Last week, the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA), in conjunction with the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), co-hosted the 2013 Washington Education Technology Policy Summit. Bringing together 125 participants from more than 25 states, the annual summit featured remarks from policymakers and meetings with Members of Congress on education technology-related policy issues, including Common Core State Standards, Elementary and Secondary Education Act(ESEA) and E-Rate.
A centerpiece of the summit was an address by FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, who laid out her “E-Rate 2.0” plan to summit participants: “Access to adequate broadband capacity in our schools and libraries is not a luxury – it is a necessity for our next generation to be able to compete… We need to protect what we have already done, build on it, and put this program on a course to provide higher speeds and greater opportunities in the days ahead.”
Rosenworcel’s five point proposal to “reboot, reinvigorate and recharge E-Rate” includes: 1) more funding; 2) clear capacity goals; 3) new and creative public-private partnerships; 4) a simpler process for applicants; and 5) a study of the impact of the FCC’s School Spots program closing the school-to-home digital learning gap. She concluded her remarks by saying: “E-Rate has already done so much good – and there is opportunity to do so much more.” The full speech can be found at: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-320122A2.pdf.
Representative George Miller, Senior Democrat on the U.S. House Education and Workforce Committee, also addressed the gathering and thanked participants for their support for his recently introduced Transforming Education Through Technology Act (H.R. 521), which would advance digital learning environments.
CoSN, ISTE, SETA and SIIA issued the following statement:
We thank both Commissioner Rosenworcel and Representative Miller for their continued leadership in modernizing federal policies to ensure that all students gain access to the best digital education resources so necessary to their schooling and preparedness. Commissioner Rosenworcel’s bold proposal to remake and grow the E-Rate is much needed, while Congressman Miller’s proposed legislation would provide complementary educational resources and teacher support through the U.S. Department of Education. We look forward to working further with them and other national leaders to advance these critical policies.
The event concluded with Congressional visits on Capitol Hill, where summit participants advocated:
- Reestablishing a dedicated educational technology program in any Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) reauthorization legislation now before Congress; and
- Raising the E-Rate’s annual cap to ensure that schools and libraries can provide a technological infrastructure that is sufficient to equip all students for college and careers.
Mark Schneiderman is Senior Director of Education Policy at SIIA. Follow the SIIA Policy team on Twitter at @SIIAPolicy