ECE Provider Resources

Notifications on Changes for Professional Development Supports and Services to Providers

10/9/2026 Memo From: Office of Child and Family Services

Professional Development Network (PDN) services, including training, credentials, and support for updating program and educator information in the Registry, Rising Stars for ME, and Child Care Choices, as well as the technical assistance (TA) services with Quality Specialists, have been delivered for many years by the University of Southern Maine (USM) through the Maine Roads to Quality Professional Development Network (MRTQ PDN) contract.

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has issued conditional awards to Shine Early Learning for these professional development and technical assistance services with new contracts that would begin in 2027, pending a current appeal by USM.

MRTQ PDN is committed to continuing to provide high-quality services for Maine’s early care and education community through the end of the current contract. Specifically, please know that MRTQ PDN remains in place through December 31, 2026.

  • Scheduled trainings will continue through December. Information about 2027 trainings will be forthcoming.
  • Maine State Credentials will exist moving forward. Information about the submission timeframes will be available in 2027.
  • The Maine career lattices and Registry will continue to be used in 2027.
  • Your education documentation for the Registry will continue to be reviewed by the MRTQ team through December. You will not need to re-submit education documentation in 2027.
  • Rising Stars for ME will continue to be used in 2027.
  • Child Care Choices will continue to be used in 2027.

The Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) at DHHS is developing a transition plan from the current contract to any new contracts, pending the appeal process, and there will be more updates as information is available.

Programs and services managed by OCFS also continue to be available and are not part of MRTQ PDN services or connected to any potential contract transition:

  • Child Care Affordability Program (CCAP)
  • ECE Workforce Salary Supplement System
  • Help Me Grow Maine
  • ECE Consultation for ME

If you have questions about current or future PDN or TA services, please direct your questions to Tara Williams OCFS by emailing: tara.williams@maine.gov.

Licensing –

Early Childhood Educator Workforce Salary Supplement Program

Baxter Child Care Management System & Child Care Affordability Program (CCAP)

Information regarding DHHS role in oversight, compliance, and accountability in the handling of fraud allegations within publicly funded programs has recently been updated: Stewardship and Integrity in Public Programs

Maine Roads to Quality Professional Development Network (MRTQ PDN) –

Director of Record Access (DoRA) – found in drop down menu under “My Employment” on MRTQ Registry . DoRA needs to be renewed annually.

“Rising Stars” – Maine’s Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS) –

Maine Department of Labor – any program with staff, whether full or part-time needs to be aware of Labor Rules/requirements

Child Protective Intake Services, 1-800-452-1999, TTY 1-800-963-9490 which is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Any provider suspecting Abuse or Neglect must immediately report this information.

(CACFP) Child and Adult Care Food Program – National / Maine

Child Development Resources –

Business Support:

  • (EIN) Employer Identification Number – This number works in place of your social security number for business related items (ie. set up a bank account, apply for loans, and paying taxes). It is FREE to register your business with the federal government.
  • State of Maine Substitute W-9 & Vendor Authorization Form – To receive money from the State of Maine you must be enrolled in the State’s vendor payment system. Form also is used to update your information.
    • Form Instruction sheet.
    • Submit the Vendor Activation Form by U.S. Postal Mail to the Agency you are doing business with (e.g. Dept of Human Services, Dept of Labor, etc.). The Agency will enter the information into the system.

Licensing requires FCC providers provide information about community resources which support children and families, we encourage you to share the following 2 statewide service/resource hubs handled by the State of Maine.

Help Me Grow (HMG) Maine is a free service available to children up to eight years of age and their families that connects individuals to information and services about child development and community resources.

AccessMaine is an online resource guide with information to connect people living in Maine to public programs, services, and other resources that are available to provide support they need to be safe, happy, healthy, and successful.

Transition for early childhood special education from Child Development Services (CDS) to School Administrative Units (SAUs) – FAPE

Responsibility for Child Find and the provision of a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old children with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) will transition from Child Development Services (CDS) to School Administrative Units (SAUs) by July 1, 2028. SAUs have the flexibility to provide these services directly, contract with licensed child care programs, or collaborate with their local CDS Regional Site or other regional partners to ensure high-quality service delivery for eligible children. Preschoolers with IEPs can have placements in community licensed child care programs at Star 3 or higher.

Maine Department of Education and Office of Child and Family Services hosted a webinar on this transition. Here is a link to the recording of the webinar: https://youtu.be/wEDs_YHuJvU?si=o1y4pNgRQDAQbp_n

Here are the slides from the presentation and information memo:

Contacts for more specific questions: