This abstract was submitted as part of Maine’s Preschool Development Grant Application. 

GRANTEE ABSTRACT 

Maine 

Overview 

Maine is well-poised to create/expand highquality public preschool programs utilizing the

strengths on extensive interagency 

coordination, collaborating with key partners 

(Head Start, Maine Home Visiting and local 

child care), implementing requirements 

outlined in recent legislation, and capitalizing 

on the excitement about early childhood 

education throughout the state. The Maine 

Department of Education engaged thirteen 

school districts, School Administrative Units 

(SAUs) in Maine with the highest numbers of

children receiving free-and- reduced lunch who 

had no public preschool or were previously 

unable to meet the needs of the community. 

All SAUs have or will have a formal 

partnership with their regional Head Start

grantee to deliver full day, full week 

programming with the "wrap around supports" 

Head Start requires to all preschool children. 

Project Objectives and Activities 

The grant will support the development or

expansion of fifty- five classrooms by Year 4. 

Maine's Preschool Expansion grant has eight 

ambitious, but achievable goals: 

Goal 1: Use Maine’s Early Learning 

Development Standards across all early 

childhood sectors and for all children to guide 

curriculum, instruction and assessment. 

Goal 2: Require all public preschool programs 

to meet Maine’s Public Preschool Program 

Standards and ensure compliance through a 

statewide system of monitoring and support. 

Goal 3: Coordinate preschool programs and

services at state and local levels with all 

sections that support early learning and

development. 

Goal 4: Maine's SLDS will improve linkages 

from birth-3rd grades. 

Goal 5: Measure and achieve child outcomes 

that predict school readiness. 

Lead Agency

Maine Department of Education

Year 1 Federal Award Amount

$3,497,319

Plan Period

January 1, 2015 – December 31, 2018

Preschool Development Grants will support 

states to build, develop, and expand voluntary, 

high-quality preschool programs for children from 

low- and moderate-income families. 

There are two types of grants.

Development Grants: For states that currently 

serve less than 10 percent of four-year-olds 

and have not received a Race to the Top –

Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant

Expansion Grants: For states that currently 

serve 10 percent or more of four-year-olds or 

have received a Race to the Top – Early 

Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant
EXPANSION GRANTEE: MAINE 

This abstract was submitted as part of Maine’s Preschool Development Grant Application. 2

Goal 6: Create new and/or expand high-quality 

preschool programs in communities with high 

numbers of children 200% FPL and below 

during each year of the grant. 

Goal 7: Create and sustain strong partnerships 

between Maine DOE and subgrantees to meet 

grant requirements. 

The Preschool Expansion Grant funding has

the potential to transform preschool 

programming in Maine and make significant 

progress toward a true birth-3rd grade system 

for children, families, teachers, and 

administrators.

Oxford

Penobscot

Waldo

Washington

York

Androscoggin 

Aroostook 

Cumberland 

Franklin 

Kennebec 

Knox 

High-Need Communities to be 

served under Maine’s Plan