Files
Download Full Text (13.6 MB)
Description
The Maine Career Exploration (MCE) Program was a two-year, $25 million pilot initiative launched in 2022 by Governor Janet Mills as part of the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan. The program aimed to connect young people aged 16 to 24 with Maine’s economy through paid, age-appropriate career experiences that matched their interests, while also expanding career exploration opportunities in schools and communities and building long-term infrastructure to sustain these efforts. Managed by the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, MCE distributed funding across three main streams: the Maine Children’s Cabinet Career Exploration Pilot Project, the Maine Department of Education’s Extended Learning Opportunity Expansion Program, and the Jobs for Maine Graduates Career Exploration Expansion. Together, these efforts successfully exceeded participation goals, offering meaningful paid work experiences to youth across the state. The Children’s Cabinet initiative engaged disconnected and underrepresented young people, the Department of Education expanded hands-on learning programs and opportunities to earn school credit, and Jobs for Maine Graduates supported students with career readiness training and statewide coordination. The Data Innovation Project at the University of Southern Maine’s Catherine Cutler Institute conducted a mixed-methods evaluation to assess the program’s effectiveness, drawing on surveys, interviews, employer feedback, and focus groups. Findings highlighted that the program provided valuable real-world learning experiences, strengthened youth career readiness, and fostered partnerships between schools, employers, and communities. This final evaluation report expands on earlier findings to offer insights and recommendations for sustaining and growing Maine’s career exploration infrastructure in the years ahead.
Publication Date
3-2025
Publisher
Data Innovation Project
City
Portalnd, Maine
Keywords
"Maine Career Exploration, Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, youth career development, job readiness, workforce development, Data Innovation Project"
Disciplines
Art and Design | Digital Humanities | Education | Graphic Design | Interdisciplinary Arts and Media | Statistics and Probability
Recommended Citation
Bergeron-Smith, Julia MPPM, MSW; Goan, Sarah; Burke, Madison; Wurwarg, Becky; Geren, Amy; and Saxby, Shannon, "Maine Career Exploration: Final Evaluation Report" (2025). Publications. 6.
https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/dip_publications/6
Included in
Digital Humanities Commons, Education Commons, Graphic Design Commons, Interdisciplinary Arts and Media Commons, Statistics and Probability Commons
Comments
Produced by the Data Innovation Project on behalf of Maine Career Exploration program