** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** INTRODUCTION: BENEFITS OF AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION IN THE CLASSROOM HAVE LONG BEEN KNOWN ANDMAINE'S AQUACULTURE SECTOR NEEDS TO LEVERAGE THESE BENEFITS TOO. CURRENTLY, AQUACULTURE EDUCATIONDEPENDS ON THE INTEREST OF INDIVIDUAL TEACHERS, WITH ONLY A LIMITED NUMBER OF EDUCATORS ANDSCHOOL DISTRICTS EMBRACING AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO INCORPORATING AQUACULTURE EDUCATION INTOTHEIR CURRICULA.GOAL: TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF MAINE'S ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL EDUCATORS INTEGRATINGAQUACULTURE CONCEPTS IN THEIR CLASSROOMS.OBJECTIVES: (1) PROMOTE EDUCATOR EXPERTISE IN, AND ENCOURAGE IMPLEMENTATION OF, AQUACULTURESCIENCES IN MAINE'S ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASSROOMS. (2) IDENTIFY AQUACULTURECLASSROOM ACTIVITIES AND RESOURCES, AND PROMOTE MAINE EDUCATOR AWARENESS OF AND ACCESSIBILITYTO THEM.ACTIVITIES: PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: COLLECTING AND ORGANIZING AQUACULTURE CLASSROOM RESOURCESINTO COHERENT SEAWEED, SHELLFISH AND AQUAPONIC CURRICULA. TEACHER TRAINING EVENTS TO SUPPORTIMPLEMENTATION OF CURRICULA INTO GRADE 4 TO 8 CLASSROOMS, INCLUDING EDUCATOR WEBINARS,WORKSHOPS, AND IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES. THE PROJECT TEAM WILL PROVIDE SUPPORT TO EDUCATORS ANDCONNECTIONS TO MAINE'S AQUACULTURE INDUSTRY, AS WELL AS PROMOTING EDUCATOR ACCESSIBILITY TORESOURCES.PARTICIPANTS: CLASSROOM EDUCATORS TEACHING GRADES 4-8 WILL BE INTRODUCED TO AQUACULTURE ANDSUPPORTED IN IMPLEMENTATION OF AQUACULTURE INTO THEIR CLASSROOMS.INTENDED IMPACT: AQUACULTURE EDUCATION IN THE CLASSROOM WILL REDUCE THE DIVIDE BETWEEN FARMAND TABLE, ENHANCE FOOD SECURITY OF RURAL COMMUNITIES, INCREASE AWARENESS OF AQUACULTURECAREERS, AND HELP TO DEVELOP AN INFORMED CONSUMER BASE AND COMMUNITIES.RELEVANCE TO PDAL PRIORITIES:THIS PROPOSAL ALIGNS WITH THE PDAL PROGRAM AREA PRIORITY BYSEEKING TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF K-14 EDUCATIONAL PROFESSIONALS TRAINED IN AQUACULTURE SCIENCES.