The Maine Department of Education - Office of Special Services & Inclusive Education is dedicated to improving results for students with disabilities by providing leadership, support, and oversight to local education agencies. The Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education is committed to ensuring the provision of a free, appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment for children with disabilities (ages 3 to 22) as well as early intervention services to infants and toddlers (birth through age 2). Our work is accomplished through collaboration with families, school administrative units, public and private agencies, and other programs.
Vision
All Maine students with disabilities have unlimited opportunities to learn and to lead inclusive, purposeful, and fulfilling lives.
Mission
The mission of the Maine Department of Education Office of Special Services & Inclusive Education is to lead Maine’s efforts to improve outcomes for students with disabilities by ensuring access to inclusive, equitable and high-quality education and services.
The Responsibilities of the Office of Special Services & Inclusive Education include
- Ensuring that, to the maximum extent appropriate, children with exceptionalities, including children in public or private institutions or other care facilities, are educated with their typical peers.
- The collection and analysis of data to inform decision-making, support continuous improvement, and complete state and federal reporting.
- Protecting the educational rights of children with disabilities through the provision of due process.
- Federal special education funding distribution and the assurance that those funds are used appropriately, effectively, and efficiently.
- The General Supervision and monitoring of Maine’s provision of special education to improve educational results and functional outcomes and to ensure that public agencies meet requirements.
- The provision of informational resources to educators and families to support the education of children with disabilities.
- The development and distribution of policies, procedures, and technical assistance to the education community.
Additionally, the Office of Special Services & Inclusive Education prioritizes
- Supporting a culture of inclusion and belonging for students with disabilities
- Developing, supporting, and sustaining a robust educator workforce with a focus on inclusive education
- Promoting educational excellence for Maine students with disabilities through high expectations and educational experiences that lead to meaningful post-secondary outcomes
The Child Development Services system is an Intermediate Educational Unit that provides both Early Intervention (birth through two years) and Free Appropriate Public Education (for ages three through five years) under the supervision of the Maine Department of Education. The CDS system ensures the provision of special education rules and federal and state regulations statewide through a network of regional sites.
CDS HomeDispute resolution options available to parents and school districts regarding situations that may arise during the Special Education process. In addition to information on mediation, due process hearing requests, and state complaint investigation requests, the links include information about special education laws and regulations.
Dispute Resolution HomeEarly Intervention for ME helps children from birth to three achieve important developmental milestones. In a family-focused partnership, specialists show caregivers how to incorporate learning opportunities into a child’s everyday activities. Research clearly shows children from birth to three respond best to caregivers they know and trust.
Early Intervention for ME HomeThe Office of Special Services is required to provide oversight in the distribution and use of IDEA funds at the state and local levels. The state system of general supervision includes mechanisms to provide oversight in the distribution and use of IDEA funds at the state and local levels.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires each state to report to the public on state-level data and individual school division-level data and to report on whether the state and the divisions met state targets described in the state’s special education State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR)
The Maine State Department of Education has developed monitoring and data collection processes to meet the general supervision requirements outlined in the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) of 2004. These processes are compliant with the IDEA State Performance Plan Indicators and focus on growth in Federally mandated performance areas.
Monitoring HomeInformation regarding laws, regulations, and policies that affect special services & education in schools across the state of Maine.
Asynchronous Professional Learning is an opportunity to access whenever you have time. These modules are not scheduled for specific days and times, but rather available when you need them and have time. Some of the modules are recorded videos and some are a combination of videos, articles, information, and activities. Some modules are able to be completed in one sitting, while others may require you to access the components over several sessions.
Professional Learning HomeResources for educators and caregivers include forms, IEP information, assessments, special education programs, and more.
Special Projects for Inclusion team provides support and professional learning opportunities for administrators, educators, and families to ensure that students with disabilities have equitable access to the general education curriculum and environment, including high expectations and meaningful opportunities for engagement with their peers and community.
Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) requires that an advisory group be established for both Part B & Part C of IDEA. These advisory groups are made up of individuals such as parents of students with disabilities, providers, private and public charter school representatives, and individuals with disabilities.