September 15, 2011
The SETDA Board approved and submitted the final letter to ED in response to the recent EETT program office's State Evaluation Report Profiles. States are also encouraged to submit their own letters and any necessary corrections regarding their individual state reports to the EETT program office as soon as possible. If you have any questions or comments related to this matter please email Christine Fox.
September 1, 2011 - EETT Program Office Evaluation Report Reviews
Based on states' comments and details from the EETT program office's recent webinar's regarding ED's recently distributed State Report Profiles, SETDA is finalizing a letter to submit to ED regarding the process and results of the state's evaluation reports. The SETDA Board will approve the final draft of the letter over the coming week. States are also encouraged to submit their own letters and any necessary corrections to the EETT program office as soon as possible. If you have any questions or comments related to this matter please email Christine Fox at cfox at setda.org.
July 7, 2011
SETDA was honored to have Senator Patty Murray open the 2011 ET Forum. Her address is available on SETDA's YouTube channel at http://youtu.be/eHPTK3xcoX4.
June 15, 2011
Read full text of the Achievement Though Technology and Innovation (ATTAIN) Act now available online via Library of Congress THOMAS. SETDA has summarized the purposes and program administration of The ATTAIN Act: State Educational Technology Grants Program. Access the document.
May 29, 2011
EETT Authorization in Jeopardy
The Setting New Priorities in Education Spending Act (H.R. 1891) has been introduced in the House. If passed, the bill would eliminate the authorization for EETT. This would mean that the program could not be refunded and would reduce flexibility for states and districts to transfer money into the program to pursue technology-related education reform and improvement activities. SETDA joined a coalition of organizations opposing the inclusion of EETT in this bill. For background on H.R. 1891 and the implications if it passes, see the T.H.E. Journal article, House Bill’s ‘New Priorities’ Don’t Include Ed Tech.
March 9, 2011
The State EdTech Grant Program or Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) program is the only currently authorized federal education program dedicated to meeting these needs. Without sustained investment in technology for education, state and local efforts already underway to expand access to rigorous courses through online learning, to use education data to guide instruction and decision making, and to support teachers and administrators in implementing newly adopted college and career ready standards and assessments are all at grave risk.
For up-to-date information regarding the technology needs of K-12 schools and select profiles of the EETT program at work, please see the following documents:
• 
Educational Technology: An Investment in Innovation and School Reform for ALL Students
• Investments in Innovation, School Reform and Equity: Profiles of EETT at Work
February 14, 2011
Committee for Education Funding chart outlines the CR cuts by education program, including 56 eliminated programs and ten programs cut but not eliminated in HR 1, FY 11
January 31, 2011 - New Education Dashboard Brings Greater Transparency to Data
Secretary Duncan announced the launch of an online tool designed to help educators, parents, students, and policy makers “have a much more transparent conversation” about what is working — and what is not working — in American education today. Called the Education Dashboard, the site offers all 50 states’ pre-kindergarten-12th grade data around 16 key indicators that are tied to the nation’s educational goals, as well as some measures of states’ postsecondary systems. Specifically, the indicators focus on measuring progress toward realizing the President’s vision that by 2020, the United States will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world. The Dashboard can be found at http://dashboard.ed.gov/. The Department welcomes feedback on the new site, which users can submit via links throughout the Dashboard.
January 31, 2011 - Community College and Career Training Grant Program
The U.S. Department of Labor, in coordination with the U.S. Department of Education, will award approximately $500 million this year through the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training Grant Program and a total of $2 billion over the next four years. Grants will support the development and improvement of postsecondary programs of two years or less that use evidence-based or innovative strategies to prepare students for successful careers in growing and emerging industries. A primary focus of the program is on the development of online and technology-enabled open courses, content, and open educational resources (i.e., those licensed with a Creative Commons CC-BY license). Closing date: April 21, 2001. For more details and the complete RFP see: http://www.doleta.gov/grants/find_grants.cfm. SETDA also is pleased to share a program summary document and 
presentation.
January 25, 2011 - Education Featured in the President’s State of the Union Address
President Obama dedicated a significant portion of his 2011 State of the Union speech to education. The U.S. Department of Education excerpted the relevant sections on their blog. In addition, the White House distributed four fact sheets on the speech, which provide more detail on the Administration’s education agenda.
January 10, 2011 - FCC 2010 E-Rate Program and Broadband Usage Survey Report
This new report presents current data on the current state of broadband connectivity for E-rate funded schools and libraries and the challenges related to broadband use that recipients face now or will face in the future. Nearly 80% of all survey respondents say their broadband connections do not fully meet their current needs. Over half (56%) of all E-rate survey respondents expect to implement or expand the use of digital textbooks in the next two to three years, and 45% expect to implement or expand the use of handheld devices for educational purposes.
September 23, 2010
FCC enables high-speed, affordable broadband for schools and libraries. FCC has announced changes to the e-Rate program so that school may access faster, more affordable Internet access. For more information, access the FCC Press Release.
August 11, 2010
On Tuesday, August 10, 2010, President Obama signed a House bill saving more than 160,000 teachers' jobs. The bill provides $10 billion in aid to states secure teacher and staff positions and to better manage the overall pressure on education budgets. Access this summary table that indicates the amount of money each state is estimated to receive in this second round of education stimulus funding. For more information, read House Passes Bill Aimed at Saving Teachers' Jobs in the Education Week.
July 29, 2010
SETDA's comments in response to the May 20, 2010 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking by FCC (FCC 10-83); In the Matter of Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support Mechanism: A National Broadband Plan for Our Future.
July 29, 2010
On Tuesday, July 27, 2010, the Senate appropriations subcommittee met to discuss the FY11 education budget. Like in the House, the Senate broke from the Administration's request and funded EETT. EETT received $100 million in the Senate mark, which is considered level funding against FY10 levels and is identical to the House subcommittee mark.
July 15, 2010
SETDA is excited to share that on July 15, 2010, the House's Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee markup included funding for EETT at $100M. This is considered level funding from the FY10 budget, a victory for dedicated educational technology funding and an encouraging sign as we move into Reauthorization. SETDA will continue to make the case for the EETT funding at $500M, and we will keep you posted on additional news from Congress.
July 7, 2010 -
National Rural Education Technology Summit
The U.S. Department of Education and the Smithsonian recently announced that they are hosting a National Rural Education Technology Summit on Wednesday, July 21 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m in Washington, DC. This event is an opportunity for rural school leaders and technology experts to learn from one another and provide feedback to federal agencies. Attendees are also invited to the pre-Summit reception on Tuesday, July 20, 6:30 p.m. at the National Museum of Natural History. Sara Hall from the SETDA staff will attend the event and will provide a short summary of the event for the membership. Invitation
May 10, 2010
SETDA extends an invitation to Fostering Excellence, Equity and Innovation in K-12 Education through Technology: A Successful State-Federal Partnership. This Senate and House Briefing will take place on May 17th, 2010. The Senate Side Briefing will take place at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, 10:00 am ET, and the House Side Briefing will take place at the Rayburn House Office Building, 2:00 pm ET. More information | Announcement
April 8, 2010
Education Secretary Duncan has announced the availability of the grant application for the highly anticipated Investing in Innovation (i3) program. These grants will support local districts and nonprofit organizations, working in partnership with several districts and/or several schools as they seek to implement educational innovations with promising or demonstrated effective outcomes for students. Through this program, competitive grants will be awarded to applicants with a record of improving student achievement and attainment in order to expand the implementation of, and investment in, innovative practices that are demonstrated to have an impact on:
- Improving student achievement or student growth
- Closing achievement gaps
- Decreasing dropout rates
- Increasing high school graduation rates
- Increasing college enrollment and completion rates
April 1, 2010
SETDA just received the encouraging news that Senator Jeff Bingaman from New Mexico, member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, has authored a Dear Colleague Letter in support of EETT for FY11 Appropriations. You are urged to CALL your two Senators TODAY, highlight the value of EETT in your state and urge them to sign onto this letter. This is an important part of this process, and we need as many signatures as possible. If you do not have direct contact information, you may access your Senators' contact information by visiting http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm and clicking their name. Please call the main line and asking for the education staffer.
April 1, 2010
SETDA is proud to share the product of the advocacy efforts in which we were recently engaged to make ESEA recommendations to the House and Senate Education and Labor Committee. Fifty educational technology organizations joined to represent the largest coalition assembled for a letter such as this one. SETDA worked collaboratively with SIIA, ISTE, and CoSN to draft the letter and obtain the signatures. This letter went to members of the Education and Labor Committee providing recommendations for the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and specifically for the role of technology and e-learning.
March 5, 2010
On Friday, March 5, 2010, the U.S. Department of Education released a draft of the National Educational Technology Plan, “Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology.” The Obama Administration’s goal in commissioning this report was to create one vision for the strategic application of technology throughout the education system in support of student learning and achievement and consistent with the Administration’s broader educational and economic priorities. The draft plan and accompanying statement by Secretary of Education Duncan, delivered to a joint session of the American Association of Publishers and the Software & Information Industry Association, can be found online at: www.ed.gov/technology. Report development was directed by Barbara Means of SRI International with support from leading researchers and practitioners, including SETDA members. A special thanks goes to Brenda Williams of the West Virginia Department of Education for her service on the effort’s Technical Working Group. To read and post comments on the plan, go to http://www.ed.gov/technology/netp-2010.
March 4, 2010
The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) are pleased to host this briefing and dialogue on the future role of educational technology in K-12 education, featuring insights into the U.S. Department of Education’s National Educational Technology Plan and the FCC’s National Broadband Plan on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 2:00 PM Eastern. To attend this event, please contact Tera Daniels at tdaniels at setda.org. SETDA has arranged for the "Future Role of Educational Technology in K-12 Education" briefing to be Webcast LIVE thanks to the generosity of two of our existing sponsors, Learning.com and Nettrekker. To sign up for the Webcast, go to http://www.visualwebcaster.com/SETDA-CCSSO. Access more information under SETDA Events.
March 3, 2010
Washington Education Technology Summit
On March 3, 2010, SETDA cohosted the Washington Education Technology Summit with CoSN, ISTE and SIIA. During the event, Cathy Higgins (NH) introduced Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), who shared her views on the role of technology in education. Over 200 educators, including members of the SETDA Board of Directors and representing 25 states, participated in a series of meetings with lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
February 2010 - FY2011 Budget
December 4, 2009
SETDA has officially submitted comments to the FCC regarding the educational needs for universal broadband access. Many thanks to the SETDA members who provided their input and ideas.
SETDA also provided comments on the development of the U.S. Department of Education’s National Educational Technology Plan (NETP).
In addition, SETDA provided comments regarding proposed U.S. Department of Education information collection: “Evaluation and Accountability Reports for Title II, Part D of ESEA”
November 30, 2009
SETDA is pleased to share our comments for the National Educational Technology Plan (NETP). These comments were recently submitted to the NETP planning committee. SETDA encourages all states to submit comments directly to www.edtechfuture.org. The deadline has been extended to December 6, 2009.
November 4, 2009
SETDA is pleased to announce recent work with Senator Reid’s office to sponsor a Technology Showcase on Capitol Hill on November 4, 2009. This will be an opportunity to show how EETT and technology in general can effect positive change in teaching and learning.
“Defining the Future of Learning” Technology Showcase
November 4th, 2009
10 am – 1 pm
Networking & Sharing Showcase
12 pm – 1 pm
Education Technology Mingling Luncheon
September 22, 2009
Please note that the deadline for the USDOE's Demonstrating Compliance with Evaluation Requirements Reports for the 2008-2009 school year, originally discussed at the July USDOE meeting, with a proposed deadline of September 30th has been postponed. The new deadline is TBA. The letter your state received from the USDOE was only a draft and they have not received OMB clearance for this data collection. Jenelle Leonard announced this information during the August SETDA Membership call and Enid Marshall verified this information in an email to SETDA last week. If you have any questions about the data collection please email Jenelle Leonard directly. Please note this is NOT related to any of the ARRA data collection requirements.
September 11, 2009
Building upon the feedback from the NAEP session at the ET Forum in June, the SETDA Board sent a letter to the National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB), copying the NAEP Technology Literacy planning and steering committees. The letter focuses on the plans for the technology literacy assessment, the title, and reporting. During their meeting last week, the committee spent considerable time discussing the recommendations and agreed to propose several new titles for the assessment to NAGB. NAGB does not meet until mid-November, so we will have to wait for any further information regarding the name of the assessment until that time. The letter from the SETDA Board truly shifted the discussion.
July 25, 2009
During a meeting at the Department of Education on Friday, July 24, 2009, President Obama released the guidance for EETT’s ARRA funding. Access the full document for your review but the big news points are:
- The funds will be distributed to the states no later than July 27th, 2009.
- The USDOE is STRONGLY encouraging that ALL (100%) of the ARRA funds be distributed competitively.
- It is suggested that states use their expressed authority to use funds that are set aside for State-level activities to develop performance measurements to determine the effectiveness of educational technology programs supported with Ed Tech funds.
- LEA Responsibility: LEAs must develop a process and accountability measures that they will use to evaluate the extent to which activities funded under the program are effective in (1) integrating technology into curricula and instruction; (2) increasing the ability of teachers to teach; and (3) enabling students to meet challenging State academic achievement standards. Because the Ed Tech program is a State-administered program, the SEA is responsible for ensuring that LEAs and eligible local entities comply with Ed Tech statutory requirements.
- Data: They are sticking with the four edFACTS questions for the annual reporting but there is quarterly reporting to address ARRA transparency. See Pages 11-12.
July 15, 2009
The USDOE will not be distributing ARRA-EETT fund’s on July 15, 2009 as originally planned. Program guidance has not been received from OMB at this time. The USDOE hopes to release the funds by July 22, 2009, but this is not a firm date.
June 29, 2009
THE Journal: Obama Administration: Technology at the Heart of Reform: Summary of SETDA meeting with Jim Shelton and Aneesh Chopra of the Obama Administration written by Geoffrey Fletcher.
June 17, 2009
View photos and videos from the House Committee on Education and Labor hearing and showcase:
June 17, 2009
Access the testimonies of the witnesses at the House Committee on Eduation and Labor hearing on The Future of Learning: How Technology is Transforming Public Schools.
June 16, 2009
On Tuesday, June 16, 2009, the House Committee on Education and Labor held a hearing on The Future of Learning: How Technology is Transforming Public Schools. Read more and view pictures of hearing.
June 10, 2009
House Education Panel to Examine Innovation and Technology in the Classroom. The House Education and Labor Committee will hold a hearing on Tuesday, June 16 to examine how technology and innovative education tools are transforming and improving education in America. The hearing will take place in the House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room at 2175 Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC at 10:00 am ET. Immediately following the hearing, members are invited to attend a “Future of Learning Showcase” where they can have hands-on experience using cutting-edge education technology products. The event will be open to the media. This event will take place in the Rayburn Foyer. This hearing will be webcast live from the Education and Labor Committee website. You can access the webcast when the hearing begins at 10:00 am ET from Committee on Education and Labor website and clicking on the Live Webcast link in the top navigation bar.
May 6, 2009 - SETDA is pleased to announce that the USDOE has confirmed a July 1, 2009 release date for EETT-ARRA funding at $650 million, in addition to the budgeted FY09 EETT funds at $269 million totaling $919 million earmarked for education technology. Additionally, the Administration is including the flexibility for states to distribute the funds at 50% formula and 50% competitive or any percentage above 50% - 100% competitive based upon the goals of the specific state programs. This allows SETDA members the opportunity to release grant applications in a timely manner. States will be working through the SETDA 21st Century Collaborative to help share best practices to ensure that ARRA funds are well coordinated with the regular EETT allocation and additional ARRA funding for education such as stabilization, Title I, and IDEA at the start of the FY09-10 school year.
February 2009 - THE Journal: Good News for Ed Tech in the Economic Stimulus Bills
February 12, 2009 - American Recovery and Reinvestment Conference Report as passed by the full Appropriations House Committee
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