Student Support
MSSM is committed to fostering student success in our academic and residential programs.
In an effort to remove barriers to student success, the Student Support Team anticipates and prevents issues before they occur and provides intervention and resources when barriers exist. The Student Support Team works with individual students, groups of students, and faculty and staff and fosters a campus-wide student success oriented climate through a wide range of collaborative and evidence informed activities.
Since barriers to success can come in many different forms - academic, social and emotional, behavioral, and medical - the Student Support team is composed of a wide group of campus personnel and assumes a holistic approach to supporting students.
Special Services
The Maine School of Science and Mathematics (MSSM) is a public magnet school and agency of the State of Maine and does not meet the definition of a School Administrative Unit (SAU) as defined by Title 20-A §26 nor does it have the responsibility for identification of special needs students in any jurisdiction as described for School Administrative Units (SAUs) in Section IV.2 of the Maine Unified Special Education Regulations. MSSM affirms its role in supporting services for students with special needs that otherwise meet its admission requirements. A student’s need for special services does not preclude the admission of a student who otherwise meets the School’s admission standards.
MSSM’s Child Find process shall include obtaining data on each enrolled student through direct assessment or by indirect means. This assessment can include evaluation of students’ academic performance, gross and fine motor skills, receptive and expressive language skills, vision, hearing, and cognitive skills.
If the Child Find process indicates that a student may require special education and supportive services in order to benefit from instruction, the student shall be referred to the IEP team to determine the student's eligibility for special education services. School staff, parents, or agency representatives may refer students to the IEP team if they believe that the student, because of a disability, may be in need of special education and supportive services in order to benefit from instruction. Some factors that may be considered when making a referral might include the following:
- If a student has accumulated the equivalent of 10 full days of unexcused absences or seven consecutive school days of unexcused absences during a school year;
- Has been suspended or removed for disciplinary reasons in excess of 10 cumulative school days in the school year; or
- Has experienced an illness, hospitalization, or accident that may indicate a need for special education and supportive services.
These considerations are guidelines only and do not mandate or preclude referral to the IEP team.
Learn More
January Term
Learn more about this break from the academic calendar that allows students to focus on a subject, course, project, or off-campus internship each January.
Dual Enrollment
Many MSSM classes qualify for college credit through a unique partnership with the University of Maine at Presque Isle.
Technology
The MSSM IT Department is focused on making sure students and staff have access to and support for the resources they need in and out of the classroom to ensure a seamless educational experience.