With five days until the primary, the only candidate with kids in Maine public schools rolls out a comprehensive plan to strengthen education statewide
MAINE — Hannah Pingree, former Speaker of the House and candidate for governor, released her education policy agenda for Maine, Building Maine’s Future Through Great Public Schools, drawing on her experience as a parent of children currently in Maine public schools, former lawmaker, and her time as chair of her local school board. The announcement, made at a press conference where she was joined by educators and local leaders from across the state, comes five days before the June primary.
“My goal is both simple and ambitious,” said Hannah. “I want Maine to become a national leader in educational excellence. Not in one area. Across the board. Literacy. Math. Critical thinking. Workforce readiness. Student engagement. We should be competing to be the best in the country because our kids deserve nothing less.”
Hannah’s education platform focuses on six core priorities: supporting educators, expanding early childhood education and child care, accelerating literacy and math outcomes, strengthening career and technical education, modernizing school infrastructure, and developing a responsible approach to technology and AI in the classroom.
Among the plan’s signature proposals is universal public Pre-K — making free, full-day Pre-K available to every 4-year-old in Maine whose family wants it, delivered through school districts, Head Start programs, and child care providers. The plan also calls for expediting the increase in teacher starting pay to a minimum of $50,000, and passing a $100 million revolving loan fund to address urgent school construction and repair needs across the state — with a focus on rural and smaller districts that have too often been left behind.
“I spent 29 years at the State House watching people come and go,” said Steve Crouse, the former government relations director of the Maine Education Association. “I’ve seen a lot of politicians talk about education. I’ve watched far fewer fight for it. Hannah Pingree is the real thing.”
The agenda also addresses one of the defining challenges of this generation: preparing Maine students for a world shaped by artificial intelligence while protecting the deep learning, human relationships, and independent thinking that technology can never replace. Hannah’s plan calls for a Teacher-Led Technology and AI Task Force to guide state policy, ensuring educators have a seat at the table as schools navigate these changes.
“Hannah sees education not as a policy issue or a talking point, but as a promise. A promise that no matter where a child lives, what language they speak, what challenges they face, or what dreams they have — they deserve access to a great public education, right here in Maine,” said Erin Cavallaro, a Westbrook School Board member and mom of two kids.
Today’s announcement is part of Hannah’s comprehensive Maine’s Next Chapter agenda, addressing the rising costs of housing, health care, child care, property taxes, energy, and groceries — while laying out a strategy to grow wages and expand opportunity in every corner of Maine.
With five days until the June 9th primary, Hannah’s campaign is closing out strong. Endorsements from Governor Janet Mills, Speaker Ryan Fecteau, Attorney General Aaron Frey, more than 120 current and former state legislators, Mayors, and organizations including the Sierra Club, Maine Conservation Voters Action Fund, Moms Demand Action, and Maine Youth Power, High School Democrats, and support from Graham Platner — alongside packed town halls and record volunteer engagement statewide — have fueled growing energy heading into primary week.
Hannah closes out the final days of the campaign with events across Maine: an Augusta happy hour Thursday night, a Lewiston community visit and Portland BBQ Friday, Pride marches and a get-out-the-vote rally in Portland Saturday, and a Rockport rally Sunday.
For more information on Hannah Pingree’s campaign, visit www.hannahforgovernor.com
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