Special Olympics offers a collection of tools and resources to empower youth and educators to become leaders in their classrooms and their communities.

Unified Champion Schools  Playbooks

Our School Level Playbooks are packed with information and ready-to-use resources designed to help elementary, middle & high school communities increase social inclusion and implement the Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® strategy. Click the Playbook below to view & download.

Unified Classroom

Unified Classroom

Bring Special Olympics to your classroom with fun engaging activities highlight inclusion and are made for all grade levels! Comprised of monthly “packages” that keep the educator & student top of mind, the Unified Classroom is a seamless way to ensure that the core themes of Special Olympics are embedded into your current classroom setting.

Unified Sports Resources

The below resources are available to assist individuals who are just beginning to learn about how Special Olympics Unified Sports can become part of the Unified Champion Schools strategy at their school. Click the resources below to view & download.

NHFS Coaching Unified Sports Online Course
Click here for additional Unified Sports resources

Inclusive Youth Leadership Resources

The below resources are available to assist individuals who are just beginning to implement Inclusive Youth Leadership at their school.  Click the resources below to view & download.

State Unified Youth Council
Special Olympics Maine is accepting applications for the 2023-24State Unified Youth Council. APPLY TODAY! Special Olympics is currently looking for Special Olympics athletes or a Unified pair (athlete & unified partner from the same school).  We are not currently looking for solo Unified partners.
Apply to the State Unified Youth Council

Additional inclusive youth leadership resources

Whole School Engagement Resources

Check out the Elementary, Middle & High School Playbooks for Whole School Engagement information.  Additional Whole School Engagement resources below.  Click the resources below to view & download.

Its our School, Too! Play (Middle & High)
GenerationUnified “Schools” video library

National Banner School Program

This program gives national banner recognition to a Special Olympics Unified Champion School demonstrating commitment to inclusion by meeting 10 standards of excellence. Check out how your school can reach banner status by clicking on your school level below

Elementary School StandardsMiddle & High School Standards College Standards

Unified Champion Schools Funding

Special Olympics Maine is pleased to announce once again that funding will be available for schools to support their Unified Champion Schools efforts. To become eligible for this funding, schools that apply must exhibit how they will incorporate all three Unified School components, listed below, into their school community.

  • Unified Sports
  • Unified Youth Leadership
  • Whole School Awareness

The combination of all three Unified Champion School components in a school setting continues to provide the best approach for schools. Special Olympics Maine has witnessed first-hand the tremendous results Unified Champion Schools has had on school climates when these three Unified Champion School components are implemented within a school community. The results have been overwhelmingly positive and have shown to bring positive change to entire school communities, such as accepting and respecting ALL students while also offering new opportunities to those who typically did not have them.

Based on funding we received, Special Olympics Maine will be able to offer schools who meet criteria an opportunity to receive funding as follows:

  • Awards will range from $1-$6,000.00.  See examples of funding below:
    • Interscholastic Special Olympics Unified Basketball applicants max request – $2,500.00 year 1 & $2,000.00 year 2.  Schools that previously received Year 1 & 2 funding – $1,000.00 max
    • Interscholastic Special Olympics Unified Bocce applicants max request per year – $1,000.00
    • Youth Athletes Programs max request – $1,000.00 per year
    • Youth Summit max per year –  $500.00

Applications will be accepted until April 1, 2024 or until funding is exhausted. Please review the application questions and draft responses prior to starting the application. Once the application has been started it will need to be completed/submitted at the same time; there is no way to save or re-enter at a later time. Once an application is submitted the School Administrator and Unified School Liaison will receive an email notification with the contents of their submitted application.
Review Special Olympics Maine’s Unified Champion Schools Grant Application Questions
Access Special Olympics Maine’s Unified Champion Schools Grant Application Here