WASHINGTON – Federal grants totaling more than $1.3 million to assist in technology and resource center programs have been awarded to the Maine Department of Education, the Maine Parent Foundation, and the Communities for Children initiative in Maine.

The specific projects awarded federal grants, according to U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, are as follows:

. $649,946 to the Maine Department of Education for evaluation of the state’s technology programs. Awarded by the U.S. Department of Education, the federal grant will assist in determining the impact of technology in elementary classrooms in public schools throughout the state.

. $449,187 to the Maine Parent Foundation, for the Parental Information and Resource Centers in Maine. Awarded by the U.S. Department of Education, the federal funding will support school-based and school-linked parental information and resource centers that strengthen partnerships among parents, teachers, administrators and the communities served by Maine’s public schools.

. $232,875 to the Communities for Children initiative, for the Internet Mapping for Communities program. Awarded by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the federal award will assist in creating an easily accessible Web site that provides census, economic and local information for children and students.