Advocacy+Updates

=EdTech Action Network (ETAN)=

(Click on the image below to go to the ETAN page to learn how to communicate with our AZ state elected officials.)

ETAN provides a forum for educators and others to engage in the political process and project a unified voice in support of a common cause – improving teaching and learning through the systemic use of technology. ETAN’s mission is to influence public policy-makers at the federal, state and local levels and to increase public investment in the competitiveness of America's classrooms and students. Learn about the issues affecting you, your school, and your students. ISTE is your trusted source for the most current information. http://www.edtechactionnetwork.org/

URGENT: Tell Congress to Support the Most Sweeping Effortto Modernize Schools in History
Date: December 18, 2008 From: mail@edtechactionnetwork.org Last week, President-Elect Obama outlined his economic recovery plan in his weekly address to the nation. His remarks included, “my economic recovery plan will launch the most sweeping effort to modernize and upgrade school buildings that this country has ever seen. We will repair broken schools, make them energy-efficient, and put new computers in our classrooms. Because to help our children compete in a 21st century economy, we need to send them to 21st century schools.”


 * Now is the time for all ETAN members to contact Congress with their support for President-Elect Obama’s vision for our nation’s schools and request that Congress include funding for classroom technology and school broadband access in the economic recovery package. Congress is at the initial stage of drafting this legislation. It is crucial that they hear from YOU and YOUR COLLEAGUES NOW!**

Now, for the first time in many years, we have a real opportunity to upgrade our schools’ broadband connectivity and bring to scale proven education technology initiatives. Moreover, a school technology investment can jump-start the economy by adding public and private sector instructional technology coaches and IT support positions and can energize the technology and telecommunications sector

Don’t delay telling Congress how much our schools, our students and our nation need this support. [|Click here] to write a letter to your congressional representatives in support of President-Elect Obama’s vision. ETAN updates are brought to you by the Consortium for School Networking and the International Society for Technology in Education.

 Session 3: Tuesday May 6 - Advocacy and the I&T Team - Special Guest! Hilary Goldman
The ABC's of Advocacy: **A**dvocate, **B**e Heard, **C**reate Change are essential skills for members of the I&T Team. Are you tired of the way things are and want them to change? GUESS WHAT? Complaining doesn't get things done - advocacy does! Hilary Goldman, ISTE's Director of Governmental Affairs will provide an overview and opportunity for dialogue at the start of our session. Specific strategies for members of the I&T team in terms of gathering information for advocacy will follow. Bring two challenges you face in your district and we'll share our brains to uncover advocacy strategy approaches. A quicktime video of [|Session 3] is available for download here (30.7 megs, 15 min.)

= = = = =Your Support is Needed for EETT (Title IID) Funding!!= Once again EETT (Title IID) is facing a $0 budget for the FY09. Through our past efforts, we have been able to come back from the $0 for the past two years! Let’s do it again!

Read the email below thoroughly and then act accordingly! Arizona is making great strides in helping our students become 21st century learners and workers. We are currently revising our Ed Tech Standards and our Ed Tech Plan. Each of these activities will need the use of EETT funds to move it forward.

Please utilize the power of the Ed Tech Action Network to let our AZ Congressmen know how critical EETT (Title IID) funding is to our state. Customize the message that ETAN provides and tell the story of how YOUR DISTRICT or SCHOOL directly benefits from these funds! I suggest you add a bolded paragraph after the first one. Thank you!! And let’s keep the momentum going in Arizona. Act now!!!

Cathy = =

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Congress is starting to work on its funding bills for FY 09 and now is the time for you to weigh in on the importance of the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) program. Earlier this year, the President called for the elimination of the EETT program in his proposed budget. Before the House and Senate put forth their FY09 appropriations bills, we urge you to send a letter to your congressional representatives asking them to save EETT.======

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This appropriations cycle comes at a particularly difficult time in this country when the economy is sagging and the job market is tightening. At the same, the Administration and Congress are concerned that America's students lack math and science skills, imperiling their ability to compete for employment and making America's economic recovery that much harder. Denying education technology knowledge and tools to America's K-12 students and teachers will undermine efforts to get America's economy back on track and dim the employment prospects of its students.======

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With the House and Senate working on their Appropriations bills for FY09, now is the time for you to weigh-in with YOUR Members of Congress about how important education technology funding is to the nation's academic and economic goals. Please make your voice heard in support of the EETT program.======

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[|CLICK HERE] to enter your zip code to send your letter to the House and Senate asking to save EETT and to fund it at the FY05 level of $496 million.======

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Every letter generated during this crucial time makes a difference. Even if you already took action a few months ago, please send another letter and spread the word to your friends, family and coworkers. Your voice matters!======

ETAN updates are brought to you by the Consortium for School Networking and the International Society for Technology in Education.
=ISTE's Washington Notes, February 2008= Read the latest news and developments from inside the Beltway! The February 2008 edition of ISTE’s Washington Notes is now available online and examines several topics affecting education in the U.S. and actions ISTE has taken in response. Here is a quick look at this month’s headlines: http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Advocacy/Policy/WashingtonNotes/2008/February/February_2008_Washington_Notes.htm EETT Zeroed Out in Proposed FY09 Budget; ISTE Responds A Few Ed Programs Increased, Most Reduced Secretary Spellings on Budget Priorities, NCLB Congressional Democrats Criticize Proposed FY09 Budget Majority Leader Expects No Budget Resolution Until Next January NCLB Stalled; Leading Democratic Candidates Critical of Program Learn about the issues affecting you, your school, and your students. ISTE is your trusted source for the most current information. Read Washington Notes.

Washington Notes is a benefit of ISTE Membership. The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) iste@iste.org, http://www.iste.org

= = =Email announcement from CoSN and ISTE 02-11-07=
 * The President's proposed FY09Budget again calls for the total elimination of critical education technology funding. Specifically, the President's Budget would zero out the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) program, cutting education technology funding by $267.4 million.**

Before the House and Senate put forth their budget proposals, we urge you to send a letter to your congressional representatives asking them to save EETT. [|CLICK HERE] to enter your zip code and send a letter with this important message. This proposed cut comes at a particularly difficult time in this country when the economy is sagging and the job market is tightening. At the same, the Administration and Congress are concerned that America's students lack math and science skills, imperiling their ability to compete for employment and making America's economic recovery that much harder. Denying education technology skills and tools to America's K-12 students and teachers will undermine efforts to get America's economy back on track and dim the employment prospects of its students. With the House and the Senate working on a budget resolution over the next few weeks, **now is the time for you to weigh-in with YOUR Members of Congress about how important education technology funding is to the nation's academic and economic goals.** Please make your voice heard in support of the EETT program. We will continue to update you and call on you as the funding process continues.

[|CLICK HERE] to enter your zip code to send your letter to the House and Senate asking to save EETT and to fund it at the FY05 level of $496 million. Tell Congress to KEEP AMERICA COMPETITIVE and save funding for EETT! CoSN and ISTE
 * Every letter generated during this crucial time makes a difference. Even if you already took action a few months ago, please send another letter and spread the word to your friends, family and coworkers. Your voice matters!**

= = =**Email announcement from ETAN 12-20-07 GREAT NEWS!!!**= =THANK YOU! WE PRESERVED EETT!= The thousands of emails and letters that you sent to your Congressional representatives over the past year have paid off. The Enhancing Education Through Technology program (EETT) will be funded at substantially the same level in FY08 as it was in FY07. Congratulations and thank you so much for your hard work. After months of debate, last night Congress passed FY08 appropriations for all federal education programs. The President will sign this legislation into law in the next few days.

EETT received a net appropriation of $267.5 million in this bill, which is $5 million less than it received last year. The reason for this funding reduction is that Congress had to approve a 1.747% across-the-board cut for EETT and all federal programs in order to meet the overall federal spending target upon which the Administration insisted. Many education programs suffered significantly greater cuts in this bill, including Reading First which endured a $636 million cut. Some education programs were eliminated entirely. So, EETT did extremely well in receiving the smallest cut that it possibly could have received. You should be proud that your efforts played a major role in protecting our program.

We are also pleased to report that the one-year extension of the Anti-Deficiency Act exemption for E-Rate and all of universal service was included in this bill. This exemption ensures that E-Rate funds will continue to flow uninterrupted throughout 2008.

Thank you again for all of your hard work. Have a great holiday season. CoSN and ISTE

Appropriations/EETT Update: A Continuing Resolution Keeps Funding at FY06 Levels for Now
= = Congress was unable to complete work on the FY07 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations bill before it recessed for the elections, thereby leaving the fate of the Enhancing Education Through Technology program (EETT) up in the air. Previously, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved $272 million for EETT in its bill and House Appropriations Committee deleted all funds for EETT in its bill. The final resolution of education funding will now not occur any earlier than mid-November. = = In the meantime, the House and Senate passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) this past week that will fund all education through November 17 at last year’s funding levels. Under the terms of this CR, EETT (and all education programs) will be funded temporarily at last year's level ($272 million). Also in September, Senate Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Ranking Member Tom Harkin (D-IA) circulated a sign-on letter to their colleagues that seeks to add another $2 billion to the FY07 Labor, HHS and Education appropriations bill in order to fund all of its programs, including EETT, at FY05 levels. If the additional funding is approved, EETT could receive $496 million.

=WASHINGTON NOTES - September 2007=

Read the latest news and developments from inside the Beltway! The September 2007 edition of ISTE’s Washington Notes is now available online and examines several topics affecting education in the U.S. and actions ISTE has taken in response.

Here is a quick look at this month’s headlines:
 * ATTAIN Bill Advances in Education Appropriations
 * Bill Retains Key Ed Tech Community Recommendations
 * Some Significant Changes in Language
 * Changes Recommended for NCLB Data Program
 * Other Changes to NCLB Reauthorization Draft
 * FY07 Ed Tech Funding Levels May Continue into November
 * Ed Tech Highlighted at Congressional Hearing
 * FCC Adopts Ed Tech Community Recommendations for E-Rate
 * Join the Ed Tech Action Network ([|http://www.edtechactionnetwork.org/)]

Learn about the issues affecting you, your school, and your students. ISTE is your trusted source for the most current information.

Read Washington Notes: http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Advocacy/Policy/Washington_Notes/20073/September/09_07_Wash_Notes.htm

Washington Notes is a benefit of ISTE Membership.

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) - http://www.iste.org

ISTE® is a registered trademark of the International Society for Technology in Education.

=Federal Policy Update=


 * State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA)** - http://www.setda.org/

Senators Bingaman (D-NM), Burr (R-NC), and Murray (D-WA) co-sponsored the bill. Building upon EETT and data from several research studies, the bill focuses on the integral role of educational technology in systemic school redesign and professional development for core curricular areas.
 * SETDA is pleased to announce that the ATTAIN – Achievement Through Technology And Innovation was introduced in the Senate late on August 3rd 2007.**





=ISTE Advocacy Public Policy=



Email from Cathy Poplin, Friday, Sept. 7, 2007 This is great news for us! And it has been quite a team effort both locally and nationally. Cathy Poplin
 * Subject: ATTAIN is being considered as a replacement for EETT in the NCLB Reauthorization.**


 * ATTAIN Act included in House version of NCLB reauthorization draft**

Dear SETDA Members & Partners:

SETDA is thrilled to announce that our hopes for ATTAIN have been realized - EETT has been replaced by the ATTAIN Act in the new House discussion draft of No Child Left Behind. Although we are still working through the NCLB reauthorization process by submitting comments to the House and waiting to see the Senate version, this is a great sign for education technology and SETDA members' efforts to promote systemic reform within your states!

You can view the ATTAIN Act in the discussion draft released last night in Title II, Part F at http://edlabor.house.gov/bills/MillerMcKeonNCLBDiscussionDraftSummaryII.pdf beginning on page 184.

The House Education and Labor Committee did make some changes and SETDA will provide recommendations for their consideration. SETDA's Federal & State Policy Committee will be working over the next couple of days to develop the exact recommendations and comments to submit to the House Committee. If you have thoughts on what should be included in SETDA's formal comments, please send them to Mary Ann at mwolf@setda.org no later than Monday afternoon ET. We will synthesize all comments and share the succinct points with the membership. We hope you and your State Chief will also submit these comments directly to the House Committee before the deadline on September 14th.

Thanks to each and every one of you who has provided input on the ATTAIN Act and helped to share information with folks on the Hill on the importance of this program.

Have a great weekend!

Mary Ann Wolf, PhD SETDA Executive Director 410-647-6965 mwolf@setda.org

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deleting_Online_Predators_Act_of_2006
 * DOPA: (Deleting Online Predators Act of 2006-Wikipedia Information**

ETAN Flyer - [|Join a growing number of educators across the nation who are “Making Their Voice Heard” in support of education technology.] =How AzTEA Members Can be Advocates for Technology Funding= 2.Send your legislative delegation postcards and brochures from your district. Have students, teachers, support staff, superintendents, and parents write notes to their legislators about how technology is being used in your school system and how funding technology helps to meet your technology goals. When writing postcards, make sure that the message you send is in your own words. Be direct, honest and personal. 3.Sign-up to be part of the Advocacy Committee to make key contacts with legislators. 4.Make appointments and visit your local delegation. Take with you the one page white sheet and explain what funding we are trying to get through the legislature. 5.Share the video with your local board of education, parents, central office staff, administrators, staff and teachers. Encourage them to be part of the advocacy campaign to help increase funding for technology.**
 * 1.****Find the legislators who represent you (click on ETAN image above). You will see the senators and representatives who represent that zipcode.