Maine Department of Education

An estimated $25 million in grant funding is being withheld from Maine public schools for six programs supporting teacher development, adult literacy, after-school programs and more.

The state Department of Education has announced its proposed priority list for school construction projects, but officials say there's still a long way to go before construction.

The U.S. Department of Education is withholding an estimated $25 million in grant funding from Maine public schools "to ensure resources are spent in accordance with the President's priorities."

The decision follows an April 3 notice from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights. It directed states to remove DEI programming to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, or lose federal funding.

The legislature's education committee heard testimony Wednesday on bills that would limit student access to cellphones during the school day.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Education is giving Maine until April 11 to comply with the Trump administration's interpretation of Title IX.

Both SAD 51 and the Maine Principals' Association say they will continue to follow Maine's nondiscrimination law. But Attorney General Pam Bondi has already warned that Maine could face lawsuits unless it complied with Trump administration directives.

President Donald Trump's executive order today to dismantle the federal Department of Education may not be possible without congressional approval.

In a formal response, the Maine Principals' Association asserted that the Title IX investigation by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services lacks jurisdiction because the group does not receive federal funding.

This week marks the start of a new academic year for most public schools in Maine. There are daunting challenges ahead for teachers, parents,…