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FOR RELEASE
April 17, 2000
Contact:
David Thomas
(202) 401-1579
CLINTON ANNOUNCES $24 MILLION IN NEW TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGE GRANTS
President Clinton announced today the award of a total of $24 million over five years in new technology challenge grants to three school district partnerships in three states. The grants will enhance efforts to train teachers to use technology effectively, and to support greater student achievement in core subjects and the arts.
The Technology Innovative Challenge Grant Program serves as a catalyst for change for schools, supporting educators, industry partners, communities, parents, and others who are using new technologies to help bring high quality education to classrooms and neighborhoods.
"We must close the gap - the digital divide - between those individuals and communities that have access to Information Age tools and those that don't," Clinton said. "These grants can help teachers master the use of new learning technologies. That, in turn, will help them prepare their students for a brighter future in the global economy."
On April 4, Clinton issued a "National Call To Action," challenging corporations and non-profit organizations "to take concrete steps to meet two critical goals: provide 21st century learning tools for every child in every school and create digital opportunity for every American family and community."
Today Clinton begins the third "New Markets Tour," a two-day trip aimed at focusing national attention on overcoming the digital divide and creating opportunities for youth, families and communities. Accompanied by CEOs, members of Congress, cabinet secretaries and community leaders, the president will travel to East Palo Alto, Calif.; the Navajo Nation in Shiprock, N.M., and Chicago.
Complementing the administration's efforts with the New Markets Tour, the department's Office Educational Technology has begun reviewing and revising the national educational technology plan, to be completed by fall 2000. Beginning today, more information about this initiative, background papers, and opportunities for the public to share its views via the Internet will be available at http://www.ed.gov/Technology/.
The awards go to school districts in Colorado, Florida and New York and will support partnerships in more than 600 school districts and with seven colleges and universities. About 800,000 students and more than 40,000 teachers will benefit.
The grants will range in size from $830,000 to $2 million a year for five years. The business and community partners have generated matching commitments valued at more than $160 million.
Challenge Grant communities work to integrate new technologies into state or local education improvement efforts that have been stimulated by a growing national commitment to raising education standards. These grants will focus on enhancing professional development and teachers' skills to use computers and advanced learning in their classrooms, as well as developing interactive curriculum resources, programs, and products in math, science, language arts, social studies and the arts.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Descriptions of projects available upon request.
Technology Innovative Challenge Grant Program Grant Awards FY 2000
COLORADO
REMOTE: The Rural Mountain Organization for Technological Enhancement
Mountain Valley School District
Saguache, Colo.
Contact: Frank Venturo (970) 943-3045
1st year: $830,261
5 years: $3,549,449
FLORIDA
Beacon Learning Centers
Bay District Schools
Panama City, Fla.
Contact: Barbara Eubanks (850) 872-7321
1st year: $2 million
5 years: $10 million
NEW YORK
Virtual Informal Education Web (VIEW) Project
Schenectady City School District
Schenectady, N.Y.
Contact: John Falco (518) 370- 8100 x107
1st year: $2 million
5 years: $10 million
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