The Maine Department of Education (Maine DOE) is seeking grant applications for $650,000 in available funding that will go towards professional development courses on climate education for Maine pre-K-12 teachers.

Created by LD 1902, a bill passed in the 130th Maine Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Janet Mills (D) in May 2022, the “Climate Education Professional Development Grant Pilot Program” is a three-year initiative aimed at enhancing climate science education in Maine schools through partnerships with nonprofit organizations.

Priority for the grants is given to “communities historically underserved by climate education,” which the Mills administration states may apply to students who receive special education services, “multilingual learners,” migrant students, tribal schools, students from “the black, indigenous, persons of color (BiPoC) community,” and rural schools.

The first phase of the initiative funded seven climate education professional development programs throughout the state in the spring and summer of 2024, reaching a total of 128 teachers from 50 schools.

The second phase of the program, funded by $750,000 in grants, is currently underway during the 2024-2025 school year. Those programs are centered around the development of courses for Maine students on climate-related topics.

Under the third phase of the program, the Maine DOE will be allocating $650,000 across two different types of programs.

Schools and school administrative units may apply for between $5,000 and $30,000 in funding for professional development programs for their teachers under the first type of grant, while education providers and community organizations can apply for up to $100,000 to fund a climate education professional learning summit.

Applicants are required to demonstrate that their programs will increase student access to climate education, and must emphasize interdisciplinary “place-based learning,” or project-based work.

The Maine DOE began accepting applications for the third phase of the program on Jan. 14, and will be accepting applications until March 21, 2025.