The Plan and Public Input

Public input was paramount in guiding the development of the National Education Technology Plan. Beginning in May 2003, anyone who wanted to participate in the creation of the Plan—contribute ideas, ask questions, or voice concerns—was able to do so via this website.

Initial participation involved having contributors rank priority areas, identify important themes, and answer general technology usage questions. Those who wanted a less structured way to participate were able to send emails to the National Education Technology Plan Outreach Team.

After a first round of feedback was gathered, nine priority areas were identified:

• Students Today: The Digital Generation
• Leadership for System-wide Rethinking
• Technology’s Role in Teacher Quality
• eLearning Opportunities
• Broadband for Education
• One-to-One: Universal Computing for Education
• Data Driven Decision Making and Accountability
• Budgeting and Funding Models for 21st Century
• Special Education

These nine areas provided a framework for gathering yet additional input. In January 2004 an expanded Participate section of this website was opened, which sought contributions. This round, lasting through mid-March, allowed participants to post their remarks on the website as well as upload documents, policy briefs, and other information they believed would be helpful in constructing the Plan. Feedback from this round can be viewed under the heading Archived Feedback to the right.

The U.S. Department of Education also made a special effort to connect itself to an otherwise difficult-to-reach population: students. By partnering with NetDay and helping support Speak Up Day 2003, the Department was able to reach and receive input from over 200,000 students in a survey effort that collected viewpoints from all 50 states, from a balanced mix of urban, rural, and suburban schools, and from all ages and grade levels. Data from this effort provided inspiration, insight, and content for the Plan. NetDay’s full Speak Up Day 2003 report, “Voices and Views of Today’s Tech-Savvy Students,” is available online.

In addition to these other forms of input, the Department also solicited the advice of experts. Beginning in September 2003 and continuing through January 2004, seven meetings were held with experts from around the country to discuss specific issues surrounding education technology, including broadband, budgeting and funding, and data driven decision making. Participants included school officials, non-profit workers, and government employees. Individuals presented relevant reports and findings and engaged in debate and discussion.