Another alert provided by Andy Carvin
The Preparing Tomorrow’s Teachers to Use Technology grant program (PT3), a popular federal program that assists colleges of education to develop effective edtech teacher training, is facing the chopping block under the White House’s proposed 2004 budget. In four years, PT3 has given out $337.5 million in the form of 441 grants going to universities that partner with local school districts. John Bailey, Director of Education Technology at the US Department of Education, says that edtech rofessional development would be better served if federal funds were distributed to states via block grants. “The president is not saying that it’s not important for our teachers to learn how to use technology,” Bailey said. “We do believe that’s important. In the end, we’re still achieving the same goal, we’re just doing it from another program that’s out there.” But Don Knezek, director of the National Center for PT3 and CEO of the International Society for Technology and Education, could not disagree more. “Eliminating funding for the PT3 program, unless the legislature elects to maintain it despite the president’s recommendation, will bring an end to the most effective and far-reaching federally supported new teacher improvement program in recent decades,” he said. “What we’re losing is that overarching piece that looks at the (teacher preparation) issue as a national issue,” he said. “I believe that it’s a national crisis, and it requires a national effort.” [SOURCE: Wired News, AUTHOR: Katie Dean]
http://www.wired.com/news/school/0,1383,57583,00.html)
