AUGUSTA – The Maine Education Department failed to reach its goal of signing up enough high schools by the end of July to account for 8,400 laptops, the number necessary for an interim plan to put laptops in some high schools this fall, Commissioner Susan Gendron said Monday.

Gendron still held out hope that the laptop plan could be salvaged if more schools sign up over the next few days and if Apple Computer Corp. lowers the minimum participation level.

Gendron said she expected to make an announcement after discussing the matter with Apple officials on Wednesday.

Apple agreed to provide the same low price it charged for laptops in Maine’s 242 middle schools if the state signed up enough high schools to account for 8,400 laptops for students and teachers this fall.

The annual fee would be $300 per laptop for four years. That cost includes servers and repairs, and Apple also would provide training and assist in installing the wireless networks that link the computers.

School districts could apply for money from a state renovation fund to install wireless networks before students return this fall.

Gendron said she was not throwing in the towel. “We keep climbing every day,” she said. “We’re getting closer.”