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Earlier this month, the Senate introduced their bill to reauthorize the Enhancing Education Through Technology Act of 2001 -- The Achievement Through Technology and Innovation Act (ATTAIN). ATTAIN builds upon the successful education technology programs that began with No Child Left Behind and focuses more on systemic school redesign through the innovative use of technology. I am pleased to see that there is an increased focus on teachers and funding for sustainable and ongoing professional development.

Technology companies are gearing up to take their fair share of economic stimulus funding. Web sites have been updated to reflect ARRA opportunities. This page links to Dell's technology solutions specifically designed for people who are visually, physically, hearing or learning disabled.

Congressional leaders and the Obama administration have courageously faced down one of the problems that would sustain a continuous downward spiral - the inadequate use of technology in educating our children.

For the first time in many years, regular Title IID funding under NCLB was not eliminated in the President's budget. It has been made clear that with the stimulus funding, there is a need to clearly demonstrate that federal Ed Tech funding is making a difference. Across the US, states are collaborating on focusing the stimulus funding on 21st Century technology rich classrooms and professional development. The end goal is to have students who have attained 21st Century Skills, teachers have access to 21st Century professional development and the effective instructional strategies for engaging students using educational technology. There is an expectation that we are more targeted programs with targeted professional development that changes the way that teachers teach and students learn.

The U.S. Congress has appropriated $4.7 billion to establish a Broadband Technology Opportunities Program for awards to eligible entities to develop and expand broadband services to unserved and underserved areas and improve access to broadband by public safety agencies. Of these funds, $250 million will be available for innovative programs that encourage sustainable adoption of broadband services; at least $200 million will be available to upgrade technology and capacity at public computing centers, including community colleges and public libraries; $10 million will be a transfer to the Office of Inspector General for the purposes of BTOP audits and oversight. Up to $350 million of the BTOP funding is designated for the development and maintenance of statewide broadband inventory maps.

More federal stimulus money is proposed to flow into local school systems, this time focused on bringing technology to classrooms.\nTennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen and Commissioner of Education Timothy Webb on Tuesday announced more than $5.8 million in Title IID Education Technology funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Many technology coordinators across the country are currently involved in writing EETT Grants right now. Part of what your application will be judged on is your evaluation plan. How will you gather evidence regarding the effectiveness of technology on student achievement?

Increasingly, districts achieving significant gains in student performance cite longitudinal data systems -- systems that gather and track student data over time -- as their key to success. For these districts, easy access to accurate, real-time, frequently gathered data enables them to inform collaborative planning, differentiate instruction and drive improvement.\n\nAt this webinar, you'll hear first-hand from district leaders and education technology innovators including Pam Moran, Superintendent of Albemarle County Public Schools, Kim Davis, Executive Director, Instructional Technology, Wichita Public Schools, and Luyen Chou, Chief Product Officer at Schoolnet, the data-driven education solution provider.

ISTE wants to hear from you about how your school or district is using the funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) toward technology and technology professional development purchases. This information is important to gather and to share with policymakers at the state and federal levels to illustrate how our community is investing these funds wisely to promote school innovation and reform. Please complete the following survey with an eye toward sharing how this one-time investment will be used for long-term benefit.

While the majority of schools have basic Internet access, it's often limited, slow and not capable of handling the technology applications our administrators and educators need to ensure our students are prepared for the 21st century workplace and life. As we continue to expand use of digital learning environments to deliver personal and adaptive experiences for our students, the need to ensure rich connectivity in and out of the classroom becomes paramount.

Provides assistance to States and localities for the implementation and support of a comprehensive system that effectively uses technology in elementary schools and secondary schools to improve student academic achievement.

Dell Computers - Economic Stimulus Learning Center. Current focus is on the ARRA funding distribution. Later the site will highlight funds available for technology and related investments. As details become available, they plan to update this site with eligibility criteria, grant resource tools, news alerts and more.

This Broadband Stimulus Webinar is sponsored by Aperto, Wireless Connections and Edgenics. It is being hosted by the E Broadband Services Alliances (EBSALL), a non-for-profit alliance founded by the three companies to provide broadband services to under-served and un-served markets. This Webinar will provide valuable insights concerning: (1) opportunities for funding broadband initiatives under provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA); (2) WiMAX wireless technologies used to implement broadband networks with insights on the design, engineering, and planning of broadband networks; and (3) best practices for securing broadband funding.

First and most pertinent, Title II D of NCLB, Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT), is slated to receive $1 billion new dollars in addition to the existing $267 million in the program. Congress would use the current version of NCLB to distribute this and other education dollars. As a result, the basic structure of EETT will be used for the new money.

House Dems propose $825 billion stimulus package. Some $20 billion for school modernization and $1 billion for educational technology are among nearly $150 billion in funding targeted toward education in the House version of the new economic stimulus package, which lawmakers introduced Jan. 15.

Suggestions for use of special education ARRA funds are:\n\n1. Teacher salaries and salaries for other trained educators. Possible use could also be trained para professionals that will help a child benefit from an inclusive placement.\n\n2. Scientifically research based curriculums in the areas of reading and math, which are required by No Child Left Behind and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Many school districts are continuing to use outdated curriculums that are not proven to help children learn reading and math. Once a school district purchases the curriculum and trains their teachers the benefits will continue for years to come.\n\n3. Obtain state of the art assistive technology devices and also provide training in their use to enhance access to the general curriculum for students with disabilities.\n\n4. Provide intensive district wide professional training for regular and special education teachers, that focuses on research based curriculums and strategies in the areas of reading, math, writing, and science.\n\n5. Provide intensive district wide professional development in the area of positive behavioral supports and plans to improve outcomes for children with disabilities. Many children with disabilities are continuing to be suspended and expelled for behavior that is part of their disability; though this is not allowed under IDEA. School wide use of positive behavioral supports and plans will benefit all children not just those with disabilities.\n\n6. Hire transition coordinators to work with employers in the community to develop job placements and training for youths with disabilities. This will ensure that children graduating will have a job and a future!\n\n

Dell Computers - Economic Stimulus Learning Center. Current focus is on the ARRA funding distribution. Later the site will highlight funds available for technology and related investments. As details become available, they plan to update this site with eligibility criteria, grant resource tools, news alerts and more.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act contains several pots of money slated for educational technology. Those funding sources could be used to help K-12 schools to use new digital tools to improve teaching and learning. Although this webinar took place already (Apr 30), it is archived and can be viewed upon registration.

"So The Stimulus Passed…Now What?" is a webinar led by ISTE CEO Don Knezek and Director of Government Affairs Hillary Goldamann and features guests David Byer of Apple and the Chair of ISTE's Public Policy and Advocacy Committee, Deborah Rigsby of the National School Boards Association, and Davis Brock of Elmore County Public Schools in Alabama. In this archived webinar from April 09, the group of policy experts discuss the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and how these dollars can be used for classroom technology purchases and professional development initiatives.

ISTE Community updates on the Economic Stimulus package and what it means for technology in education.