or fiscal elements.
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
Signed into law in December 2015 by President Obama, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) reauthorizes the fifty (50) year old Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965 by replacing key requirements of the outdated No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001. Beginning in 2016, the U.S. Department of Education took the first steps to implement ESSA.
Elementary & Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is responsible for the oversight and monitoring of programs and activities carried out under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
Maine's Model of School Support (Accountability)
Maine’s Model of School Support is an accountability system that measures the progress of Maine’s public schools to inform schools, the state, and the federal government on how Maine schools are performing and determine where additional support is needed throughout Maine to help improve student achievement.
The Maine Department of Education Child Nutrition is proud to support several federal programs for the health and well-being of Maine's children and youth. Each of these programs helps fight hunger and obesity by reimbursing organizations such as schools, childcare centers, and after-school programs to provide children with healthy meals.
Federal Emergency Relief Programs
Federal Emergency Relief Programs provide technical assistance and support to Maine’s school administrative units (SAUs) and non-public schools as they implement programs in their local contexts and communities. The team ensures compliance with all state and federal funding requirements and aims to strengthen evidence-based interventions statewide by supporting SAUs to provide the best learning opportunities for all Maine students.
- Coronovairus Relief Funds (CRF)
- Elementary & Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds (ESSER)
- Emergency Assistance for Non-Public Schools (EANS)
- Maine's Whole Student Pandemic Response
Assessing student learning is an essential aspect of education, as it provides data that can lead to improved instruction and outcomes. The Maine Comprehensive Assessment System (MECAS) provides information about the academic progress of students, schools, the state, and the nation as a whole. The MECAS includes state assessments, known as the Maine Educational Assessments, as well as the national and international assessments.
Office of Federal Programs