CoSN's 2006 Advocacy Day
Education Technology Leaders Meet with Congressional Representatives for Capitol Hill Advocacy Day

Jon Bernstein
Bernstein Strategy Group
202.263.2572

For ISTE:
Hilary Goldmann
202.861.7777 x119

For SIIA:
Mark Schneiderman
202.289.7442

Washington, DC (March 9, 2006) – The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) yesterday partnered to jointly present Washington Advocacy Day, an opportunity for educators to meet and communicate with their legislators in Washington, D.C., about the significance of technology in the classroom. More than 150 educators and industry representatives from nearly 40 states and over 75 congressional districts converged on Capitol Hill to deliver the message that federal leadership and funding of education technology is vital for America’s students to compete in a global marketplace.

A key focus of Advocacy Day is to persuade Ccongress that investing in the Enhancing Education Through Technology Block Grant (EETT) should be maintained. The administration is proposing to eliminate EETT in fiscal year 2007. Authorized in the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), EETT provides states and school districts with funding to purchase hardware, software and conduct professional development for educators using technology in the classroom.

Another central goal of Advocacy Day is the protection and preservation of the E-Rate Program, a $2.25 billion program providing schools and libraries with deep discounts on telecommunications, wiring, and Internet services. Congress is preparing to overhaul the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which authorized the E-Rate, and there is a strong likelihood that provisions affecting the E-Rate could be included.

“The fact that 2006 is witnessing our largest Advocacy Day ever speaks volumes about the dedication of the education technology community to making its voice heard on federal policy,” said Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN. “This spectacular turn-out also demonstrates that educators understand that federal leadership and support of education technology is in jeopardy and that the time has arrived to trumpet the importance of technology to teaching, learning and competing globally. I hope Congress heeds this call.”

Don Knezek, CEO of ISTE said, “Through Advocacy Day, ISTE, its members and industry representatives are leading the charge for better funding for key federal education technology legislation. This show of support from educators across the country, not only persuades key legislators regarding the importance of education technology; it is a significant step in improving the livelihoods of generations of American’s to come.”

Ken Wasch, President of SIIA, stated, “While information and communication technologies are largely responsible for the so-called ‘flattening of the world,’ the national policymakers are failing to provide leadership that recognizes technology’s increasingly essential role in delivering science and math courses, improving student technology literacy, and inculcating related 21st Century skills.”

About the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN)

The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) is the country’s premier voice in education technology leadership with a mission to serve as the national organization for K-12 technology leaders who use technology strategically to ultimately improve teaching and learning. CoSN provides products and services to support and nurture leadership development, advocacy, coalition building, and awareness of emerging technologies.

CoSN leadership initiatives include: Accessible Technologies for All Students (www.accessibletech4all.org); Cyber Security for the Digital District (www.securedistrict.org); Data-Driven Decision Making (www.3d2know.org); Safeguarding the Wired Schoolhouse (www.safewiredschools.org); Taking Total Cost of Ownership to the Classroom (www.classroomtco.org); and the development of the Council of School District Chief Technology Officers (CTO Council).

CoSN’s membership includes a unique blend of education and technology leaders, policy makers, and influencers from the public and private sectors. Our audience includes key technology leaders (often called Chief Technology Officers—CTOs) in leading-edge states and districts, policy makers, private sector leaders, as well as those technology leaders who wish to accelerate their districts’ or states’ systemic technology use. Visit www.cosn.org or phone 866.267.8747 to find out more about CoSN’s programs and activities supporting leadership development to ensure that information technology has a direct and positive impact on student learning in elementary and secondary schools.

About ISTE

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is the trusted source in education technology for professional development, knowledge generation, and advocacy. A nonprofit membership organization, ISTE provides leadership and service to improve teaching and learning by advancing the effective use of technology in PK–12 and teacher education. Home of the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS), the Center for Applied Research in Educational Technology (CARET), and National Educational Computing Conference (NECC), ISTE represents more than 85,000 worldwide leaders and potential leaders in educational technology. We support our members with information, networking opportunities, and guidance as they face the challenge of integrating technology into schools. For more information, visit www.iste.org

About SIIA

The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) is the principal trade association for the software and digital content industry. SIIA provides global services in government relations, business development, corporate education, and intellectual property protection to more than 750 leading software and information companies. Many SIIA members provide educational software, electronic learning resources and related technologies to students, educators and educational institutions, while all depend on the nation’s schools to provide a skilled high-tech workforce. For further information, visit www.siia.net.