PART F

Sec. F-1. State Board of Education and Commissioner of Education to implement plan to prepare all high school students for postsecondary education. The State Board of Education and the Commissioner of Education shall develop and implement a plan, including specific strategies, to ensure that every high school student in the State has the opportunity to complete the core courses required for college entry and is encouraged to explore postsecondary educational opportunities.

Sec. F-2. Reporting date established. The State Board of Education and the Commissioner of Education shall make an initial report on the plan developed pursuant to section 1 of this Part to any policy- making body established in state law to direct a coordinated effort to develop, realign, streamline and oversee the State's economic development policy and specific efforts to retain and attract young people and to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters no later than January 15, 2005 and make a final report no later than January 15, 2007.

SUMMARY

Part A directs the Department of Economic and Community Development to develop and administer an internship program to provide college students in Maine with opportunities to work in technology-based businesses in the Applied Technology Development System and in occupations and industries experiencing labor shortages.

Part B directs the Board of Trustees of the University of Maine System and the Board of Trustees of the Maine Community College System to develop and implement a consistent policy regarding the transfer of credits between campuses within each system and between the 2 systems in order to remove barriers to student transfer within and between campuses and to facilitate completion of the students' education in a timely and affordable manner.