Our lead ally in Maine, the Maine Children’s Alliance (MCA), advocates for sound public policies and best practices that improve the lives of all Maine children, youth, and families. They collaborate with partners and provide policymakers with comprehensive data and information about the status and well-being of Maine’s children.
State early childhood policy progress is dependent both on the state’s policy environment and the numerous efforts — by those listed on this page and many others — who worked both independently and collaboratively to achieve wins for young children.
Research shows that family economic security is foundational to children’s overall wellbeing. Research also shows that widespread disparities in opportunity (especially by race) drive wide disparities in outcomes. States with policies that offer strong support to young children and their families are more likely to see 1) declining numbers of children in low-income households and 2) low racial disparity among those children.
Young Children in Low-Income Households: Declining
Approximately 34% (39,000) of the state’s children 0-8 live in households below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (2021). This number represents a decrease from 42% (51,000) in 2016.1
Racial Disparity Among Young Children Living in Low-Income Households: High
Black, Hispanic/Latino, and/or Native children aged 0-8 are significantly more likely to be living in households below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level than are Asian and non-Hispanic White children.2
State General Fund Appropriations: Growing
Maine Governor Janet Mills signed the state’s current services budget for fiscal 2024-2025 into law on March 31 to ensure continued operations of state government, providing for $9.8 billion in general fund spending. She called the legislature back into session to consider further budget investments, and subsequently, the governor signed an additional $445 million budget on July 11. With these amendments, the biennial budget totals $10.3 billion in general fund appropriations. According to a legislative staff summary, the biennial budget, after
amendments, provides for general fund appropriations of $5.08 billion in fiscal 2024 and $5.26 billion in fiscal 2025, representing annual increases of 14.1 percent and 3.6 percent respectively.3
Largest Per Capita Revenue Sources (after federal transfers) (FY 2021):4
Political Alignment: Aligned Democrat
During the 2023 session, the state’s Senate and House were both Democrat controlled. The state’s Governor was also a Democrat.5
Types of Common Ballot Measures Available:6 Five
Early Childhood Policy Advocacy Organizations Include:
Early Childhood Policy Advocacy Multi-State Initiatives Include:7
Highlights from the state’s early childhood policy advocacy community include:8
New Child Care investments (LD 1726) will help more families pay for quality care with an expansion of the subsidy program and also support the critical early education workforce by doubling the wage stipend.
With start-up funding in the budget, Maine will join 13 other states in having a Paid Family and Medical Leave program (LD 1964). Among other benefits, paid leave supports families taking time to care for their loved ones, including at the critical time of bonding with a new child.
Expansion of the state dependent tax credit (LD 1544) to reach those with the lowest incomes. The child tax credit has proven to be an effective tool for reducing child poverty.
Advocates in Maine continue to track legislation that can make a difference in the lives of young children and their families. (More information can be found in Maine Children’s Alliance’s Bill Tracker.)
The Alliance’s lead grantee in Maine, Maine Children’s Alliance, is working to advance early childhood policies in several areas that align with the Alliance’s birth-through-eight policy framework:
Child Care
Child Care Workforce
Early Intervention (Age 0-3)
Family Economic Security
Child Welfare
Early Childhood Governance
Click here for more information on advocates’ policy agenda.
After yers of research, Alliance technical assistance, planning, and advocacy, allies in Maine have won legislation to pilot a state mental health consultation program aimed at reducing early childhood suspensions nd expulsions.
NOTES:
1 Kids Count Data Center, Annie E. Casey Foundation, Children Ages 0 to 8 Below 200 Percent Poverty, November, 2022
2 National Center for Children in Poverty, Children Ages 0 to 8 Below 200 Percent Poverty, March 2023, NCCP analysis of ACS 1-Year Estimates – Public Use Microdata Sample 2021
3 National Association of State Budget Officers, Summaries of Fiscal Year 2024 Enacted Budgets, October 11, 2023.
4 Urban Institute, State Fiscal Briefs, July 2023
5 National Conference of State Legislatures, 2023 State & Legislative Partisan Composition, February 28, 2023.
6 Ballotpedia, Ballot Measures by State, Kids Count Data Center, retrieved May, 2023.
7 Alliance for Early Success, Multi-State Initiatives for Early Childhood Policy Advocacy, April, 2022.
8 Alliance for Early Success, State-Wide Advocacy Highlights Survey, April-August, 2023.
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The Alliance for Early Success does not endorse or advocate for specific legislation or candidates.
