Assembly convenes in Bangor — June 17–18, 2026 Watch the sessions →
Maine Education 2050 Maine Citizens' Assembly on Education Priorities · 2026
A statewide collaboration

Project partners

Researchers, lawmakers, funders, and statewide organizations supporting informed public deliberation.

Learning collaborators

Organizations that support delegate learning

The MEPRI Steering Committee — plus a small group of additional organizations chosen to better reflect the diversity of Maine — contribute educational materials and join informational panels. They support the learning phase but don't take part in deliberations or decisions. That's the delegates' job.

  • Maine Education Association
  • Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition
  • Maine Municipal Association
  • Maine Principals' Association
  • Maine School Boards Association
  • Maine School Superintendents Association
  • Center for Community Inclusion & Disability Studies
  • Count ME In!
  • Educate Maine
  • Maine Policy Institute
  • Maine Administrators of Services for Children with Disabilities
  • Maine Children's Alliance
  • Maine Community College System
  • Maine Curriculum Leaders Association
  • Maine Development Foundation

Major funders

Support for the Assembly

Nellie Mae Education Foundation

The largest philanthropy in New England focused exclusively on education. nmefoundation.org

Maine State Legislature

The Education and Cultural Affairs Committee.

Democracy Funders Network

A cross-ideological community of donors concerned with the health of American democracy. democracyfundersnetwork.org


Technology

The deliberation platform

The Assembly uses Comhairle, a structured deliberation platform built in Scotland by CrownShy. It is not used for open-ended advocacy or real-time debate. Partners in Democracy supports the integration of the technology and helps ensure delegates have a smooth experience.

What Comhairle does
  • Receives and tracks lottery registrations
  • Serves a responsive, queryable library of learning resources
  • Runs delegate quadratic voting for more nuanced reports to legislators
  • Organizes Steering Committee feedback at defined points