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EdTech Community Educates Congress on 2021 Policy Priorities

by Press Release

For Immediate Release
SIIA Contact: Suzy Wagner, 703-899-3427

EdTech Community Educates Congress on 2021 Policy Priorities

Annual Advocacy Summit to Highlight Educators’ Pandemic Stories and Outline Policies
Needed to Improve Educational Outcomes, Expand Equity, and Protect Student Data

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 23, 2020) – This week over one hundred education technology leaders from 35 different states will meet with policymakers in the same way that many educators have met with students for at least part of 2020 and into 2021 – virtually. With stories of their experiences in hand, these edtech experts will connect with key elected officials and their staffs to discuss actionable policies that will provide much-needed support for equitable and secure student success. As Congress considers legislation to lead America out of this pandemic and into a sustainable future, it has never been more important for the edtech community’s voice to be heard.

Participants in the 2021 EdTech Advocacy Virtual Fly-in will raise critical issues with policymakers this Wednesday, February 24, and continue the conversation later this year, on April 14. This Wednesday, participants will meet with Senators and Representatives supporting policies to ensure a safe transition to a post-pandemic world, connect all students and close the “Homework Gap,” fund edtech and related professional development, and protect student data privacy.
“Connecting educators to policymakers is essential to ensure that remote learning is done in an equitable way for all students. This 2nd-ever virtual advocacy ‘fly-in’ shows how we can take the voices of those on the frontier to reimagine learning and ensure that policymakers in Washington, D.C. make better decisions, particularly on how to close the Homework Gap, ensure the privacy of student data, and provide much-needed edtech funding,” said Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN.

“In the past year, through supporting schools to use effective digital learning practices, ISTE learned that providing adequate opportunities for educators to build transformative technology integration skills continue to be of utmost importance. We’re grateful to the group of over 100 national advocates who joined us in communicating that need with federal policymakers. We hope that their stories from the field will help encourage legislators to quickly make necessary investments that schools require to ensure that high-quality teaching and learning can continue during and beyond COVID-19,” said Ji Soo Song, Senior Policy Advisor at ISTE.

“The collaboration of state leaders as they have navigated the complexities of supporting school districts through the pandemic has been tremendous. In weekly conversations throughout the pandemic, SETDA members have helped to identify obstacles and share solutions from state to state,” said Julia Fallon, SETDA Executive Director. “We look forward to this opportunity to bring federal policymakers into these discussions of how technology continues to be used to meet the diverse needs of our learners, through school re-opening and beyond.”

“The past year has been incredibly difficult for our nation’s learners and educators. The challenges they face have never been more clear,” said SIIA President Jeff Joseph. “SIIA and our members have been proud to work with the education leaders attending today’s events to help address the myriad challenges over the past year. We are proud to stand together to advocate for policies that will connect all students to needed resources, support educators, and protect student data privacy to make our transition from the pandemic into a post-pandemic world a bit easier.”
This year’s annual summit, which is lead by CoSN (the Consortium for School Networking), ISTE (the International Society for Technology in Education), SETDA (State Educational Technology Directors Association), and SIIA (Software & Information Industry Association), will take place virtually for the second year in a row due to the impact of COVID-19.

The event will take place as Congress considers additional COVID-19 relief packages. Attendees will meet with FCC and U.S. Department of Education officials in April.

To speak with senior representatives from CoSN, ISTE, SETDA, or SIIA please contact Suzy Wagner.

About CoSN
CoSN (the Consortium for School Networking) is the premier professional association for school system technology leaders. CoSN provides thought leadership resources, community best practices and advocacy tools to help leaders succeed in the digital transformation. CoSN represents over 13 million students in school districts nationwide and continues to grow as a powerful and influential voice in K-12 education. cosn.org

About ISTE
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is a nonprofit organization that works with the global education community to accelerate the use of technology to solve tough problems and inspire innovation. Our worldwide network believes in the potential technology holds to transform teaching and learning. ISTE sets a bold vision for education transformation through the ISTE Standards, a framework for students, educators, administrators, coaches and computer science educators to rethink education and create innovative learning environments. ISTE hosts the annual ISTE Conference & Expo, one of the world’s most influential edtech events. The organization’s professional learning offerings include online courses, professional networks, year-round academies, peer-reviewed journals and other publications. ISTE is also the leading publisher of books focused on technology in education. For more information or to become an ISTE member, visit iste.org. Subscribe to ISTE’s YouTube channel and connect with ISTE on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

About SETDA
Founded in 2001, the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) is the principal association representing U.S. state and territorial educational technology and digital learning leaders. Through a broad array of programs and advocacy, SETDA builds member capacity and engages partners to empower the education community in leveraging technology for learning, teaching, and school operations. www.setda.org

About SIIA
SIIA is the only professional organization connecting more than 700 data, financial information, education technology, specialized content and publishing, and health technology companies. Our ed tech membership develops and delivers software applications, digital instructional content, online and distance learning services, online assessment, and related technologies for millions of learners around the world.. For more information, visit www.siia.net

 

CODIE 2021

Amazon Web Services Secures Lead Sponsorship for 2021 CODiE Awards

by Press Release

AWS supports innovation with cloud service credit for four “best emerging education technology” categories

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 22, 2021) – SIIA, the principal trade association for the software, education technology, and digital content industries, today announced Amazon Web Services (AWS) as the lead sponsor of the 36th annual CODiE Awards program, the highest-level sponsorship for the CODiE Awards and the sole cloud provider sponsor.

“We are honored to welcome AWS as the lead sponsor of the premier awards program honoring the best of education and business technology. For more than 35 years, the CODiE Awards have placed a spotlight on the most innovative, high-impact products in the marketplace. This collaboration underscores the importance of the CODiE Awards in recognizing the future of innovation in these industries,” said Jeff Joseph, president of SIIA.

This sponsorship highlights AWS’s commitment to excellence in innovation, particularly in the area of education technology, where AWS supports the growth of EdTech startups through the AWS EdStart accelerator, and growth of industry leaders in the AWS Partner Network. The organization will provide AWS Promotional Credit to finalists and winners in each of the following categories:

  • Best Emerging Education Technology Solution for Administrators
  • Best Emerging Instructional Technology Solution
  • Best Use of Artificial Intelligence in EdTech
  • Best Use of Emerging Technology for Learning

“AWS is on a mission to accelerate the digital transformation of education through our connections in the education community, including technology providers,” said Kim Majerus, Leader, U.S. Education, State and Local Government at AWS. “As a company built on innovation and thinking big, we are thrilled to be working with SIIA on the CODiE Awards to recognize bold solutions that are helping make education always available, personal, and lifelong for everyone.”

The SIIA CODiE Awards are the industry’s only peer-recognized awards program. During the first-round review, educators and administrators are invited to evaluate the Education Technology CODiE Award categories, and business technology leaders including senior executives, analysts, media, consultants, and investors evaluate products in the business technology categories. Scores from the first round determine the finalists. SIIA members then vote on the finalist products and the scores from both rounds are tabulated to select the winners. Numerous past CODiE Award recipients use the AWS Cloud including Blackboard, Cengage Learning, D2L, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Hobsons, Instructure, Matific, Pearson, PowerSchool, Renaissance Learning, Scholastic and Watermark.

The 2021 CODiE Award winners will be announced on June 22nd and 23rd. This year, 18 new categories have been added, including five in response to COVID-19.

Download a copy of this press release here.

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About CODiE Awards The peer recognized CODiE Awards celebrates innovative products, cutting-edge solutions and new technology. For 36 years, the CODiEs have honored software, education, information, financial and media products for excellence and innovation.  Award nominations are now open. To nominate for a CODiE or get involved, please visit siia.net.

About SIIA SIIA is the only professional organization connecting more than 700 data, financial information, education technology, specialized content and publishing, and health technology companies. Our diverse members manage the global financial markets, develop software that solves today’s challenges through technology, provide critical information that helps inform global businesses large and small, and innovate for better health care and personal wellness outcomes – they drive innovation and growth. For more information, visit siia.net.

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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at SIIA

by PolicyPress Release

Alone we are smart, but together we are genius.

SIIA members are united by a shared belief that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are critical core values for society and our individual organizations. We believe achieving greater advancement in DEI is not only the morally correct course of action, but also research proves diverse organizations provide better business results. Embracing a diversity of perspectives fuels innovation while connecting us closer to our customers and the communities we serve.

For too long, underlying inequalities, racial biases, and discrimination have plagued the United States and communities around the world, denying too many the ability to contribute to and reap the benefits of the innovation economy. Removing these barriers to elevate opportunities for all individuals to participate will lead to the creation of new businesses and foster economic growth.

As business leaders, we recognize our responsibility to contribute to the betterment of society not only through the information, products, and services we provide but also as good citizens. We also recognize that while DEI is rooted in the need to address historic social inequities, we strive to create workplaces that reflect the communities in which we work, live, and serve our customers and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work. This means promoting a workplace culture that welcomes a diversity of ethnicity, gender, identity, nation of origin, and thought.

SIIA is committed to work with our members and within our organization to improve DEI performance for the benefit of our employees, the industry segments we represent, our nation and our world. Our efforts include:

  • Organizational Policy. Ensure that we are an organization making progressive change toward diversity, equity, and inclusion through our hiring practices, culture, operations, and offerings.
  • Member Experience. Assist our members in improving DEI outcomes through our content and knowledge offerings as well as by our example as a membership organization.
  • Promoting diversity in our internal staffing, among our volunteer leadership, our speakers, and presenters, as well as our vendors and partners.

This includes but is not specifically limited to:

  • Ensure the representation of diverse speakers at all SIIA events.
  • Ensure diverse representation across SIIA boards, committees, councils, and working groups.
  • Strengthen leadership and staff accountability and capabilities for inclusion and diversity.
  • Enable equality of opportunity across our organization through fairness and transparency.
  • Promote openness and tackle microaggressions.
  • Foster belonging through support for multivariate diversity.

Promoting DEI is not just about words. It is about action. SIIA will seek to advance our diversity goals in 2021 by:

  • Compiling data to identify metrics. We cannot know how to address inequities until we know what they are. We will capture data on demographics within the SIIA workforce and among speakers across our events to help us understand the diversity of our employees and speaker rosters and identify any areas of concern or
  • Setting a specific metric by which to measure speaker diversity at our events. Once we collect data to establish a baseline, we will set a goal to measure our success in improving outcomes.
  • Conduct a membership survey to help identify their needs as related to DEI and lead to the development of programming, and/or content to help
  • Leverage our content channels to help educate and share solutions. Integrate DEI topics across SIIA content channels, including events, and our digital and print publications. Seek to include one DEI-related story per week/month for newsletters and per issue for Signature magazine, one of our flagship publications.
  • Develop an award to recognize contributions to DEI by SIIA members. Award will be integrated into existing award
  • Review our RFP and contracting processes to ensure we are providing partnership and vendor opportunities for minority-owned and operated businesses and organizations.
  • Revitalize SIIA DEI Staff Committee. Task the committee with conducting an equity audit of our organization and develop specific metrics including questions to examine and hold us accountable in:
    • Organizational success in meeting stated
    • Our recruitment and hiring practices.
    • Ensuring diverse representation across our management and volunteer
    • Provide regular updates and reports to SIIA leadership and help support reports to volunteer
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SIIA Statement: The Violence Must End

by Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
SIIA CONTACT: Suzy Wagner

SIIA Statement: The Violence Must End

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 6, 2021) – The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), the principal association for the software, information, and digital content industries, condemns the insurrection that occurred today at our Nation’s Capitol. 

SIIA President, Jeff Joseph, issued the following statement:

“We call on America’s leaders at the highest levels to join us in the strongest terms in condemning the seditious mob who stormed our nation’s Capitol today. America’s global leadership in innovation comes in part from our rule of law and our long-standing democratic traditions. 

“Our members strongly support our Constitutional First Amendment rights to protest and free speech. This is not what we experienced at the Capitol today – it was mob violence. We held an election. The outcome is clear and incontrovertible. Now is the time for public and private sector leaders to do just that – lead – by calling for peace, transitioning our government, demanding accountability from those who have attacked our most precious institutions, and begin addressing the divide that afflicts our great nation. This will then enable our members to do what they do best – provide critical information and technology. It is time to join together to focus on national priorities including helping businesses deal with the pandemic and the related economic uncertainty, providing the tools necessary to enable and improve our current reliance on distance learning, and promoting better outcomes in health care for all. Our nation deserves no less.”

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SIIA is the only professional organization connecting more than 700 data, financial information, education technology, specialized content and publishing, and health technology companies. Our diverse members manage the global financial markets, develop software that solves today’s challenges through technology, provide critical information that helps inform global businesses large and small, and innovate for better health care and personal wellness outcomes – they drive innovation and growth. For more information, visit www.siia.net.

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27 First Place Winners Announced for the 2020 SIPAwards Competition

by Press Release

For Immediate Release:
SIIA Contact: Ronn Levine, (703) 338-7494

27 First Place Winners Announced for the 2020 SIPAwards Competition

WASHINGTON, DC (June 2, 2020) – In a live, virtual ceremony, the Specialized Information Publishers Association (SIPA) today named 27 first-place winners in its 41st annual SIPAwards competition, recognizing excellence among publishers in editorial, marketing and product success. The winners were announced following the virtual SIPA 2020 Annual Conference June 1-2.

“The SIPAwards showcase the top-notch journalism and valuable solutions specialized publishers provide for the niche communities they serve across the globe,” said SIIA President Jeff Joseph. “Now more than ever, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate the editorial excellence provided by this crucial marketplace. SIPA members inform news and trends in industries that are the backbone of the global economy.”

Multiple category first-place winners include BioWorld, Money-Media, Relias, Behr’s Verlag, Industry Dive and Communications Daily. The judging was conducted by 30 specially chosen industry peers. Two special awards were given: The David Swit Award for Best Investigative Reporting went to Education Week for “Schools Are Deploying Massive Digital Surveillance Systems. The Results Are Alarming.” And the Margie Weiner Award for Best New Success Story went to Copyrightlaws.com for their pre-pandemic Zoom On In sessions.
“We heartily congratulate all of the winners on their exceptional content, successful marketing initiatives, and impressive product success,” said Amanda McMaster, SIPA’s managing director. “The winning entries truly embody the spirit of the awards, which is to continue to exceed industry standards and set new benchmarks for performance and efficiency.”
Here are the 2020 SIPAward first-place winners. For a complete listing, please see the SIPAwards website.

Editorial Categories

  • Best Blog or Commentary
    Magna Publications
    For Those Who Teach
    Maryellen Weimer
  • Best Daily Publication
    BioWorld – The Daily Biopharmaceutical News Source
    Lynn Yoffee, Jennifer Boggs, Michael Fitzhugh, Karen Carey, Peter Winter, Anette Breindl, Randy Osborne, Lee Landenberger, Mari
  • Best Editorial Video Work
    FundFire – Money-Media
    What Are Opportunity Zones? FundFire Explainer
    Tom Stabile, TJ Fabian, Deepti Agnew
  • Best Instructional, Scientific or Technical Reporting
    Relias Media
    “Code Melancholia: A Review of Depression for Emergency Physicians,” Emergency Medicine Reports
    Frank J. Edwards, MD; Sandra M. Schneider, MD; J. Stephan Stapczynski, MD; and Shelly Morrow Mark
  • Best Interpretive or Analytical Reporting: Business/Marketing/Other (tie)
    SHRM Online
    All the Lonely People
    Agenda – Money-Media
    A Window Into One Board’s Executive Comp Overhaul
    Amanda Gerut
  • Best Interpretive or Analytical Reporting: Financial/Investing
    Debtwire
    Bitter Harvest
    Maura Webber Sadovi, Maria Chutchian, Farhin Lilywala and Paula Seligson
  • Best Interpretive or Analytical Reporting: Health Care/Regulatory/Education
    Industry Dive – BioPharma Dive
    Pharmacquired
    Jacob Bell, Ned Pagliarulo, Kim Dixon
  • Best Interview or Profile of Someone in Your Industry
    Industry Dive – Food Dive
    With the Dairy Industry in a Sour State, Borden CEO Plots Comeback for One-Time Milk Giant
    Christopher Doering and Megan Poinski
  • Best Newsletter or Ezine (non-daily): Business/Marketing/Other
    The Habitat Group
    Commercial Lease Law Insider
    Glenn S. Demby
  • Best Newsletter or Ezine (non-daily): Financial/Investing
    Irving Levin Associates
    Health Care M&A News
    Lisa E. Phillips, Dylan Sammut
  • Best Newsletter or Ezine (non-daily): Health Care/Regulatory/Education
    Relias Media
    Hospital Infection Control & Prevention
    Gary Evans; Patrick Joseph, MD; and Jason Schneider
  • Best Podcast
    Behr’s Akademie
    Report for the Food Industry: Best Podcast on iTunes After 5 Days
    Arno Langbehn, Deniz Dag and Jette Heinsohn
  • Best Series of Articles on One Topic –Business/Marketing/OtheR
    Energy Intelligence Group
    Flaring in the Permian
    Deon Daugherty
  • Best Series of Articles on One Topic – Financial/Investing
    Life Annuity Specialist – Money-Media
    Clashing Over Claims
    Richard Bedard, Rachael Zisk, Daphne Zhang
  • Best Series of Articles on One Topic – Health Care/Regulatory/Education
    BioWorld
    Transforming Drug, Med-Tech R&D With AI
    Karen Carey, Mark McCarty, Mari Serebrov, Elise Mak, Jihyun Kim, Tamra Sami, T.V. Padma, Anette Breindl, Stacy Lawrence, Peter
  • Best Single Feature Article
    Agenda – Money-Media
    How Directors Are Dealing With Gun Violence
    Stephanie Forshee and Jennifer Williams-Alvarez
  • Best Single-Topic Special Publication
    Communications Daily
    Special Report on Emergency Communications
    Adam Bender, Howard Buskirk, Matt Daneman, Jonathan Make, Jimm Phillips and Monty Tayloe
  • Best Spot News or Single News Article
    Communications Daily
    Spot Coverage of Net Neutrality
    Adam Bender, Howard Buskirk, Matt Daneman and Jimm Phillips
  • Best Use of Data
    FundFire – Money-Media
    Just Nine Foundations Control Over 30% of the Market
    Alana Pipe
  • The David Swit Award for Best Investigative Reporting
    Education Week
    Schools Are Deploying Massive Digital Surveillance Systems. The Results Are Alarming
    Benjamin Herold, Maya Riser-Kositsky, Emma Patti Harris, Lesli Maxwell

Marketing Categories

  • Best Awards Program
    Government Executive Media Group
    Government Hall of Fame
  • Best Infographic
    BioWorld
    Biopharma Stocks Up 26% on Average Since Debut with Karuna
    Karen Carey
  • Best New or Relaunched Website
    BioWorld
    Hello Future, Goodbye pdf: BioWorld Delivers News of Medical Innovation on New Modern Platform
    Lynn Yoffee, John Borgman, Cean Howman, Andrea Applegate, Ann Marie Griffith, Amanda Lanier, Holland Johnson, Jennifer Boggs,
  • Best Use of Social Media
    Behr’s Publishing House
    Musical Birthday Greetings to Xing Contacts
    Arno Langbeh, Jette Heinsohn and Deniz Dag
  • Best Use of Video in Marketing
    Behr’s GmbH
    Strange New World: Today the Company Applies to the Applicant
    Arno Langbehn, Jette Heinsohn and Deniz Dag
  • Best Webinar, eLearning or Online Training Program
    Informa Pharma Intelligence
    Delighting the Customer: Pharma Intelligence Journalists’ Coverage of Real-World Evidence
    Bridget Silverman, Mary-Jo Laffler, Raj Bahra
  • Margie Weiner Award for Best New Success Story?Copyrightlaws.com
    Zoom On In Copyright
    Lesley Ellen Harris
  • About Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA)
    SIIA is an umbrella association representing 800+ technology, data and media companies globally. Industry leaders work through SIIA’s divisions to address issues and challenges that impact their industry segments with the goal of driving innovation and growth for the industry and each member company.  This is accomplished through in-person and online business development opportunities, peer networking, corporate education, intellectual property protection and government relations. For more information, visit siia.net.