General Information
If you are under twenty years old, you can attend public school for free in the town or city where you live. In addition to the public schools, there are many additional programs in Portland and Lewiston that offer academic support and other learning opportunities for immigrant youth.
To enroll in school in Portland, contact the Portland Public Schools Multilingual and Multicultural Intake Center at (207) 874-8135. To enroll in school in Lewiston, go to the main office at your local neighborhood school to be registered. Families should bring identification documents as well as those showing medical history and prior schooling.
Portland
Educational Resources Located in Public Schools
Make It Happen!
About: Make It Happen helps refugee, asylee and immigrant youth succeed academically, prepare for college, and apply to colleges and secure financial aid during senior year. Students in grades 8-12 can join Make It Happen to be placed with a tutor who will work with the student after school. The program operates at all three high schools and all three middle schools in Portland.
For more information, visit the program’s website or visit the Make It Happen classroom at your school.
Jobs for Maine Graduates (JMG)
About: Jobs for Maine Graduates has specialists at Portland High School and Deering High School who teach courses that help students achieve better grades and take advantages of opportunities for future success.
For more information, talk to your guidance counselor about signing up for a JMG class.
Portland Mentoring Alliance
About: The Portland Mentoring Alliance is located at Portland High School. The program matches refugee, asylee and immigrant students with an adult mentor who provides the student with both social and academic support and helps the student prepare for college.
For more information, visit Mr. Nerbak at the Portland Mentoring Alliance office at Portland High School.
Educational Resources at the College Level
English Language Bridge Program at the University of Southern Maine
About: The English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Program at USM is an intensive English language program that prepares students for future academic courses.
For more information, contact Andrea Vasquez at (207) 780-4419 or andrea.vasquez@maine.edu. You can also visit the program’s website.
MySuccess at Southern Maine Community College
About: The MySuccess program supports students who graduated from Portland, Deering, or Casco Bay High School in their academics at SMCC. The program begins the summer before the first year and continues through graduation.
For more information, contact Maggie Loeffelholz at (207) 741-5916 or mloeffelholz@smccME.edu. You can also visit the program’s website.
Other Educational Resources
Community Financial Literacy
About: Community Financial Literacy offers courses that help people manage their finances and learn about the financial system in the United States as well as one-on-one counseling for specific financial issues. All courses are free for participants and are available to all immigrants, refugees, asylees and low-income individuals living in Portland and Lewiston/Auburn. All courses are taught by refugees who understand the culture of the participants.
Phone: (207) 797-7890
See a map or visit the website here.
Learning Works
About: Learning Works offers a number of programs in Portland, including both after school and summer programs that help youth master the skills they need to succeed in school. Learning Works programs provide learning opportunities for the refugee, asylee and immigrant community and low-income families.
Phone: (207) 775-0105
See a map or visit the website here.
Portland Adult Education
About: Portland Adult Education offers a wide range of courses for adults, including College Transitions, High School Diploma & GED/HiSET, English Language Civics, English for Speakers of Other Languages, Office Skills, and more.
Phone: (207) 874-8155
See a map or visit the website here.
Portland ConnectED
About: Portland ConnectED is an organization that works to help more of Portland’s youth become educated.
Phone: (207) 653-9854
Visit the website here.
Portland Empowered
About: Portland Empowered is located at the Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine. The program provides leadership opportunities for high school students and works to promote equal opportunities for all students in Portland Public Schools.
Phone: (207) 807-4283
See a map or visit the website here.
The Root Cellar
About: The Root Cellar provides a space where youth can drop in for food and games. The organization also offers English as a Second Language (ESL) lessons that are taught one-on-one. The cost for an 8 week class is $25.
Phone: (207) 774-3197
See a map or visit the website here.
Street Academy (a program of Portland Adult Education)
About: Street Academy is a program located at the Preble Street Teen Center that supports homeless youth in gaining an education and employment by helping them enroll in and attend school, making sure they have transportation to school, and providing job training and job placement services. The program also helps youth write resumes and prepare for job interviews.
Phone: (207) 874-1147
See a map or visit the website here.
The Telling Room
About: The Telling Room is a writing center that helps young people between the ages of 6-18 improve their writing skills, build confidence, and practice telling their stories.
Programs:
Writers Block is a free after school program that meets once a week between January and May. Participants in the program will have time to write on their own, and the chance to participate in structured writing time where staff will be available to help and lead exercises. The program for 12-18 year-olds meets on Tuesday afternoons from 3 – 5 p.m. and the program for 6-11 year-olds meets on Wednesday afternoons from 3 – 5 p.m.
Young Writers and Leaders is a free after school program for international multilingual high school students. Students must apply, complete an interview, and be selected in order to participate in the program. The program runs for nine months, and helps students improve their writing skills and academic performance, and promotes students’ social and emotional wellbeing.
See a map or visit the website here.
Lewiston
Educational Resources Located in Public Schools
Lewiston 21st Century
About: The Lewiston 21st Century program provides students with homework help, tutoring, and other programming to help them successfully complete their education. The program is located at both Lewiston Middle School and Lewiston High School.
Visit the website here.
Other Educational Resources
Community Financial Literacy
About: Community Financial Literacy offers courses that help people manage their finances and learn about the financial system in the United States as well as one-on-one counseling for specific financial issues. All courses are free for participants and are available to all immigrants, refugees, asylees and low-income individuals living in Portland and Lewiston/Auburn. All courses are taught by refugees who understand the culture of the participants.
Phone: (207) 797-7890
Visit the website here.
Learning Works
About: Learning Works offers several programs in Lewiston, including case management and a family literacy initiative.
Phone: (207) 333-3510
For more information about programs and where they are offered, visit the program’s website.
The Root Cellar
About: The Root Cellar provides a space where youth can drop in for food and games. The organization also offers English as a Second Language (ESL) classes free of charge.
Phone: (207) 782-3659
See a map or visit the website here.
Tree Street Youth Center
About: Tree Street has several programs designed to help students succeed in school. The Afterschool Program provides tutoring and homework help to all students, and the BRANCHES program helps refugee and immigrant youth graduate from high school, get accepted to college, and succeed in college.
Phone: (207) 577-6386
See a map or visit the website here.
