U.S. Dept. of Ed. Seeks Broad
Input for New National Education Technology Plan
U.S. Department of Education,
Office of Public Affairs, News Branch, 400 Maryland Ave., S.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20202, FOR RELEASE May 23, 2003, Contact: David
Thomas, (202) 401-1576
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The U.S. Department of Education today announced that it is
calling for broad participation and input from a wide array of
education stakeholders in crafting a new National Education
Technology Plan, as required by the recently enacted No Child
Left Behind law.
The department is actively seeking advice from a variety of
constituencies in education, especially students, parents, K-12
educators, colleges and university leaders, and business and
industry. Individuals and organizations are being asked to
identify and communicate to the Department of Education their
top issues, priorities, concerns, and barriers that need to be
addressed for technology to improve teaching and learning in the
21st century. Interested parties can give their input by
visiting the National Education Technology Plan's Web site at
www.NationalEdTechPlan.org, and clicking on the "Participate
in the Plan" link.
U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige said the long-range plan
has a sharp focus on students. "The plan will center on how to
help students as they grow up being exposed to various
technologies," he said. "As technology continues to be an
important part of children's lives outside of school, it is
shaping their expectations of what school will be like. The
National Education Technology Plan intends to explore this trend
and the implications for creating digital age educational
opportunities to match the expectations of digital age
students."
The department's plan will serve as a valuable tool for
education leaders to set a strategic direction to meet the
demands of life and work in a future that will continue to
change as a result of technology.
"This effort will set new
priorities and actions that all stakeholders can rally behind to
ensure technology is being used effectively to prepare students
for their future, not our past," Paige added. "Technology
provides new ways of explaining and enhancing educational
opportunities for students. When used effectively, technology
can help prepare our nation's children succeed in the 21st
century."
"But first we want input from a variety of sources," said John
Bailey, director of educational technology at the department.
"More opportunities to provide comments and recommendations will
occur once the priorities have been identified. Ultimately, this
feedback will ensure that policymakers at all levels of
government can understand how to use technology effectively and
how states can employ technology to help meet the goals of No
Child Left Behind."
The No Child Left Behind Act charges the secretary of education
with developing the nation's third National Education Technology
Plan. The plan will establish a national strategy supporting the
effective use of technology to improve student academic
achievement and prepare them for the 21st century. It provides
an opportunity to reflect on the progress our nation has made as
a result of a decade of increased federal, state, local and
private investments in connecting classrooms to the Internet,
providing students with computers, and equipping teachers with
the skills they need to use technology as an instructional tool.
No Child Left Behind is the
landmark education reform law designed to change the culture of
America's schools by closing the achievement gap, offering more
flexibility, giving parents more options and teaching students
based on proven education practices.
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