America’s students are our ultimate constituents. We need to listen to them. They have demonstrated that they have a better understanding of the intricacies and opportunities presented by the technological revolution than many of their elders, including a generation of teachers and administrators who did not have the advantage of growing up with the Internet.

In developing and soliciting input for the Plan, the U.S. Department of Education made a special effort to connect itself to 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.

Students in Today's Schools (478 kb in PDF), a presentation from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Educational Technology.

In a series of streaming video clips, Susan Patrick, Director of the Office of Educational Technology, outlines the purpose of the Plan and the steps taken by the Department to solicit input from students. Over 200,000 students provided feedback online. Listen to her remarks here.

Additional Resources on the Millennials

Student Works

From Good to Great
See an illustration drawn by students at Poway Unified School District, CA

Education and the Millennials Web Site
This site was created by students from Forest Park High School, VA.

Millennials Animation
This animation was created by students from Forest Park High School, VA. View