Getting Started with ELOs
- ELO Definition in Maine Statute
This documentation provides the definition of extended learning opportunities in Maine and authorizes ELOs as pathways to credit. - MOOSE Career Readiness Learning Progression
Maine Life and Career Readiness Standards. - To explore what students may do for ELOs, please see examples of ELOs in Maine in the ME Career Connected Learning ELO Profiles of Students Success as well as examples from New Hampshire: ELO Examples - Beyond Classroom
- Maine Community Coordinators Collaborative (Maine C3)
Maine C3 is a grassroots Maine based organization comprised of education professionals working to support students with career exploration opportunities. This link will show you how to join: Educator Membership – Community Coordinators Collaborative - JMG ELO Resource Hub
JMG offers an ELO resource hub to all publicly funded high schools in Maine at no cost. These resources are designed to help schools establish, expand, and elevate their ELO offerings. - New Hampshire Next Steps offers several resources for new ELO programs:
Organizations & External Resources
- Learning Ecosystems Northeast (LENE) – Gulf of Maine Research Institute
LENE connects educators across classrooms, libraries, parks, after-school programs, and other community settings to help youth build climate and data literacy. Through peer communities and shared learning, educators can explore ways to make STEM skills relevant to the climate challenges facing their communities. - Oral Health Navigation Learning Series Toolkit
The learning series provides an in-depth exploration into oral health foundational knowledge. It includes self-paced online modules that may be followed by additional employer-specific training content and experiential learning. ELO students may use the learning series to explore potential careers in the dental health sector, and as a base for further education along the dental career pathway. A micro-credential through the University of Maine system is available at completion. - MMTA Career Exploration Trailer
The Maine Motor Transportation Association has a mobile unit that travels throughout Maine to expose youth to career pathways in the transportation industry. The Career Exploration Trailer can travel to schools upon registration and confirmation through the website. Please don't hesitate to reach out to Derek at MMTA for more information and/or to book the unit. - ACE Mentor Program of America
ACE Mentor Program (Architecture, Construction and Engineering) offers mentorship for young people and they have a Southern Maine chapter currently. ACE is made up of affiliates serving local communities. Each affiliate has a board of directors, program leaders, and a number of student teams. Teams are led by their volunteer mentors who are professionals from the build industry. Each team is set up to emulate an actual design team, with students guided through a mock design project by their architect, engineer, construction management, and tradesperson mentors. Mentors assist the students as they work towards a final project, introducing them to the careers, industry vocabulary, and various roles companies play in the construction industry. - SAE for All
This program was created to provide every student in agricultural education programs with access to invaluable work-based learning opportunities. This innovative delivery method ensures that no student is left behind in gaining practical, hands-on experience. Students can choose between two distinctive types of SAEs tailored to their interests and career goals: Foundational SAEs, which build essential skills and knowledge, and Immersion SAEs, which dive deeper into specialized, real-world agricultural experiences. There are many resources and templates in their Educator Resources and Student Resources (for grades 6-12). - Maine Construction Academy
Maine Construction Academy is a group of industry professionals dedicated to providing registered pre-apprenticeship, apprenticeship, and career pathways in Maine's construction and transportation industry. - Sponsored Programs | Maine Career Catalyst
Educate Maine's Career Catalyst program provides professional development, social opportunities and networking for experiential learners working in Maine. - Career Conversations from Junior Achievement
JA's mission is to educate Maine students in grades K-12 about work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy, empowering then to own their own economic future. They do this through community volunteers and the support of Maine businesses, individuals, and foundations. - Career Pathways Maine Retail Related
Retail Careers for ME partners with the National Retail Federation Foundation's RISE UP curriculum and Maine Office of Tourism to create "Retail Careers for ME" which aims to promote retail career opportunities available in the state of Maine as well as retail training and credentials to jump start careers or refresh skills. - Maine Tourism Association
The Maine Tourism Association offers career pathways in tourism, resources for students educators, and businesses, and a job board. - New Hampshire ELO Resources
Beyond Classroom is a New Hampshire Based ELO network (ELON). They offer resources for students, educators, and ELO examples. - Teach Maine Outside
The Maine Environmental Education and Outdoor Learning Resource Directory is a dynamic and searchable tool that parents, educators, and community members can use to discover new environmental learning partners and collaborators in their area.
Marketing for ELOs
Research & Data
- Maine Career Exploration Final Evaluation Report
The Data Innovation Project of the Catherine E. Cutler Institute at the University of Southern Maine's Muskie School of Public Service developed this evaluation of the Maine Career Exploration program that spans 2022-2024. - Maine Career Exploration Interim Evaluation Report
The Data Innovation Project of the Catherine E. Cutler Institute at the University of Southern Maine's Muskie School of Public Service developed this report Maine Career Exploration Program's first year. -
The Work-Based Learning Roadmap
A research project by Cabot Sayles, a senior at the University of Vermont, is focused on identifying barriers to expanding work-based learning opportunities in Vermont. Key findings from the Roadmap also include what educators and communities can do differently to create more meaningful opportunities for students. (A recording of a presentation on this report is also included in recorded professional development at the bottom of this page. The slides are available as well). - Published Dissertation by Elizabeth Sanborn (ELO Coordinator at Sacopee Valley High School):
Tell me, What Is It You Plan to Do With Your One Wild and Precious Life? A Phenomenological Analysis of the Efficacy of Extended Learning Opportunities for Career Readiness in Maine - OECD Career Readiness
The OECD Career Readiness project is designed to provide new advice to governments, schools, employers and other stakeholders on how to best prepare young people to visualize, plan and prepare for their working lives. Drawing on international datasets, the project identifies forms of career development that can be expected to enhance ultimate employment outcomes. - Center for Workforce Research and Information (CWRI)
The Maine Department of Labor's Center for Workforce Research and Information includes information on Maine's occupational outlooks, information for career exploration, jobs and employment information, and education and training outcomes.
Postsecondary
- Early College Opportunities
The Early College/Aspirations Program ensures that participating students have opportunities to explore or begin a post-secondary degree or certificate while still in high school. To be eligible, students must be a publicly funded student or a registered home instruction student and meet certain general and academic requirements. The participating institutions must have course space available and may require prerequisite courses for enrollment. - List of Micro-Credentials – University of Maine System
The University of Maine system offers several micro-credentials. Some are appropriate for youth that are still in high school as well. - Apprenticeships
Use this tool to find a Maine Department of Labor registered Apprenticeship program. - FAME
Financial Authority of Maine (FAME) supports a wide array of business assistance programs, ranging from traditional loan insurance programs for both small and larger businesses, to investment tax credits. FAME also administers Maine's higher education finance programs. Through a variety of loan, grant and scholarship programs, FAME helps Maine students and families meet the costs associated with higher education. To aid in this important effort, FAME oversees an extensive outreach and counseling program designed to encourage young people to aspire to and pursue higher education. FAME also serves as administrator for Maine's 529 education savings plan. In addition, FAME offers financial education programs and outreach for individuals looking to improve financial well-being, for parents interested in saving for education, and for educators or employers looking to build financial wellness in their classrooms or organizations.
Professional Development Recordings and Opportunities
- Fall 2026: ELO Scholar Spotlight: The Work Based Learning Roadmap
This recording provides an inside look at the Work-Based Learning Roadmap, a research project by University of Vermont Senior, Cabot Sayles, that is focused on identifying barriers to expanding work-based learning opportunities in Vermont. Cabot is also a recent high school graduate with extensive firsthand experience in work-based learning. He shared key findings from the Roadmap, including what gets in the way of implementation and what educators and communities can do differently to create more meaningful opportunities for students. The findings of the Roadmap includes insights from ELO coordinators in Maine and New Hampshire and work-based learning coordinators in Vermont and Massachusetts, offering across-state perspective on challenges, practices, and opportunities.
- Spring 2026: Maine Career Exploration Basics with Karen Morin
- Spring 2026: Dwell in Possibility: Rural Youth and ELOs
- Spring 2026: SAE 4 All with Emily Doughty
- 2021 Career Conversations MaineC3 Virtual Career Fair
Maine C3 hosted over 100 employers from different industries (virtual recordings are per business or employer). - 2022 Career Conversations MaineC3 Virtual Career Fair
147 virtual career fair videos. - Education Leaders Experience (ELE) – Educate Maine
The Education Leaders Experience (ELE) program offers educators a unique professional development opportunity to engage with employers, community, business, and policy leaders from across Maine. Participants learn about Maine's workforce challenges and opportunities, the economy and the critical role that education plays in sustaining economic growth.