Education | Senator Susan Collins

Senator Collins has a strong record of supporting education at all levels, including promoting early childhood education; improving our public school system for kindergarten through 12th grade; and working to increase the affordability of higher education. As a member of the Senate Appropriations and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committees, Senator Collins will continue to work to ensure that Congress provides robust funding and targeted legislation for the most effective educational programs aimed at helping teachers and students.

Senator Collins has made engaging with Maine’s students and faculty a top priority, visiting nearly 200 schools during her time as a Senator.

Senators Collins, Tester Urge Education Department to Reverse the Rejection of Dozens of Upward Bound Applications over Minor Formatting Issues

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jon Tester (D-MT) wrote a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos today, calling her attention to a provision in the fiscal year (FY) 2017 funding bill that “strongly encourage[s]” the Department of Education to allow institutions to resubmit corrected applications for the Upward Bound program. Senators Collins and Tester’s letter was signed by 19 bipartisan Senators, including Senators Thad Cochran (R-MS) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Senators Collins, King Welcome Biddeford Middle School Students to Washington, D.C.

Click HERE for a high-resolution photo

Click HERE for b-roll of Senators Collins and King greeting Biddeford Middle School students

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Senator Collins Delivers Commencement Address at Maine Maritime Academy

Click HERE for a high-resolution photo of Senator Collins speaking at MMA's 2017 Commencement, and click HERE for a high-resolution photo of Senator Collins with MMA President Brennan

Click HERE for a copy of Senator Collins’ remarks as prepared for delivery.

Collins, King Applaud Launch of Innovative Bioproduct Pilot Program at University of Maine

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King released the following statement on today’s launch of the Biomass to Bioproducts Pilot Plant at the University of Maine’s Technology Research Center in Old Town:

Following Push from Senator Collins, Budget Agreement Urges Department of Education to Reverse Absurd Bureaucratic Decision that Jeopardizes Future Success of Nearly 1,000 Maine Students

Washington, D.C. - Following a push led by U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the budget agreement released Sunday night included language urging the U.S. Department of Education to allow the University of Maine at Presque Isle (UMPI) and other institutions to fix minor formatting issues on grant applications for the Upward Bound competition.

Sens. Collins, Tester Urge Education Dept. to Reverse Decisions to Reject Grant Applications for First Generation College Students Due to Minor Formatting Issues

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) led a group of 23 Senators, including Senator Angus King (I-ME), in calling on Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to reverse course and review dozens of applications for grant funding for first generation college students. The Department recently rejected these applications due to ridiculous formatting requirements.

Maine Congressional Delegation Urges Department of Education to Reverse Absurd Bureaucratic Decision that Jeopardizes Future Success of Hundreds of Maine Students

As a result of a minor, unintentional line-spacing issue in UMPI’s application for the Upward Bound Grant Program, which the University was not permitted to correct, 960 disadvantaged high school students in Maine risk losing funding they need to attend college

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Senator Collins Visits Troy Elementary School

Troy, ME - U.S. Senator Susan Collins visited students at Troy Central School. Troy School in RSU #3 has approximately 100 elementary students, from kindergarten through grade 5, and serves the town of Troy and parts of Unity.

Maine Delegation Announces Service Academy Information Night

Washington, D.C. — The Maine Delegation will be hosting an upcoming Military Academy Seminar in cooperation with the Maine Maritime Academy in Bangor on Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at the Hilton Garden Inn, 250 Haskell Road, from 6 – 8 p.m. Doors open and registration begins at 5:30 p.m.

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Senator Collins Honored with the GRAMMYs on the Hill Award by the Recording Academy

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins received the GRAMMYs on the Hill Award in honor of her being an outstanding champion of music programs. Kara DioGuardi, a York County resident, musician, and former “American Idol” judge, presented Senator Collins with the award. As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins has long worked to secure essential funding for the arts.

Senator Collins Receives PTA Congressional Voice for Children Award

Washington, D.C. — The National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) honored U.S. Senator Susan Collins today with its 2017 Congressional Voice for Children Award for her “outstanding leadership and commitment to improving education and advancing issues impacting children’s health and well-being.” Maine PTA President Tracy Walker and Maine PTA Vice President Haley Tripp presented the award to Senator Collins in her Washington, D.C., office.

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Senator Collins Visits University of New England’s College of Dental Medicine

Washington, D.C. — In advance of the University of New England’s first graduating class from the College of Dental Medicine, U.S. Senator Susan Collins was led on a tour of the facility by UNE President Danielle Ripich and the Dean of the College of Dental Medicine, Dr. Jon Ryder. During the tour, Senator Collins met dental students and was shown the simulation clinic and wet lab of the Oral Health Center.

Senator Collins Announces She Will Vote Against the Confirmation of Betsy DeVos to be Secretary of Education

Click HERE to watch Senator Collins’ floor statement

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, spoke from the Senate floor today to announce that she will not support the nomination of Betsy DeVos to be Secretary of Education:

Collins, King Announce More Than $2.5 Million in Funding for Head Start in Maine

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that two Maine organizations will receive a total of $2,559,275 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Midcoast Maine Community Action will receive $1,331,706, and Androscoggin Head Start and Child Care will receive $1,227,569.

Collins, King Announce Over $1.2 Million in Funding for Promise Early Education Center

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families has awarded Promise Early Education Center in Lewiston $1,227,569 to support early childhood education.

Collins, King Announce $3.7 Million Preschool Development Grant in Maine

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have awarded $3,735,439 in grant funding to the State of Maine to continue to expand access to high-quality preschool for children from low-income families.

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Senator Collins Speaks at Reeds Brook Middle School's Blue Ribbon Ceremony in Hampden

Hampden, ME — U.S. Senator Susan Collins congratulated the students, faculty, and staff at Reeds Brook Middle School’s Blue Ribbon Ceremony in Hampden today. The event celebrated Reeds Brook’s recent designation by the U.S. Department of Education.

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Senator Collins Speaks at Sea Road School’s Blue Ribbon Ceremony in Kennebunk

Kennebunk, ME — U.S. Senator Susan Collins congratulated the students, faculty, and staff at Sea Road School’s Blue Ribbon Ceremony in Kennebunk today. The event celebrated Sea Road School’s recent designation by the U.S. Department of Education.

Collins, King Announce $20 Million Department of Education Grant for Spurwink Services in Maine

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that Spurwink Services in Portland has been awarded a five-year, $20 million Investing in Innovation (i3) Scale-up grant from the Department of Education. The funding will support Spurwink’s expansion of its Building Assets, Reducing Risks (BARR) model that aims to improve student academic achievement in high schools. Senators Collins and King wrote a letter in July supporting Spurwink’s grant application.

Collins, King Announce More Than $1.5 Million to Help Improve Maine Schools

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the U.S. Department of Education will award a total of $1,518,333 in School Improvement Grants (SIG) to Maine to help improve high school graduation rates and narrow achievement gaps in public schools across the state.

Senators Collins, King Congratulate Kennebunk Educator on Receiving Prestigious Award for Leadership

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King congratulated Sea Road School Principal Stephen D. Marquis, Ph.D., of Kennebunk on being named a 2016 recipient of the Terrel H. Bell Award for Outstanding School Leadership. Dr. Marquis is one of only eight principals across the country who will receive the award at a ceremony on November 7, 2016.

Senator Collins Announces That Efforts to Construct New Caribou Elementary School Has Cleared Important Hurdle

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced today that the National Park Service (NPS) recently approved a request by the State of Maine and the Maine RSU 39 School System to transfer land in Caribou that will allow for the construction of a new school building for grades Pre-K through 8th.

Senators Collins, Boxer Praise Unanimous Senate Passage of Resolution Celebrating Afterschool Programs

Bipartisan Resolution Commemorates the Nationwide Lights On Afterschool Event

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) praised the unanimous Senate passage of their resolution recognizing Lights On Afterschool, a celebration of afterschool programs nationwide.

Collins, King Announce $9 Million for the Maine Department of Labor

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the Maine Department of Labor will receive $9,000,000 from the U.S. Department of Education to expand vocational and educational opportunities for Maine students with disabilities.

Collins, King Congratulate Three Maine Schools Awarded National Blue Ribbon Recognition

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King applauded Falmouth Middle School, Reeds Brook Middle School in Hampden, and Sea Road School in Kennebunk for being recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as 2016 National Blue Ribbon Schools. These Maine schools are three of only 329 public and private schools across the nation being recognized for this achievement in 2016.

Senators Collins, King Announce $67,184 to Support Advanced Placement Testing for Low-Income Students

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the Maine Department of Education has been awarded $67,184 from the U.S. Department of Education through the Advanced Placement Test Fee Program. The award will be used to partially subsidize the cost of Advanced Placement (AP) tests for low-income high school students.

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Casco Bay High School Principal Named Maine’s 2016 Principal of the Year

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins met with Derek Pierce, the principal of Casco Bay High School in Portland, in her Washington, D.C., office. Mr. Pierce is the recipient of the 2016 Maine Principal Association’s (MPA) Principal of the Year Award.

“Innovation, creativity, and devotion to students and teachers are the hallmarks of strong and effective leadership in our educational system,” said Senator Collins. “I am proud to congratulate Mr. Pierce, a leader who so clearly embodies these attributes.”

Collins, King Announce National Science Foundation Grants for UMaine and Bates Totaling More than $400,000

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the National Science Foundation (NSF) is awarding a total of $427,309 in grant funding to the University of Maine and Bates College. The University of Maine will receive a $299,451 grant as part of an NSF initiative to promote the development of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) talent in populations that have traditionally been underserved or underrepresented in the STEM fields.

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Senator Collins Meets with Four Maine Teachers Who Received Prestigious Education Award

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins met with four Maine teachers who received Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. The winners, who accepted the awards earlier this week at a White House ceremony, are Cary James of Bangor High School, Lauree Gott of Veazie Community School, Laura Stevens of Dora L. Small Elementary School in South Portland, and Marielle Edgecomb of Peninsula School in Winter Harbor.

Collins, King Announce Nearly $800,000 in Grant Funding for UMaine to Support Low-Income and First-Generation College-Bound Students

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the U.S. Department of Education has awarded a total of $773,280 in grant funding to the University of Maine System and the University of Maine at Presque Isle to help students succeed in higher education.

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