Climate Education Professional Development Grant Pilot Program

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Overview of the Program:

Created by L.D. 1902, this pilot program awards grants for high-quality climate-related interdisciplinary professional learning designed and carried out in partnership with community-based nonprofit organizations. Grant awards are designed to be accessible to all local education providers throughout the state for Pre-K through grade 12 with a priority on applications that serve historically underserved by climate education communities and are first-time applicants to the program.

Phase 3 Funding:

 
Application Timeline

Applications are available starting January 14th, 2025, and are due March 21st, 2025. Programming may run July 1st, 2025, through June 30th, 2026.

Follow this link for the RFA page: Grant Funding Opportunities | Division of Procurement Services (maine.gov) 
Total Funds Available

$650,000
Eligible Applicants
  1. A school administrative unit, as described in 20-A M.R.S.A §1, 26,
  2. A school in an unorganized territory under 20-A M.R.S.A Chapter 119, or
  3. A CTE Region school/program established under 20-A M.R.S.A. Chapter 313, Subchapter 4 (Applied Technology Education),
  4. A CTE center established under 20-A M.R.S. Chapter 313, Subchapter 3,
  5. A school funded by the Bureau of Indian Education
Program Types
  1. School or SAU Professional Learning 
    • Restricted to educators and staff within the local education provider.  
    • $5,000 and $30,000.
  2. Professional Learning Summit 
    • The community partner and local education provider host a convening of educators from the applying local education provider and educators in a broader region.
    • $5,000 and $100,000. 

Community Partners

*Note: Community partners can not directly apply for the grant. Community partners are encouraged to play to following roles

  1. Facilitate and provide professional development.
  2. Partner, encourage, and help local education providers apply for this RFA program (*local education providers must submit the application).
  3. Establish lasting partnerships with schools that last beyond the program.

Current and Past Programs:

 

Phase 1 Overview

The Maine Department of Education funded 7 programs throughout the state for the first phase of the Climate Education Professional Development Pilot Program. Programs were held in the spring and summer of 2024.

Full Program Assessment

  • 128 teachers participated from 50 schools
  • 17 community-based partners
  • Over 4000 students reached
Phase 2 Overview

Ten programs are funded by the Maine Department of Education during the 2024 and 2025 school year under Phase 2 of this Grant Program.

More details on Phase 2 programs

 

2024 Project Pilots

 
Saco, Dayton, & Biddeford

In June of 2024, Saco, Dayton, & Biddeford partnered with a community-based organization, The Ecology School, for a Climate Education Teacher Institute and a series of virtual meetings.

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School Unit 93

Five schools on the Blue Hill Peninsula in School Union 93 came together to partner with Maine TREE and the Woodlawn Museum for a four-day teacher professional learning week.

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North Haven & Vinalhaven School

Partnered with Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership:

"Teaching Resilience: Professional Development for Climate Curricula, was a three-phased program to support teachers from a variety of grade levels and disciplines. It emphasized interdisciplinary, place-based, and project-based curriculum development, bringing teachers together to form a connected cohort of professionals across two island communities."

 

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Greenville Consolidated School

Partnered with Rural Aspirations Project, Greenville created a program to "offer our rural students an opportunity to play a part in reducing climate change through offering climate educational learning opportunities that promote outdoor learning and a sense of place."

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Fryeburg Academy

Fryeburg Academy created the Climate Action Progress Team lead by their Director of Outdoor Learning and Research Center. The CAPT developed partnerships throughout their area and worked with those partners to explore new content areas for the classroom.

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RSU 12 Sheepscot Valley

RSU 12 partnered with The Friends of Cobbossee Watershed and hosted a three-day workshop focused on local ecology and conservation.

RSU 64 Corinth Central High School

Partnered with Hirundo Wildlife Preserve, RSU 64 brought outdoor training to educators including macrovertebrates and Educational Trip Leader and Wilderness First Aid certifications in order to safely bring students into the outdoors

Contact

Teddy Lyman
Climate Education Specialist
Phone: 207-592-0036
Email: Theodore.Lyman@maine.gov