If you didn't finish high school, you know that your job choices can be limited. Even with talent and drive, the lack of a high school diploma can limit your opportunities. Increase your lifelong earnings by earning your high school credential.

The HiSET® exam has replaced the GED as Maine’s High School equivalency assessment. If you are an adult without a high school diploma, the HiSET® could be your route to improved career prospects, a college education, and increased earnings potential. To earn a HiSET® credential, you are required to successfully pass five exams in the areas of Reading, Writing, Math, Social Studies, and Science. HiSET®exam preparation and testing are free to Maine residents.

Please call our office for your first informational appointment. 288-4703. Rolling admissions, year round.

Need only a few credits to complete your high school diploma? Through an online learning program as well as face-to-face tutoring, you can work at your own pace through step-by-step lessons while working with a teacher on a weekly basis to earn those lingering credits. Special focus and attention will be on your college and career interests. We even have a survey course you can take to explore a career option!

Step one is to meet with our Director, Anne Patterson. mdiae@mdirss.org. We'll be here when you are ready! Rolling admissions.

Maine College Transitions is a complete program that guides you toward your goal. Whether you know exactly what you want or have no idea what you could do, Maine College Transitions is the best place to start.

Maine College Transitions is ready when you are. All you need is the desire to further your education and to have completed, or be working toward, a high school credential (GED or HiSET®). Classes are taught by teachers who want you to succeed. You will be in classes with people like you who want to take the next step.

Hundreds of students who completed Maine College Transitions have gained entrance to trade schools, community colleges, and four-year colleges or universities. If you have a dream and the desire, we have the tools to get you to your goal. We will be there to guide and support you every step of the way.

First step: register online or contact us for an introductory meeting to see if this program is a good fit for you.

This class will be a gently guide you into watercolor painting. We'll cover the basic stuff like how to do a wash, what kind of brush, what kind of paper and what kind of paints to use. We'll also cover more advanced and stylized skills in this class. Drawing skills are not needed. Learn how to mix colors and how to understand the color wheel. Each week or two we'll create a masterpiece suitable for framing. Instead of just looking at the scenery around the island, you can express what you see in watercolor. There is a materials fee (included in the total fee already) of $8.00 to cover the paint, paper and brushes.

No classes on Feb. 18 or March 3.

In this class we will explore the history of American art and how many artists either were born in Maine or found their way there at some point in their career. Artists like the American Modernist painter Marsden Hartley, Andrew and son Jamie Wyeth, Rockwell Kent, Edward Hopper and Winslow Homer just to name a very few. In this class we’ll explore these artists, their styles and their connection to Maine. We will be focusing on a select few artists, understanding their style and how they created their works, resulting in the class recreating some works as well as producing original art based on the artist’s style. Also, because of the intimate connection between this island and the art world. We’ll explore some well-known artists who reside on MDI. When you’re done this class, you’ll truly be a “Down Artster”. There is an $8 materials fee included in the cost of the class.

Tired of feeling like you’re at the other end of a dog sled team? Want to be able to take your dog to the farmers market without them jumping all over everyone? Need to figure out how to get your dog to come when you really need him to? Manners 1 is the class for you! For dogs 4 months and older, this class will help you and your dog work as a team to conquer the big struggles of having an adolescent dog. We'll use positive reinforcement to practice coming when called, polite greetings (not jumping), leash walking, sit/down/stand, stay, mat training and attention training. This class is for non-reactive dogs only. First class is people only, no dogs please.

These classes will be held at Somesville Fire Dept (1157 Main St., Mt. Desert). To accommodate the demand, Manners 1 will be offered multiple times/dates so please pay attention which section you register for.

All classes will be taught by Whitney Thurston, CPDT-KA of Salty Dog Obedience and Adventure. Each class runs 6 weeks for 50 minutes. Her goal and passion is to help other dog lovers learn how to effectively communicate with their dogs, to help them build lasting relationships.

Tired of feeling like you’re at the other end of a dog sled team? Want to be able to take your dog to the farmers market without them jumping all over everyone? Need to figure out how to get your dog to come when you really need him to? Manners 1 is the class for you! For dogs 4 months and older, this class will help you and your dog work as a team to conquer the big struggles of having an adolescent dog. We'll use positive reinforcement to practice coming when called, polite greetings (not jumping), leash walking, sit/down/stand, stay, mat training and attention training. This class is for non-reactive dogs only. First class is people only, no dogs please.

These classes will be held at Somesville Fire Dept (1157 Main St., Mt. Desert). To accommodate the demand, Manners 1 will be offered multiple times/dates so please pay attention which section you register for.

All classes will be taught by Whitney Thurston, CPDT-KA of Salty Dog Obedience and Adventure. Each class runs 6 weeks for 50 minutes. Her goal and passion is to help other dog lovers learn how to effectively communicate with their dogs, to help them build lasting relationships.

This team taught, 8 hours U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary course provides recreational boaters with the knowledge and skills to boat safely on either inland or coastal waters. General topics include in this ABS course are: boating operations, boat handling, boating laws and regulations, water traffic patterns, equipment requirements, and introductory navigation. Students will complete a multiple-choice exam at the conclusion of the course. Participants who pass the written exam are awarded a USCGA certificate that may be used to satisfy state boat operator certification as well as possibly earning a discount on insurance premiums from many marine insurers. This course is approved by the National Association of Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA).

There will be no class on February 20.

Also, as part of this ABS course there will be two additional sessions for more detailed navigation. These sessions will be optional for ABS course attendees.