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Therapeutic & Alternative Boarding Schools In Maine
Help Your Teen Now is a parent advocacy group that understands the stress that comes along with raising a troubled teen. If your path has led you to the point of considering an alternative or therapeutic boarding school, then you have come to the right place. With our knowledgeable staff, our database of trustworthy information and our years of experience, we have helped hundreds of families just like yours. There are many factors to consider with this decision and we are dedicated to making sure you have access to the specific information you need without spending hours online. Take the first step to heal your family and call us today.
Maine Regulatory Laws
While official Accreditation is not required, Approval or Recognition by the Maine Department of Education is mandatory. A private school must meet the attendance, health and safety standards as set out in the state regulations. Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Title 20-A, §2902. Periodic review of nonpublic schools by the commissioner is necessary to maintain approval status. Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Title 20-A, §258-A.
All teachers and instructors must be approved by the commissioner, with the exception of those schools accredited by the New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Title 20-A, §§ 2901, 13003. A principals certificate is required for any chief administrator employed by a nonpublic school. Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Title 20-A, §13019-B.
The curriculum for nonpublic schools must be approved by the commissioner and must include minimum performance standards and time requirements. It must include instruction in reading, writing, spelling, grammar, library instruction, math, science, art, drama, American and local history as well as social studies. A drug and alcohol awareness program must also be implemented. Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Title 20-A, §§2902.3, 4706, 4711.
Evidence of immunization or paperwork showing legal exemption is required for all new students. Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Title 20-A, §6353.3, 4, 6. Students in nonpublic schools are entitled to the same health benefits as those attending public schools. This includes physician, nursing, dental and optometric services. Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Title 30-A, §5724.7.
Reference: http://www2.ed.gov/admins/comm/choice/regprivschl/regprivschl.pdf
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Educational Recources
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Maine Regulatory Laws
While official Accreditation is not required, Approval or Recognition by the Maine Department of Education is mandatory. A private school must meet the attendance, health and safety standards as set out in the state regulations. Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Title 20-A, §2902. Periodic review of nonpublic schools by the commissioner is necessary to maintain approval status. Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Title 20-A, §258-A.
All teachers and instructors must be approved by the commissioner, with the exception of those schools accredited by the New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Title 20-A, §§ 2901, 13003. A principals certificate is required for any chief administrator employed by a nonpublic school. Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Title 20-A, §13019-B.
The curriculum for nonpublic schools must be approved by the commissioner and must include minimum performance standards and time requirements. It must include instruction in reading, writing, spelling, grammar, library instruction, math, science, art, drama, American and local history as well as social studies. A drug and alcohol awareness program must also be implemented. Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Title 20-A, §§2902.3, 4706, 4711.
Evidence of immunization or paperwork showing legal exemption is required for all new students. Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Title 20-A, §6353.3, 4, 6. Students in nonpublic schools are entitled to the same health benefits as those attending public schools. This includes physician, nursing, dental and optometric services. Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Title 30-A, §5724.7.
Reference: http://www2.ed.gov/admins/comm/choice/regprivschl/regprivschl.pdf
Educational Recources
Statistics for At-Risk Maine Teens
ADD/ADHD
- 11.1%
11.1 percent of children in Maine, aged 3–17 years have been diagnosed with ADHD. (National Survey of Children’s Health, 2016–2019).
TEEN PREGNANCY
- 10.6%
The teen pregnancy rate for adolescents aged 15 to 19 in Maine is 10.6 per 1,000 females in this age group, according to the World Population Review.
https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/teen-pregnancy-rates-by-state
TEEN SUICIDE
- 10.7%
Maine ranks 17th with a suicide rate of 10.7 deaths per 100,000 adolescents aged 15 to 19, according to data from the CDC WONDER Multiple Cause of Death Files (2020–2022).
https://www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/measures/teen_suicide/ME
DRUG USE
- 12.28%
In 2020, approximately 788,000 teenagers aged 12 to 17 nationwide met the criteria for Illicit Drug Use Disorder (IDUD). In Maine, about 12.28% of adolescents in this age group reported using illicit drugs, according to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics.
ALCOHOL USE
- 10.05%
Approximately 10.05% of teens in Maine suffer from Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). (National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, 2020.
TEEN VAPING
- 30.2%
Maine ranks 8th among all states, with 30.2% of high school teens reported to have used vapes. (Drug Watch, 2024).
TEEN PORNOGRAPHY
- 57%
The porn industry experienced a 12.6% annual revenue increase from 2018 to 2023. Adolescent exposure to pornography has steadily risen, with the age of first exposure becoming increasingly younger. 57% of young adults ages 18-25 use porn monthly or more often.
TEEN BULLYING
- 46%
According to Pew Research Center, 46% of U.S. teens aged 13 to 17 have experienced at least one of six types of cyberbullying behaviors. (Pew Research Center, 2022).
https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/12/15/teens-and-cyberbullying-2022/
Summary
We Can Help!
Your teens situation is unique. That is why we offer a free evaluation at the beginning of your first call. This helps us to recommend the groups and programs that would be most helpful to you. We hold very high standards for our recommendation list and we don’t add anyone that we haven’t personally checked out for a history of success in working with troubled teens.
We want you to be confident with our advice, so we are not financially or contractually affiliated in any way with the groups and organizations we endorse. The more knowledge you have, the more likely you are to trust your decision on which alternative or therapeutic boarding school to select. We want to be your advocate throughout this stressful process. Call us today!