News of U.S. educational technology policy and legislation
Compiled and edited by Leslie Harris, Jee Hang Lee, and Ghani Raines.
© ISTE, 2007.
If you use excerpts, credit ISTE.

CTC

The Community Technology Center program expands access to information technology and related learning services for residents of distressed urban and rural communities. The program will provide funding for center start-up and expansion. Contact Norris Dickard, OVAE, 202.205.9873; http://www.ed.gov/programs/comtechcenters/index.html.

COPA

Children’s Online Protection Act

ED

U.S. Department of Education (www.ed.gov)

E-Rate

Education Rate
The E-Rate is administered by the Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC)
www.sl.universalservice.org

ESEA

Elementary and Secondary Education Act

FCC

Federal Communications Commission (www.fcc.gov)

HUD

Department of Housing and Urban Development (www.hud.gov)

ISP

Internet Service Provider

ISTE

International Society for Technology in Education (www.iste.org)

ITTA

Information Technology Training Association

LEA

local education agency

NTIA

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. It is the Executive Branch’s principal voice on domestic and international telecommunications and information technology issues. NTIA works to spur innovation, encourage competition, help create jobs, and provide consumers with more choices and better quality telecommunications products and services at lower prices (www.ntia.doc.gov).

PT³

Preparing Tomorrow’s Teachers to use Technology. The purpose of this program is to help ensure that tomorrow’s teachers are prepared to integrate technology effectively into the curriculum and use the new teaching and learning styles enabled by technology. This initiative promotes improved teacher preparation, and fosters more collaboration across disciplines and among higher education, elementary and secondary schools, and the private sector. Possible activities supported by this initiative include: faculty development, expanded efforts to incorporate technology competence and content mastery in teacher certification and renewal initiatives, the creation of technology-based teaching tools and resources, and field experiences focused on teaching with technology. Grants will be awarded to institutions of higher education or consortia that partner with other agencies and organizations in implementing systemic improvement in teacher preparation programs. Partners could include state education agencies (SEAs), institutions of higher education and their schools of education, professional associations, the private sector, and local education agencies (LEAs). Contact Tom Carroll, OPE, 202.260.1365; www.ed.gov/teachtech/index.html.

SEA

state education agency

SLD

Schools and Libraries Division of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) provides affordable access to telecommunications services for all eligible U.S. schools and libraries. Funded at up to $2.25 billion annually, the program provides discounts on telecommunications services, Internet access, and internal connections.

SPIN

Service Provider Identification Number

TICG

Technology Innovation Challenge Grant. This competitive grant program demonstrates innovative uses of educational technology by building partnerships between local school districts, universities, businesses, libraries, software designers, and others. Partners in the Challenge Grants continue to match federal funds by well over three-to-one. In 1998, for the first time, new awards focused specifically on projects that developed or adopted innovative strategies to reach new and current teachers, administrators, and other educators to help them use and integrate advanced technology to improve teaching. Contact Jenelle Leonard, OERI, 202.208.3882; http://www.ed.gov/programs/techinnov/awards.html.

TLCF

Technology Literacy Challenge Fund. This funding would be the fourth installment of a $2 billion investment over five years. This program provides funding to help states and local districts meet the Administration’s four goals on educational technology. States are encouraged to devote at least 30% of the funds to provide teachers with the professional development they need to use technology effectively in the classroom. States have submitted plans that describe how they will finance educational technology, involve the private sector, and ensure that the poorest school districts have access to technology. Contact Pat Gore, OESE, 202-401-0039; www.ed.gov/Technology/TLCF.

USAC

Universal Service Administrative Company (see SLD)

USPAC

U.S. Policy Action Commitee
comprised of ISTE board members, representatives from ISTE Organizational Affiliates, and staff who will draft an ISTE policy platform to inform the organization’s work in Washington, D.C. The goals for the USPAC are to:

1. shape a policy platform for ISTE;
2. engage members’ constituencies in this policy formation;
3. actively develop policy for ISTE to advocate;
4. develop support statements for legislative policies.

WBEC

Web-based Education Commission