From Nicole.Madore at maine.gov  Tue Feb 24 12:54:44 2026
From: Nicole.Madore at maine.gov (Madore, Nicole)
Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2026 17:54:44 +0000
Subject: [ELmaine] From Ideas to Impact: Early Learning Solutions Lab
 Community of Practice and Mini-Grant Opportunities
Message-ID: <BY5PR09MB5890DC36744D6CB6DD1159A9F874A@BY5PR09MB5890.namprd09.prod.outlook.com>

The Early Learning Team within the Maine Department of Education (DOE) Office of Teaching and Learning, in partnership with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office of Child and Family Services, is offering a joint professional learning opportunity, designed to strengthen community-centered mixed-delivery systems.

The landscape of early childhood education in Maine is evolving. The continued expansion of public pre-K programs, along with recent legislation transitioning Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) responsibilities for children ages three to five from Child Development Services (CDS) to public schools, underscore the growing need for a strong, coordinated mixed-delivery system. This kind of system-one that intentionally connects public schools and community-based early care and education providers-helps all children have equitable access to high-quality early learning opportunities from birth through the early elementary years.

Building and sustaining a mixed-delivery system requires communities to move beyond siloed approaches and work collaboratively across schools, Head Start programs, private centers, and family child care homes. Together, partners can expand access, respond to diverse family needs, and create more seamless experiences for young children and the adults who support them.

For more detailed information and to sign-up, read the DOE Newsroom article here<https://mainedoenews.net/2026/02/12/from-ideas-to-impact-early-learning-solutions-lab-community-of-practice-and-mini-grant-opportunities/>.


________________________________________

Nicole Madore
Early Childhood Specialist - Early Learning Team
Office of Teaching and Learning
Maine Department of Education
23 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0023
Email: nicole.madore at maine.gov<mailto:Nicole.madore at maine.gov>
Phone: 207-446-3967 (cell)
Maine DOE<http://www.maine.gov/doe> | Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/MaineDepartmentofEducation1/> | Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/mainedepted/?hl=en> | Maine DOE Newsroom<https://mainedoenews.net/>

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