Special education in Maine

What Maine calls special education, how long each step takes, who to call, free help, paying for services, and how the state scores.

Special education in Maine

Special education is called

Special Education

The IEP meeting

IEP Team meeting

Eligibility team

IEP Team

Evaluation timeline

45 school days. 45 school days from consent for ages 5 to 22; 60 calendar days for Child Development Services (ages 3 to 5) (05-071 CMR ch. 101)

IEP timeline

Within the 45 school days

Transition planning starts

16 (being checked)

Rights transfer to the student at

Developmental delay category

3 to 5 (child count)

Dyslexia law

yes: 20-A M.R.S. 4710-B: K-2 screening for dyslexia

Find your district and schools

275 districts and charter districts. 32 special education schools and 11 public charter schools.

Get your Hall Pass Schools in Maine Services for children in Maine (on Disability Atlas)

The state office and your options when you disagree

State special education office

Maine Department of Education, Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education (207) 624-6600

Procedural safeguards (your rights notice)

Read the state's notice

Mediation

Ask for mediation

State complaint

File a state complaint

Due process

Ask for a due process hearing

Free help for families

Parent centers

Maine Parent Federation
Parent Training and Information Center (PTI), Augusta
(207) 588-1933

Disability rights agency

Disability Rights Maine
Protection and Advocacy Agency, Augusta
(207) 626-2774

Advocacy groups in Maine

Paying for it

Medicaid for children

MaineCare

CHIP

CubCare

Apply

Apply for coverage

Medicaid for children with disabilities, whatever the family's income

yes: Katie Beckett (TEFRA; income-based premium)

Schools bill Medicaid for health services

Autism insurance law

yes. 10 and under (individual plans); ABA may be limited to $36,000 per year

Scholarship or ESA for students with disabilities

general-limited: Town tuitioning (geographic eligibility only)

How school, Medicaid and insurance fit together

How Maine scores

First edition. These grades are new (November 2026) and the weights may still change. Texas graduation data is being confirmed with the state.

State of Schools

C-

Rank 38 of 51

State of Support

Rank 30 of 51

Combined

Rank 32 of 51

Pillar	Grade
Following the law	F
Learning together	D-
Results	C
School funding	A
Family protections	C
Options and transition	D+

IDEA determination 2026: Needs Intervention. How we grade.

Sources for this page are listed in the K12 Atlas research tables (state terms, state help, paying for it). Items marked "being checked" are waiting on a primary source.

Last reviewed: November 2026. Rules, programs and phone numbers change. Check with the office named on this page. Report outdated or wrong information.