The Extended Learning Opportunity Program seeks to assist publicly funded School Administrative Units (SAUs) in adopting and/or expanding Extended Learning Opportunities (ELO) Programs in Maine to help Maine youth gain a better understanding of their career opportunities, acquire valuable foundational and 21st Century skills, as well as create meaningful connections to employers in our state.
What is Extended Learning?
ELOs are experiences outside of the traditional classroom, with an emphasis on community-based career exploration, which may be credit-bearing. ELOs are hands-on and students can earn elective or core credit. These programs include paid work experiences, expanding educational opportunities in rural Maine, work skills development, and increasing engagement of otherwise disengaged youth. ELO Expansion Grants totaling $7.1 million have been awarded for 38 ELO programs across Maine covering 13 counties of Maine's 16 counties since 2022.
Extended Learning in the News
-
Talk of the Town with Morgan Harper • Liam Danaher • Connecting Students to Real-World Work
- Investing in workforce development programs to prepare students for future careers: ELOs have reached over 3,000 Maine students emphasizing locally-based career exploration outside of the traditional classroom.
- Maine Career Exploration's Interview with Lana Sawyer, Extended Learning Coordinator at the Maine DOE
- Mt. Ararat ELO Student Impact Stories
- JMG On the Road: Stories of Success Spring 2023
- Caribou High School Career Experience Program
- Mt. Ararat Group ELO
ELO Map of current and expanded regions
ELO Expansion Grant Updates
Meet or contact these coordinators:
ELO Expansion Grant Awardees Coordinator Contact Information
2022 Grant Awardees:
RSU 1 (Bath)MSAD 75 (Topsham)
Brunswick School Department
SAD 13 (Deer Isle)
Waldo County Tech Center
Biddeford School District
South Portland School District
RSU 35 (Marshwood)
University of Maine Presque Isle
Woodland Schools
Yarmouth School Department
RSU 13 (Rockland)
Nokomis Regional HS
Healthy Acadia
Oxford Hills Community Education Exchange
Brewer School Department
Gorham School Department
Madison Area Memorial High School
Aroostook County Action Program
Belfast Area High School
Boys & Girls Club of Kennebec
MSAD 55 (Hiram)
Noble High School
Telstar Middle High School
Windham High School RSU 14
RSU 84 (Danforth)
Contact
Lana Sawyer
Extended Learning Coordinator
Phone: 207-816-0911
Email: Lana.Sawyer@maine.gov
Supports the following areas:
- ELO program development and professional support.
- Maine DOE ELO grants.
- The Maine Career Exploration Program.