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Technology Reports, Speech, & Conference
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     The Department released 2 reports this week at the Conference on
Educational
     Technology.  "E-Rate & the Digital Divide" tells that the
     E-Rate program has provided more than $3 billion for America's
     public schools, that 3 out of 4 public schools & districts
     applied in the first 2 years, & that per-pupil funding for
     high-poverty schools was more than twice the national average
     & nearly 10 times that of the wealthiest schools.

     "The E-Rate & educational technology can open up tremendous
     opportunities for students -- but only if teachers are trained
     to use it effectively," Secretary Riley said, pointing to a
     second report, "Teachers' Tools for the 21st Century: A Report
     on Teachers' Use of Technology."  Based on a 1999 survey of
     teachers, this NCES report says...

      *   Nearly all public school teachers (99%) reported that
          computers were available somewhere in their schools.

      *   In their classrooms, most public school teachers (84%)
          had at least one computer.  38% said they had 2 to 5
          computers in their classrooms; 10% had more than 5; & 36%
          said they had one computer in their classrooms.

      *   At home, most public school teachers (82%) had a
          computer.  63% said they had the Internet at home, & 27%
          said their school had a network they could use to access
          the Internet from home.

      *   Barriers to using computers & the Internet for
          instruction most frequently reported by public school
          teachers were not enough computers (78%), lack of release
          time to learn how to use computers or the Internet (82%),
          & lack of time in schedule for students to use computers
          in class (80%).

     Secretary Riley said that if teachers are to be better
     prepared to use technology, "all of us have to get serious
     about this issue.  We need more school-college partnerships &
     more private-public partnerships.  And we at the national
     level should contribute more, also.  We are asking Congress to
     double the funding, to $150 million, to help prepare teachers
     to use technology.

     "Another challenge for us: While much of the funding for the
     E-Rate has gone to high-poverty schools," he said, "the
     poorest of the poor are not yet benefiting as much as they
     should from the E-Rate.  Many of the poorest schools can't
     even afford the 10% match or can't overcome other obstacles --
     such as 19th-century school buildings -- that prevent them
     from taking advantage of 21st-century technology."

     The reports, speech, & conference papers are at
     http://www.ed.gov/Speeches/09-2000/000911.html

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Philip Hyjek
Information Technology Specialist
VISMT
Dillingham Hall
7 West  Street
Montpelier, VT 05602

802.828.0063
802.828.0076 (fax)
http://www.vismt.org