Maine's mission is to provide leadership, focus, support and information to assist Maine school systems and the greater community in achieving high performance for all students and in preparing all Maine students for college, career and citizenship. Continuing into postsecondary education, the basic mission of the Maine Community College System is to provide associate degree, diploma and certificate programs directed at the educational, occupational and technical needs of the State's citizens and the workforce needs of the state's employers. The primary goals of the Maine Community College System are to create an educated, skilled and adaptable labor force which is responsive to the changing needs of the economy of the State and to promote local, regional and statewide economic development.
"Education Evolving: Maine's Plan for Putting Learners First" is a strategic plan that sets out objectives and action steps for building an education system in Maine that meets the needs of all learners, from early childhood into adulthood, and prepares them for college, careers, and civic life. The plan is shaped around five core priority areas that address the various elements of building an education system focused on the needs of all learners:
- Effective, Learner-Centered Instruction
- Great Teachers and Leaders
- Multiple Pathways for Learner Achievement
- Comprehensive School and Community Supports
- Coordinated and Effective State Support
Following the principles outlined above, Maine will fulfill its vision of its people being among the best educated in the world, enhancing the quality of life and economic prosperity of Maine through excellence in education.
- Comprehensive high schools
- Area CTE centers
- Magnet school
- Community colleges
| Secondary Indicators | 2015-16 | 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Skills - Reading/Language Arts | Yes | Yes |
| Academic Skills - Mathematics | No | No |
| Technical Skill Attainment | Yes | No |
| School Completion | Yes | Yes |
| Student Graduation Rates | Yes | Yes |
| Placement | Yes | No |
| Nontraditional Participation | Yes | Yes |
| Nontraditional Completion | Yes | Yes |
| Postsecondary Indicators | 2015-16 | 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|
| Technical Skill Attainment | Yes | Yes |
| Credential, Certificate or Degree | Yes | Yes |
| Student Retention or Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Student Placement | Yes | Yes |
| Nontraditional Participation | Yes | No |
| Nontraditional Completion | Yes | Yes |
| Year | FY 2018 | FY 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Total Perkins Funds Received | $5,804,502 | $6,148,797 |
| Percentage of local funds distributed to Secondary | 50% | |
| Percentage of local funds distributed to Postsecondary | 50% |
Maine utilizes its own "Career Clusters framework," which includes the following:
- Agriculture and Natural Resources
- Architecture, Construction, and Manufacturing
- Arts, Audio/Video Technology, and Communications
- Business, Management, and Administration, Finance, Marketing, Sales, and Service
- Health and Human Services
- Education and Public Service
- Public Safety and Security
- Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and Information Technology
- Transportation
- Hospitality and Tourism
Maine approves CTE programs of study (POS) in the following Career Clusters:
- Architecture & Construction Career Cluster
- Arts, A/V Technology & Communications Career Cluster
- Business Management & Administration Career Cluster
- Education & Training Career Cluster
- Finance Career Cluster
- Health Science Career Cluster
- Hospitality & Tourism Career Cluster
- Information Technology Career Cluster
- Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security Career Cluster
- Manufacturing Career Cluster
- Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics Career Cluster
- Transportation, Distribution & Logistics Career Cluster
Maine Department of Education
Dwight A. Littlefield
Director Career Technical Education
Maine Department of Education
23 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
dwight.a.littlefield@maine.gov
- Maine Department of Education’s Career and Technical Education Site: The site features articulation agreements and programs of study, data, and other valuable resources.
- Maine Community College System: General information, employment resources, and ways to connect to the community are easily available on this website.
- CTE Resource Directory of Technical Standards and Assessments: Access standards and resources for each Career Cluster.
- Articulation Agreements and Programs of Study: This webpage contains documents that describe types of articulation agreements, information about Maine’s community college system, and Career Cluster Plans of Study.
- Maine CTE: This portal contains information for each of Maine’s 27 career and technical high schools. Student success stories are also featured.
- Learning that Works Resource Center: Maine
Maine offers dual enrollment, concurrent/transcripted credit, statewide articulation, and state law (in progress) to ease the transition from secondary to postsecondary. It has also begun implementing a statewide pilot program for credit transfer.
See here for an explanation of the data used for state profiles.