Why Educational Talent Search in Maine?
• In Maine – 22% or 75,644 youth live at or below 150% of the poverty level.! (US Census Bureau 2000) • 77% of individuals aged 25 or over in Maine do not have a college degree. Maine ranks 38 in the nation in this category. (US Census Bureau 2000 and Maine Center for Economic Policy) • Only 66% of 2001 Maine high school graduates enrolled in college the following fall.!(ME Dept of Education). • Students from families whose parents did not attend college score significantly lower on the Maine Educational Assessment than students whose parents are college educated (ME Dept of Education) • Nationally, youth in families whose income level places them in the bottom quartile (TRIO eligible) have approximately an 8% chance of having earned a bachelors degree by age 25. (Mortensen, 2004) • first generation students are 50% less likely to go on to college. A Measure of Student and Program Success • Maine Educational Talent Search has a notable record of student and program success. In 2005, •
