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Teachers could use the new Maine Climate Hub to teach students about the Gulf of Maine, which is considered one of the fastest-warming ocean regions on the planet. (Adobe Stock)

ME Students Benefit from New Climate Change-Related Education Tool

Educators in Maine will have a new online resource this school year to help them teach what they say is one of the most challenging subjects: climate …

Maine ranks first in the nation for having the lowest percentage of children in families where the head of household lacks a high school diploma, at 4%, compared to the national rate of 11%, according to a new report. (Adobe Stock) <br />

ME Parents Struggle with Lack of Affordable, Accessible Child Care

CLARIFICATION: Percentages of students' reading and math scores were clarified. (12:46 p.m. MDT, June 14, 2023) Maine ranks 12th in the nation on …

From 2008 to 2021, Maine saw a sharp decline in the number of licensed child care providers operating in the state, with Lincoln County alone experiencing a 61% decrease. (Adobe Stock)

Training Underway to Eliminate 'Child Care Deserts' in Maine

A community-development nonprofit is helping to counter the sharp decline in child care providers in Maine by offering the training needed to start an…

Groups in Maine highlight a need for more funding for early education and care. The current continued resolution is set to expire March 11th. (Alessandro Biascioli/Adobe Stock)

ME Groups: Congress Needs to Pass Fully-Funded Appropriations Bill

Mainers are urging Congress to pass a fully funded, full-year appropriations bill, instead of the stopgap continued resolutions for the various …

Approximately 23% of Maine kids lived in households with a high housing cost burden in 2019, compared with 33% in 2010. (Daniel Jedzura/Adobe Stock)

Report: Child Tax Credit to Benefit More than 90% of Maine Kids

AUGUSTA, Maine -- Child wellbeing in Maine improved between 2010 and 2019, according to a new annual report, but advocates for children and families …

The American Rescue Plan would create a $25 billion emergency child-care stabilization fund. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates for Children, Families Say Mainers Need COVID Relief

AUGUSTA, Maine -- As Maine families struggle to recover from the pandemic's economic fallout, advocates for children and families say quick passage …

Nine thousand Maine children live in areas of concentrated poverty, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

Many Maine Families Have Bounced Back from Recession, Out of Poverty

AUGUSTA, Maine — The number of Maine children living in concentrated poverty is back to pre-recession levels, according to a new data snapshot …

Maine ranks 33rd in the nation for enrollment of 3- and 4-year-olds in early childhood education, according to a new report. (Lisa Maruna/Flickr)

Maine Improves in Child Well-being, Lags in Education

AUGUSTA, Maine — A new report calls for continued work to improve access to early childhood education in Maine. The state ranks ninth …

The percentage of children in Maine without health insurance has increased since 2010. (pxhere)

Maine Trails Other New England States in Children’s Well-Being

AUGUSTA, Maine – The latest figures on the well being of children show Maine ranks 16th in the nation, and children's advocates fear trouble …

Maine is making progress on some education issues, but is headed in the wrong direction when it comes to health coverage for kids, according to a new report (M. Clifford)

Maine Ranks in Top 15 for Child Well-Being, Trails New England Neighbors

AUGUSTA, Maine – Maine ranks in the top 15 among states for children's well-being, according to a new report, but it trails its neighboring New …

Mainers are urged this week to get their kids outside by getting them to forego the seven hours a day most kids spend watching TVs or computer screens. (Mike Clifford)

Mainers Encouraged to Turn Off the TV: It's Screen-Free Week

AUGUSTA, Maine - With all the smartphones, tablets, computers and video games around, it's easy to forget that there is life beyond a screen…

A University of Maine professor says families don't have to spend money on videos to introduce babies and young children to reading. It's as simple as sitting down with them daily to enjoy a book. (Ldorfman)

Maine Expert: No Need for Videos to Help Babies Learn

AUGUSTA, Maine - New England children's advocates say a video learning series is back at it again, making "unfounded claims" about infants' ability …

PHOTO: Educate Maine, a group of business leaders, has issued its annual report of 10 indicators it believes best measure Maine�s educational performance -- and 10 goals for 5 years from now. Photo courtesy of Educate Maine.

Blackboard Blueprint: 10 Things Maine Education Needs to Improve

PORTLAND, Maine – Maine has a new report card evaluating its education system, issued by a group of the state's business leaders. The annual …

PHOTO: Schools around the country are using wireless Internet connections � and receiving billions in federal aid to expand Wi-Fi use - despite growing concern that exposure to Radio Frequency (RF) transmissions may be harmful to students and teachers. Graphic credit: <br />Woodleywonderworks/Flckr

WiFi in Schools: How Safe?

PORTLAND, Maine – Warnings about the potential hazards of radiation from Wi-Fi in school classrooms are on the rise. But those who are …

PHOTO: The latest Kids Count Data Book ranks Maine third in the nation for children's health, but 29th in terms of their family economic stability. Photo credit: Randen Peterson / Flickr.

Report: Maine Ranks High for Children's Health; Lags in Child Well-Being

AUGUSTA, Maine - Maine ranks among the best places in the nation for children's health, according to a new report, but the research also indicates …

PHOTO: A new report indicates Maine�s children face more hurdles to their development and success than kids in many other states, and has much work to do for its children. Photo courtesy Kids Count.<br /><br />

Report: Kids in Maine Face Hurdles – Minorities Still More

AUGUSTA, Maine - Maine has a lot of work to do for its children, according to a new report that compares how children are progressing on key …

PHOTO: According to a new report, two-thirds of Maine�s fourth-graders are not reading proficiently, and more than three-quarters of their low-income classmates are also struggling with the printed word. Photo credit: Tim Pierce, Wikimedia Commons.

Two-Thirds of Maine’s 4th-graders Probably Have Trouble Reading This

AUGUSTA, Maine - Two-thirds of Maine's fourth-graders are not reading proficiently, according to a new report, and more than three-quarters of their …

PHOTO: For many people the words 'discipline' and 'punishment' are interchangeable, and while both may lead to behavior change, one expert says there's a major difference in how each connects a parent and child. Photo credit: John Ragai

New Year's Resolution for Parents: Discipline, Not Punishment

PORTLAND, Maine – It isn't among the list of the usual New Year's resolutions, like quitting smoking or losing weight. But one expert says a …

PHOTO: Children�s advocates say they�re not surprised by the finding of a nationwide Kids Count survey showing close to half of Maine�s kids eight and under are living in low-income households and most likely will lag in early development as a result. Courtesy Ed.gov

“Disturbing” Report Calls for Action to Help Maine Children

PORTLAND, Maine - A new report on the developmental effect of poverty on children nationwide shows only 36 percent of third graders are on track in …

PHOTO: A growing body of science links childhood obesity with certain chemicals that are found in products from food-can linings to nonstick cookware. The chemicals can change the cellular pathways, contributing to fat accumulation. CREDIT: Tony Alter

Chemicals Linked to Increased Risk of Childhood Obesity

AUGUSTA, Maine - It's common knowledge that eating healthy food and exercising can help people maintain a healthy weight, but there's another factor …

GRAPHIC: The fiscal benefits from high-quality early childhood care and education are being addressed currently from the White House to the State House in Augusta. Advocates in Maine are using new research to press for investment in early learning in the private and public sectors. Courtesy MELIG.

How Maine Can Cut Spending and Improve Kids’ Futures

AUGUSTA, Maine - The fiscal benefits from high-quality early childhood care and education are being acknowledged by the state House and the White …

GRAPHIC: Children � and adults � are urged to resist the tantalizing images on entertainment screens for one week, starting April 29th. Courtesy CCFC.

Fewer Screens, More “Free-Range Children”

PORTLAND, Maine - Today is the first day of Screen-Free Week, an annual effort by children's advocates to get kids free from the grip of electronic …

Reassuring Children in the Aftermath of Traumatic Events

PORTLAND, Maine - In the aftermath of another deadly day in America, parents are being reminded how such events can emotionally traumatize young …

PHOTO: With renewed emphasis on early childhood development in Albany and Washington, DC, advocates are hoping more attention is paid to the roll public libraries can play. Photo courtesy MCPL

Advocates of Pre-K Pushing Obama: “Go To The Library”

PORTLAND, Maine - President Obama highlighted support for early learning in his State of the Union address. He should go to the library, according to …

PHOTO: picture of Charles Brunner. Courtesy of the Child & Family Policy Center.

Election 2012: What About Maine's Children?

PORTLAND, Maine - So far, the 2012 presidential race has focused variously on unemployment, job creation, tax cuts, the candidates' tax returns…

Feds Neglect Child-Care Update for 16 Years

PORTLAND, Maine - Congress has gone 16 years without reauthorizing the bill that helps fund local child-care programs. That is far too long, say …

Maine Kids - Get Muddy on Earth Day!

PORTLAND, Maine - Dirt is good, especially for children. A new National Wildlife Federation report makes that case by highlighting the benefits of …

More Kids Growing up in Maine's Poorest Neighborhoods

PORTLAND, Maine - A new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation released today says the number of children in Maine living in high-poverty …

To the '3 Rs,' add 'HS' – Healthy Start

PORTLAND, Maine - If it takes a village to raise a child, one organization is helping little villages as well as big cities provide young children …

Autism in Maine: Dramatic Rise in Cases

AUGUSTA, Maine - April is National Autism Awareness Month, and in Maine many strides have been made in terms of identifying the condition earlier…

The Kids Are All Right? Not So Much in Maine

PORTLAND, Maine - According to the most recent data available, gathered in 2009, 17.5 percent of Maine children under 18 lived in poverty - up one …

Shopping for Tots? Keep it Simple, Santa

AUGUSTA, Maine - Those battery-operated, digital wonder toys have their place, but experts say the best way to help a young child develop creativity …

Congress May Tell Maine Kids to “Go Outside and Play”

AUGUSTA, Maine - Seven hours in front of electronic entertainment, and seven minutes outside. That's what constitutes play for most American kids …

Groups says: ME Kids need to Ditch the Screens and Get Outside

AUGUSTA, Maine - A lot of people are urging the country's top doctor to tell kids in Maine - and across the country - to ditch the screens and get …

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ME: Early Childhood Education