Maine Governor tries to expand iBook Program through High School in New State Initiative

Contained in a plan to reduce school district administration costs in Maine, Governor John Baldacci's consolidation plan includes this element:

"Major expansion of the laptop initiative so that all students from grades 7-12 will have access to laptops so they can better connect to the global economy;"

Maine was the first state to provide Apple iBooks to all middle school 7th and 8th graders and their teachers plus wireless networks in the schools. The current Gov. John Baldacci supported an expansion of the iBook program to high school but it was only partially implemented when Apple offered a special deal to individual Maine school districts in lieu of state funding. The consolidation initiative would finally provide state funding. [Dana Baggett]