PORTLAND (AP) – The Portland school district is poised to become the first in Maine and one of only a handful in the nation to offer expeditionary learning at all levels from kindergarten through 12th grade.

When it opens this fall, the new East End Community School will devote 100 of its 450 spots to the learning approach that emphasizes hands-on projects and community service. Expeditionary learning is already available at King Middle School and the city’s new Expeditionary Learning and Outward Bound High School.

Expeditionary learning is a method that uses adventures and service to teach traditional subjects. Students take part in group projects, create in-depth reports and critique each other’s work. The method has its roots in the ideas of Outward Bound founder Kurt Hahn.

Portland began an expeditionary learning program at King Middle School 12 years ago, becoming one of the nation’s first districts to adopt the model.

The new high school devoted entirely to expeditionary learning opened this year with 75 freshmen and officials hope enrollment will reach 400 in four years when all grades are operating. The school was funded in part by a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

There are about 135 expeditionary learning schools in 27 states. Bath Middle School adopted expeditionary learning two years ago, and Wiscasset Middle School is establishing a program.

The $9.2 million East End Community School is being built on the site of an elementary school that was shut down in 2001 because of toxic mold contamination.

The new school offered a timely opportunity to extend expeditionary learning to the elementary level, Portland Superintendent Mary Jo O’Connor said. She called it one of many teaching methods being offered in the city to accommodate different styles of learning.