AUGUSTA (AP) – A legislative committee has unanimously endorsed a proposal to allow Maine to track student progress by Social Security number.

The vote Thursday came after lawmakers sought assurances that student data would be secure and that parents could withhold their children’s Social Security numbers from the data collection.

The Kennebec Journal cited figures showing that Maine would join 14 other states that collect Social Security numbers to track students’ achievement.

The U.S. Department of Education wants evidence that states are working on data systems before they receive early rounds of federal economic stimulus money for education.

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Information from: Kennebec Journal, http://www.kjonline.com/

AP-ES-05-14-09 1915EDT