What's Lost with Ed-Tech Funding Cuts
EETT, legislation from NCLB's Title IID, represents 99% of the federal dollars for educational technology. Dr. Mary Ann Wolf, Executive Director of SETDA, explains "The 40% slash in EETT funds in Round 5 forced states to eliminate highly effective programs or to scale back successful programs." Furthermore, says the report, the cuts go deeper, for a 60% reduction from FY04 to FY06.
The major trends identified in SETDA's National Trends Report are:
- The Cuts to NCLB IID Funding Imperil States and Districts: In FY05 funding levels were reduced to $272 million, a 60% reduction from FY04 to FY06.
- Academics Continue To Be Top Priority for NCLB IID: In Round 5 grantees increased the emphasis on mathematics, continued the emphasis on literacy, and added a strong emphasis in science.
- State Policies Scale Effective Practices: States are increasingly offering LEAs opportunities to adopt fully developed programs that have been shown to work, when implemented with fidelity.
- Leadership and Professional Development Lead to Progress: States identify effective professional development models and leadership as the key to advancement.
- States Leverage Data-Informed Decision Making: States are building the capacity of schools to make data-informed instructional decisions.
The report profiles numerous success stories focused on technology integration. "From professional development models in inner city New York to technology integration programs in rural North Dakota to comprehensive school reform in North Carolina, educational technology programs and models raise student achievement. We know what models and programs work, and EETT is one fundamental component to transforming more schools and ensuring our students are prepared for the 21st Century global economy," commented Dr. Wolf.
The full report is available at 2008 National Trends Report.
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