UMaine mentioned in BDN report on Down East schools looking to improve

The University of Maine was mentioned in the Bangor Daily News article, “These Down East schools want to fix rural education.” The Transforming Rural Experience in Education program, or TREE, aims to improve the odds for students in rural Washington County towns, according to the article. Backed by brain science, around $1.3 million in foundation money and a team of education researchers at UMaine and Colby College, TREE plans to make elementary schools in Milbridge, Jonesport and Charlotte rural proving grounds for methods of addressing trauma and stress that can alter a child’s brain chemistry and hinder learning, the article states. While the TREE program has plans for changing teaching methods and mental health support in its schools, it’s also adapting to fill in other cracks, such as providing free dental care, to make sure students are ready to learn, the BDN reported.