Ed Tech Leaders Praise Senate Action on EETT Funding

Press Release:

Keith Krueger
CoSN
202.861.2676
keith@cosn.org

Don Knezek
ISTE
202.861.7777
dknezek@iste.org

Washington, DC, July 12: Education technology leaders applauded the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, HHS and Education’s vote today to provide $425 million in funding for the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) program. Both the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) credited the work of Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Tom Harkin (D-IA), the Subcommittee’s Chairman and Ranking Member respectively, and Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Conrad Burns (R-MT), who co-authored a letter signed by 18 Senators that sought full-funding for EETT, with delivering this victory.

In February, the Administration eliminated the EETT program as part of its proposed FY2006 Budget. The House of Representatives then restored $300 million to the project, and today’s Senate vote approaches the $496 million appropriated last year.

"Today’s action shows that the Senate Subcommittee recognizes that EETT serves as a technological lifeline to students and teachers striving to meet the goals of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)," stated Don Knezek, CEO of ISTE. "Amply funding EETT is critical because it levels the playing field for low-income and rural students, provides quality professional development for teachers, and prepares students for the 21st Century workforce."

"With this action by the Senate Subcommittee to restore EETT funding, we truly feel that the momentum on funding has shifted strongly to our side," said Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN. "Our organizations and memberships will continue to work to convince Congress that EETT must be fully funded."

About the Consortium for School Networking
Founded in 1992, the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), a national non-profit organization, is the premier voice in education technology leadership. Its mission is to advance the K-12 education community’s capacity to effectively use technology to improve learning through advocacy, policy and leadership development. CoSN members represent school districts, state and local education agencies, nonprofits, companies and individuals who share this vision.

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).

Visit www.cosn.org or call 202.861.2676 to find out more about CoSN’s programs and activities that support leadership development to ensure that information technology has a direct and positive impact on student learning in elementary and secondary schools.

About the International Society for Technology in Education
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. For more information, visit www.iste.org.