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ISTE Washington Notes News of U.S. educational technology policy and legislation, posted as a service of ISTE, the International Society for Technology in Education. Copyright © 2007 ISTE Guide to Acronyms used in Washington Notes

• President’s Budget Released, Cuts Education Technology Programs
• Budget Proposes Funds for Data Networks, Title I
• New and Controversial Programs Also Proposed
• “Dead on Arrival”
• FY07 Appropriations Finally Completed
• E-Rate ADA Exemption Extended for FY07
• No Child Left Behind Reauthorization Hearings Begin
• Technology Immersion, Laptop Programs in NCLB Discussions
• E-Rate Update
• Join the Ed Tech Action Network

President’s Budget Released, Cuts Education Technology Programs

On February 5, 2007, President Bush unveiled his proposed $2.9 trillion budget plan for FY08. It appeared to contradict the vision laid out in his State of the Union address last month, and, according to ISTE CEO, Don Knezek, failed to meet the needs of America’s students. In that speech Bush listed global competitiveness and developing 21st century job skills as priorities for the nation’s schools. But his budget proposed, once again, eliminating the primary source of federal funding for education technology, the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) program.

The Administration used the same rationale for eliminating EETT as it did last year: “Schools today offer a greater level of technology infrastructure than just a few years ago, and there is no longer a significant need for a State formula grant program targeted specifically on (and limited to) the effective integration of technology into schools and classrooms. Districts seeking funds to integrate technology into teaching and learning can use other Federal program funds such as Improving Teacher Quality State Grants and Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies.”

It is worth noting that while Title I would receive a funding increase under this proposed budget, the Teacher Quality State Grants would sustain a $113 million cut.

Knezek’s statement to the press, released February 5, objected to the elimination of EETT. “President Bush’s decision to eliminate funding for EETT fails to meet the needs of America’s students. I simply cannot understand how this decision squares with the Administration’s stated goal of ensuring that our nation’s students can compete globally and effectively in math and science. The Administration’s proposal completely ignores the vital role digital technologies play in those disciplines. Moreover, it turns a blind eye to the importance of exposing all American students to the technology tools and skills they’ll need for future success in school, work, and civic life.”

The Star Schools and Ready to Teach programs, both of which focus on education technology, were also eliminated in the President’s budget. In total, the Administration proposed eliminating 43 other education programs, amounting to $2.2 billion, including

• $35 million for arts education,
• $35 million for school counseling, and
• $60 million for enhancing teacher quality.

Most of these same programs had been slated for elimination in the President’s budget plans for the past three years, but Congress each year has voted to spare them.

Budget Proposes Funds for Data Networks, Title I

The only good news for ed tech in the budget was that the Administration’s proposal sought $49.2 million for Statewide Data Networks program which represents about $25 million more than current year funding.

The only real winners in the Administration’s budget were large programs like Title I, which would receive an additional $1.2 billion over last year should the President’s budget become law. The president’s budget also would raise the maximum Pell Grant amount from the current $4,050 to $4,600, and would provide $35 million in new funding for the National Security Language Initiative, aimed at helping U.S. citizens learn “high-demand” foreign languages.

New and Controversial Programs Also Proposed

The only new programs in the budget were retreads from last year’s proposed budget proposal—which Congress largely ignored then. Specifically, the President’s FY08 budget seeks $250 million for two MathNow programs, which aim to prepare students to take algebra.

More controversially, the Administration’s budget plan includes $300 million in new funding to expand the private school choice and tutoring options offered to students in schools not meeting Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) marks according to state No Child Left Behind (NCLB) standards.

“Dead on Arrival”

Democratic House and Senate leaders called the budget “dead-on-arrival” even before the President formally released it, objecting to the Administration’s priorities and its lack of funding for social programs.

Democrats have also been sharply critical of the cost of funding ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The combination of little social spending and controversial defense spending is likely to tie the budget and appropriations processes in knots. However, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) is on record as stating that the House Budget Committee will produce a FY08 Budget Resolution by March 15, a full month before the April 15th due date.

Here is a break-down of how key programs fared:

FY07 Appropriations Finally Completed

One day before the FY07 temporary funding resolution was set to expire, Congress passed and the President signed a $463.5 billion spending measure which will fund the government for the rest of fiscal year 2007, ending on September 30. The bill cleared the Senate by a vote of 81–15 on February 14 and passed the House on a vote of 286 to 140 at the end of January, with nearly 60 House Republicans supporting the Joint Resolution.

The bill funds EETT at FY06 levels of $272 million, a big victory for a program that was staring down the specter of elimination all last year. Though it leaves EETT at FY06 levels, the FY07 funding resolution will increase overall education spending by $1.17 billion more than the FY06 levels. Most of the additional spending arises from an increase of $615.4 million in funding for Pell Grants, a $250 million increase in Title I, a $200 million increase for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), state grants and a $104 million increase in Head Start.

E-Rate ADA Exemption Extended for FY07

The Joint Resolution also includes important language extending the Anti Deficiency Act exemption for E-Rate and universal service until December 31, 2007. This exemption means that, unlike in 2004, the E-Rate’s Administrator will be able to continue issuing Funding Commitment Decision Letters even if the E-Rate’s bank accounts do not contain sufficient cash on-hand to immediately cover those commitments.

ISTE’s CEO applauded this action. “Considering the prospect that EETT could have been completely eliminated, maintaining funding for the program at $272 million is clearly a victory. Schools can make their plans knowing that there will continue to be funding for the program. We are also pleased that Congress passed another temporary ADA exemption for the E-Rate program. And ISTE will continue to push for a permanent exemption.”

No Child Left Behind Reauthorization Hearings Begin

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee kicked-off the No Child Left Behind Act reauthorization process with a Roundtable discussion on school improvement. The Committee heard testimony from eight individuals who work at all levels of education—from classroom teacher to state superintendent—who have been part of successful programs that have turned around struggling schools and one outside educational policy researcher who has studied statewide school improvement plans.

Participants were asked to share their most effective strategies in turning struggling schools into successful, thriving schools. Effective use of data in driving student achievement and appropriate professional development to support that use by teachers and school leaders was a common theme that emerged from the testimony.

Technology Immersion, Laptop Programs in NCLB Discussions

However, technology immersion through a one-to-one laptop initiative also drew significant attention. Alana Turner, a math teacher at Easton High School in Easton, MD, discussed her school’s participation in a one-to-one laptop initiative and the successes in student engagement she has seen as a result of this technology infusion in her classroom. She said that she believes student engagement is key to driving school improvement and attributed dramatic increases in student engagement in her classroom and school to the use of the computers and internet as a fundamental learning tool.

Turner explained that using computers and the Internet to teach math has allowed her and her students to apply their math lessons to the outside world. Further, through computer-based remediation and enrichment applications, students who learn at different paces can all thrive simultaneously, as they can get this remediation and enrichment outside of class-time as well. Turner cited increased school attendance rates (94.7%) and graduation rates (90.85%) and attributed these improvements to the laptop initiative and increased student interest and engagement in school. Turner did emphasize the need for strong, ongoing professional development for teachers to learn to use such tools to maximize their effectiveness in improving student success.

The Committee plans a full slate of NCLB hearings through the spring.

E-Rate Update

As noted above, E-Rate applicants breathed a heavy sigh of relief upon hearing that the FY07 Joint Resolution on Funding contained a one-year extension, expiring December 31, 2007, of the exemption to the Anti Deficiency Act (ADA). In 2004, the application of the ADA caused a three month shutdown of the E-Rate program. In 2005 and 2006, Congress passed and the President enacted one-year temporary exemptions to the ADA for all universal service programs, including E-Rate, but Congress failed to pass an extension before adjourning last year. As a result, the ADA was reapplied to E-Rate as of January 1, 2007. The enactment of language restarting the exemption and extending it until the end of this year means that E-Rate applicants will not see any funding interruptions because of the ADA this year.

Despite this temporary success, efforts to obtain a permanent exemption for E-Rate and all of universal service to ADA remain on deck. Rep. Barbara Cubin (R-WY) has reintroduced legislation to permanently exempt universal service from ADA, labeled as HR 278, and 32 House members have already signed on as cosponsors. In the Senate, Senators Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) just introduced companion legislation.

Senator Rockefeller, anticipating upcoming celebrations of the E-Rate, restated his commitment to the program in a February 16th press release: “The E-Rate has helped to bring all West Virginians on to the information superhighway. A resource to develop lifelong skills, E-Rate provides Internet access to children in school and beyond the classroom and to people of all ages at public libraries. With a push of a button, we can keep in touch with loved ones serving in our military overseas, teach our children about world events, promote our businesses, and encourage tourism to our state.”

Off Capitol Hill, the Universal Service Administrative Company formally closed the E-Rate’s Program Year 2007 application window on February 8th. The window was held open one day later than normal owing to a server malfunction. There is not yet word on how many applicants applied this year.

Join the Ed Tech Action Network

If educational technology issues are important to you, then please join the ISTE and CoSN Ed Tech Action Network at http://www.EdTechActionNetwork.org. This online advocacy tool will allow you to easily send important messages to your Representative and Senators, learn more about timely education technology issues, and receive tips for communicating with elected officials. Your voice is critical for impacting the decisions of policy-makers.

From the Washington, D.C.
Office of Bernstein Strategy Group
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