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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Maine Improves in Child Well-being, Lags in Education

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Monday, June 17, 2019   

AUGUSTA, Maine — A new report calls for continued work to improve access to early childhood education in Maine. The state ranks ninth nationally for children's overall well-being in the new Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count Data Book.

In the last year, Maine has made more progress than any other state in the areas of family and community. Melissa Hackett, communications associate with the Maine Children's Alliance, attributed the improvement to the state's minimum-wage increase, but said Maine still needs to ensure access to quality education for all children.

She found the state's current education ranking - 23rd in the nation - disparaging.

"We know that those early childhood programs are so important to kids getting a good early start in terms of their foundation and development,” Hackett said. “That is a predictor for future success in academics and in their future professional lives."

Hackett said state legislators are working on ways to improve access to public preschool. However, the report found 57% of preschool-aged children in Maine aren't enrolled in an early-education program, compared to 52% nationally.

This marks the 30th year for the Kids Count Data Book, and the first time Maine has ranked in the top ten among states for children's well-being. Leslie Boissiere, vice president for external affairs with the Casey Foundation, said she attributes gains here and across the nation to programs and policies that improve access to early childhood education.

"The Head Start program resulted in more young children, three- and four-year-olds, enrolling in early childhood education, which has a significant impact on overall academic achievement, on the self-esteem of kids,” Boissiere said. “And Black children, in particular, are more likely to enroll in early education programs as a result of this policy investment."

The report suggested one way to ensure educational needs are met is to increase efforts to count everyone in the 2020 census, including children under age five and people living in hard-to-reach communities.

Disclosure: Annie E Casey Foundation contributes to our fund for reporting on Children's Issues, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Education, Education, Juvenile Justice, Welfare Reform. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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