Regional School Unit NO. 56

Regional School Unit NO. 56 is a non-profit educational organization located in Dixfield, Maine, registered in SAM.gov since September 2017. As a local educational agency, the organization serves rural communities in Maine, focusing on providing educational services to students across various age groups. The school unit is committed to enhancing educational opportunities, particularly in underserved rural areas, and has demonstrated a proactive approach to leveraging federal grant funding to support its educational mission.

The organization has received multiple federal grant sub-awards primarily through the Maine Department of Education, covering a diverse range of educational and nutritional programs. These grants include special education services for children with disabilities (birth to 20 years old), support for high-poverty schools, and nutritional assistance programs such as the National School Lunch Program and Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. A notable prime grant award from the USDA Rural Utilities Service in September 2024 provided $991,776 for a Distance Learning and Telemedicine project, aimed at improving educational and healthcare access through advanced telecommunications technologies. The sub-awards also encompass COVID-19 response funding, workforce development initiatives, and programs designed to improve academic achievement, teacher quality, and technology integration. Partners have included the Maine Department of Education, Northern Forest Center Inc., and the State of Maine, demonstrating the school unit's collaborative approach to addressing educational and community needs.