Electronic Transfer
Moving Technology Dollars in New Directions
May 5, 2005
Classroom Technology Chart: Cyber SchoolsSchools in which instruction takes place over the Internet, rather than in a traditional classroom setting, are becoming increasingly prevalent across the United States. More than half the states currently have a state-established virtual school or at least one cyber charter school.Education Funding Federal Role Seen ShiftingThe leaders who steer federal decisions about technology investments appear to be establishing new priorities.Ed-Tech Policy E-Rate: The Road AheadFederal officials are scrutinizing the E-rate program to determine whether it should be overhauled, or even ended.
Ed-Tech Policy Chart: E-Rate AllocationsThe federal E-rate program provides discounts on telecommunications services, Internet access, and internal connections, with priority given to schools and libraries that serve low-income students or are located in rural areas. Since the program began in 1998, a total of $14.3 billion has been awarded, including more than $1.7 billion allocated so far during the 2004-05 school year.Education Schools Eye Future CostsEducators are using a business concept called "total cost of ownership" to forecast the costs of technology.
Education Charts: Narrowing the GapInternet access across all types of schools has shown steady improvement. Despite such improvement, the actual use of technology in high-poverty, high-minority, and academically failing schools lags behind technology use in more advantaged schools.
Education Chart: Funding for EquityJust a few states are targeting technology funds where they are most needed by allocating additional dollars to schools with greater technology needs or those with fewer resources.Education Cyber Schools’ StatusAs the popularity of virtual schools grows, the funding models for state-sponsored efforts differ across the country.
Ed-Tech Policy Chart: NCLB Technology FundsUnder the Enhancing Education Through Technology program, the U.S. Department of Education provides grants to states for educational technology. States can keep up to 5 percent of the grants they receive for administrative purposes, but must allocate half the remaining funds to districts through a formula, and the other half through competitive grants. Funding for this program, a part of the No Child Left Behind Act, was cut by 28 percent in fiscal 2005.
Ed-Tech Policy Chart: Updating TechnologyTechnology must be regularly updated or replaced within schools in order to remain an effective tool for learning.
Education Chart: State PrioritiesStates were asked: “Please identify your state’s top two priorities in spending for education technology this year.” State answers reflect their priorities, not necessarily what they are spending the most on.School & District Management Big-District PrioritiesAt the same time, big districts are using a mix of financial resources to maintain—and, in some cases, increase—the amount of money they are devoting to educational technology in general. But some officials in those districts say President Bush’s proposed cuts in federal aid for educational technology could derail future spending.
Education Charts: Tech SavvyA majority of states have standards for what students and teachers should know about technology. But just three states assess students’ knowledge of technology, and only 20 require teachers to demonstrate technology proficiency before receiving an initial license, either by completing coursework or passing a test.
Education Charts: The New FrontierInnovative uses of technology continue to grow. During the 2004-05 school year, 16 states are offering computer-based assessment, compared with 13 last year. Wireless technology and laptop computers are also on the rise.Education Tracking U.S. TrendsThere is no almost no difference in the availability of Internet access between poor schools and wealthy ones.Education West VirginiaWest Virginia has a new champion for distance learning: first lady Gayle Manchin.Education WashingtonWashington state has a small pot of money to aid educational technology, and it is mainly allocated between two major initiatives: the nine educational technology support centers the state runs and a K-20 telecommunications network that serves K-12 schools and colleges and universities in the state.Education TexasWhile a budget shortfall forced the Texas legislature to eliminate two of the state’s three major funding sources for educational technology for the 2003-04 and 2004-05 school years, state education officials are cautiously optimistic that this year’s biennial session will bring an increase in funding.Education South DakotaBetween 1997 and 2003, South Dakota’s state education department concentrated most of its technology efforts on improving teachers’ computer skills.Education South CarolinaDespite a downward trend in funding for educational technology, South Carolina is trying to stretch its dollars to start and maintain certain programs.Education Rhode IslandRhode Island continues to stress professional development in its push to infuse technology into its classrooms. For the past several years, the state department of education has organized a series of two-week summer seminars for educators interested in tapping the potential of technology to improve their teaching.Education PennsylvaniaPennsylvania’s approach and priority for educational technology can be summed up in the name of its major technology initiative: Getting to One. The state is working toward having technology fully integrated not only into classroom life, but also into the operation of schools and districts.Education North DakotaIn pushing forward with efforts to expand the use of educational technology, North Dakota hopes to address declining enrollments and to increase distance-learning opportunities for students in rural districts.Education North CarolinaNorth Carolina’s educational technology fund decreased by about a third for fiscal 2005, to $5 million, a cut precipitated by a $1.3 billion overall state budget deficit.Education New MexicoNew Mexico is expanding an initiative started during the 2003-04 school year to put laptop computers in the hands of 7th graders and their teachers and permit the students to keep the computers through high school.Education New JerseyA change in New Jersey’s administrative code is enabling state money to be earmarked for educational technology projects as new schools are built or older ones substantially renovated.Education New HampshireDespite a history of little or no state funding for technology education, New Hampshire forged ahead in 2004 with plans to form a network of regional centers where teachers can go for technology-related professional development.Education MissouriMissouri’s educational technology efforts, once fueled by $15 million to $20 million a year in state funding, have been running on fumes from the state for the past three years, according to Deborah K. Sutton, the instructional technology director for the Missouri education department.Education MassachusettsMassachusetts has taken a cue from Maine’s statewide laptop program and is piloting a much smaller initiative of its own.Education District of ColumbiaThe District of Columbia is targeting most of its educational technology efforts toward ensuring that “every learning space is connected to the Internet,” says Stanley D. Johnson, the school district’s director of instructional technology.Education ConnecticutAs Connecticut nears completion of a statewide electronic network for education, officials there are seeking ways to ensure that it gets put to good use.Education MississippiAs the money flows, so goes school technology in Mississippi. For the 2004-05 school year, the legislature approved only a small increase in overall K-12 funding, which forced many of the state’s 147 school districts to make budget cuts in a number of areas, including educational technology.Education CaliforniaFacing a severe budget shortage, California managed to continue a few of its educational technology programs last year, and officials are hoping to sustain those programs. But they concede that keeping such efforts afloat will be difficult.Education NCLB Focuses on Data ToolsThe demands of the No Child Left Behind Act are spurring states to invest in data-management technologies.
Education Charts: NCLB Influence, Funding CrunchStates were asked: "How has the federal No Child Left Behind law influenced technology spending in your state?"
Education Chart: Dividing the PotSchools spend, on average, $103 per pupil annually for educational technology. More than two-thirds of that money, over $71 per pupil, is spent on hardware.
Education State of the States (Technology Counts 2005)Click on a state to read snapshots of the technology initiatives states are using, what they're spending, and to see a collection of vital stats for each state. See U.S. Vital Stats.Education State Support Varies WidelyWith many states still tightening their belts because of revenue shortfalls, state funding for K-12 educational technology has been on the downturn.Education Electronic TransferLike it or not, the financial landscape of educational technology is changing.
