"This award is a final decision, subject to State Purchases Review Committee approval and final legislative approval of the Department's budget," according to the State of Maine, which said that it will now enter into negotiations with Apple in order to finalize the terms and conditions of the Maine Learning Technology Initiative agreement for Apple's services and equipment. Under the current timelines and subject to final legislative approval of the department's budget, the Department said that it plans to deploy new laptop computers to teachers, librarians, principals and technology coordinators in the summer of 2006 to begin preparing for the upcoming 2006-7 school year. New laptop computers for all grade 7 and 8 public middle school students will be issued at the start of the school year. Overall, the contract will be for an estimated 36,000 laptops. "We are pleased with the strong educational focus of Apple's proposal, and we look forward to a continued partnership in providing the students of Maine the tools and resources for the 21st Century," commented Bette Manchester, Director of Special Projects for the Department of Education.