Special Services

Welcome to the RSU 21 Special Services Department

The Special Services Department at Regional School Unit 21 is committed to meeting the individual educational needs of every student we serve. We provide a full continuum of services for students eligible for Special Education, Gifted and Talented programming, Multi-Lingual Learner support, and Section 504 accommodations — from preschool through grade 12.

Our dedicated staff works to ensure each student has a successful and meaningful educational experience through individualized, appropriate support.

Early Childhood Special Education — Now Welcoming 3-Year-Olds

RSU 21 is proud to be part of Maine's statewide initiative to bring early childhood special education services directly into local public schools. In 2024, the Maine Legislature directed all school administrative units (SAUs) to transition responsibility for preschool special education,  previously provided through Child Development Services (CDS), to local school districts by July 1, 2028. As part of this phased cohort process, RSU 21 is welcoming eligible 3–5-year-old children who qualify for special education services, ensuring they receive a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) close to home, in the least restrictive environment. To learn more about Maine's Early Childhood Special Education transition, visit the Maine DOE Early Childhood Special Education page.

Our Programs

We invite you to learn more about each of our programs through the links below:

Special Education — We provide a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment for students with disabilities, ages 3 to 22, in accordance with state and federal law.

Gifted and Talented — Our program offers academic, visual, and performing arts opportunities through consultation and direct programming.

Multilingual Learners — We support students whose primary home language is other than English with a variety of services to help them meet challenging academic standards while developing English proficiency.

Section 504 — Students with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity may be eligible for accommodations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Thank you for visiting our site. We hope you found the information helpful. If you have
any questions or require any additional information please feel free to contact Rachel Bratter, Director of Special Services, at (207) 985-3960.