In the context of a tight labor market with more jobs than workers to fill openings, and as young people increasingly seek alternatives to college, apprenticeships have become more important than ever. While the "earn and learn" model of apprenticeship seems to be the obvious choice to address labor market needs, it remains underutilized…

There is growing unease about suspension and expulsion of children at the preschool level. Preschoolers are expelled at three times the rate of K-12 students (Gilliam, 2005). Boys--particularly African-American boys--comprise a disproportionate number of these cases, a fact that has caused concern among parents, policymakers, and advocates alike.…

Maine has two initiatives that build on Early Head Start (EHS). The first initiative, Fund for a Healthy Maine, has since 2001 provided tobacco settlement money to existing Head Start and EHS programs to expand the number of children who receive full-day, full-year services. Local programs have the option of using these funds for EHS, depending on…

"Moving the Needle on Poverty" is designed to provide Colorado leaders with an up-to-date picture of the diverse strategies that states across the nation are pursuing to lift individuals, families, and communities out of poverty. As the report indicates, many states are choosing to set specific and measurable goals for poverty reduction,…

The administrative handbook contains general information concerning Maine legislation relating to special education, state subsidy to special education programs, Title VI (A) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Public Law 85-926 related to preparation of professional personnel in special education, and the services of the Special…

This paper describes service delivery to Maine's preschool exceptional children (ages 3 to 5) in the context of a public school setting, and examines the relationship among Maine's Department of Education, Department of Human Services, Department of Mental Health/Mental Retardation, School Administrative Units, Child Development Services (CDS),…

Medicaid is the principal source of public funding for therapeutic interventions for children birth to 21 years of age and can be used to support health-related services of special education programs. An overview discusses Medicaid provisions related to state medical assistance plans; Medicaid's status as an entitlement, which means that services…

The report presents recommendations of Maine's Task Force on Postsecondary Education Funding, which examined the effectiveness of existing postsecondary financial aid programs serving Maine students and identified ways to ensure that costs of postsecondary education are affordable for aspiring and qualified students. After a statement of financial…

A committee examined the number, type, and quality of work and training opportunities available for heads of households under Maine's Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) Program and suggested ways to improve them. Comprised of such representatives of the private and public sectors as employers, AFDC recipients, welfare advocates,…