Maine

Overview of Pre-K Program - Maine’s Public Four Year Old Programs

• Participation is voluntary for families and school districts.
• Program is open to all four year olds in a participating district.
• Programs are funded through general education allocation using the Essential Programs and Services formula. 
• Most programs operate in public schools, but participating districts can chose to contract with Head Start, private centers and family childcare homes to provide pre-k.
• Administered by the Maine Department of Education.

Brief History of Maine’s Pre-K Program

• 1983 Maine’s Two-Year Kindergarten initiative established to support public preschool for four year olds.
• 1991 Many school districts close their programs due to a lack of funding.
• 2007 Teachers in Maine’s public Four Year Old Program are now required to have the Birth-Five teaching endorsement.
• Task Force on Early Education becomes the Children’s Growth Council.  They are charged with implementing the Early Childhood Systems Initiative and the Invest Early in Maine initiative.
• 2008 Schools are required to offer transportation to the public pre-k programs.
• 2009 Program serves 2,731 children.

Evaluations of Maine’s Pre-K Program

Early Care and Education in Maine: 2007 and Beyond

The Early Childhood Workforce

The Cost and Quality of Full Day, Year-round Early Care and Education in Maine: Preschool Classrooms

The Cost and Quality of Family Child Care in Maine

Program Website

Four Year Old Programs

Resource List

NIEER 2009 Yearbook Maine Profile

Pre-K Now Maine Profile

 

Return to: Program Evaluations