A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n

Achieving the Goals--Goal 5 - First in the World in Math and Science Technology Resources - November 1996

U.S. Department of Education

The Department of Education (ED) promotes the use of technology in schools, libraries, and communities as a part of its mission of ensuring equal access to education and promoting educational excellence throughout the nation. The Clinton administration has put technology in the forefront of education reform efforts, including technological innovation in the Goals 2000 legislation, the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. ED will continue to promote technology as a key to school improvement.

Office of Technology Policy

National Long-Range Plan for Technology in Education

In accordance with the requirements of section 3121 of P.L. 103-382 of the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994, the secretary of education submitted a National Plan for Technology in Education to Congress. The plan was developed in collaboration with hundreds of educators, citizens, and industry leaders in seven regional forums, two national conferences, dozens of interagency meetings, and on-line discussions over the Internet. The plan will galvanize local, state, and federal investments in technology and proposes to leverage resources for teacher training, access to technology, and school reform.

Linda Roberts, Director
Office of Educational Technology
U.S. Department of Education
600 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202
(202) 401-1444
e-mail: linda.roberts@ed.gov

Challenge Grants for Technology in Education

The National Challenge Grants support activities designed to enhance the use of technology in teaching and technology-enhanced curricula. The program provides assistance to consortia of state educational agencies, school districts, institutions of higher education, businesses, museums, and other public and private agencies that include at least one school district located in a high-poverty area. In each Challenge Grant community, the consortium makes a substantial commitment to supplying and funding equipment, software development, technical support, telecommunications services and other costly items. The grant itself augments these local investments and supports new curriculum design, teacher training, and the evaluation of educational effectiveness. Activities that the consortia undertake may include professional development as part of a project designed generally to improve student learning or to help integrate quality educational technologies into the school curriculum. A list of current challenge grant recipients is included in Appendix A.

Tom Carroll, Director
Interagency Learning Technology Office
Challenge Grants for Technology in Education
U.S. Department of Education
600 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-5544
(202) 208-3882
e-mail: Tom.Carroll@ed.gov

Regional Technology in Education Consortia

Regional consortia, which consist of state educational agencies, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations, help states, school districts, schools, adult literacy centers and other institutions use advanced technology to support improved teaching and increased student achievement. Their primary goal is to provide technical assistance that can help to ensure that technology is used effectively to promote school reform. Regional consortia work with institutions of higher education and other organizations to improve pre-service education so that new teachers are able to use new technology effectively. Consortia help veteran teachers integrate technology into the curriculum in ways that can best promote student achievement. The Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) currently funds six consortia, each of which has a specific subject-matter or geographic focus. Current consortia are listed in Appendix B.

Catherine Mozer Connor
Regional Technology in Education Consortia Program
Office of Educational Research and Improvement
U.S. Department of Education
555 New Jersey Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20202
(202) 219-8070
e-mail: cconnor@inet.ed.gov
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