Maine: ELL Resources

As of the 2016-2017 school year, Maine’s schools were home to a little over 5,000 English language learners. As of the 2014-2015 school year, the most common five languages spoken by ELLs in Maine were Somali, Arabic, Spanish, French, and Chinese. (U.S. Dept. of Education, National Center for Education Statistics)
Maine is a member of WIDA (World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment), joining in 2003. WIDA is a consortium of states dedicated to the design and implementation of high standards and equitable educational opportunities for English language learners which offers states programming for identifying and annually assessing the English language development of its English learners.
State ELL Resources
State Agency: Maine Department of Education
ELL Website and Manual: English Learner Information and Resources
ELP Standards & Assessment
ELP Standards: WIDA English Language Proficiency Standards
ELP Assessment: WIDA-ACCESS for ELLs
Statewide Standards-Based Assessment
Assessment: Maine Assessment Resources
Additional Information
NCELA: Title III Information
WIDA: Maine Contact Information
Common Core State Standards: Yes
ESSA: Maine ESSA State Plan
Statewide Organizations
AFT-Maine is a state affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers that represents the economic, social and professional interests of classroom teachers.
Maine Education Association is a National Education Association State Affiliate that regularly lobbies legislators for the resources schools need, campaigns for higher professional standards for the teaching profession, and files legal actions to protect academic freedom and the rights of school employees.
Maine Parent Federation (MPF), in existence since 1984, is a private non-profit organization. MPF provides information, referral, one on one telephone support, and training to parents of children with disabilities or special health care needs and the professionals who work with these families through numerous grant-funded projects. Our services are offered at no cost to parents and are available statewide.
Northern New England Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages
NNETESOL serves all ESL professionals in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont working in private and public K-12 schools, post secondary schools, and adult education programs.
Seal of Biliteracy Update: Maine
The Seal of Biliteracy is an award given by a school, district, or state in recognition of students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation. If you are aware of schools or districts that have adopted the Seal of Biliteracy in the state, send an update to the official Seal of Biliteracy site!
Note: Regulations change with time. These guidelines were compiled in January of 2012 and updated in January 2020. If you see something that needs updating, please send an e-mail to Colorín Colorado. For more detailed information regarding ELL guidelines and policies at the state and federal levels, please see the following:
References
National Center for Education Statistics. (2018.) English language learner (ELL) students enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools, by state: Selected years, fall 2000 through fall 2016.
U.S. Department of Education. Our Nation’s English Learners. Most Common Non-English Languages Spoken by English Learners.