Ed Tech’s $10 Billion Boosters

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Lauren Barack -- School Library Journal, 1/27/2006

Science and technology educators are finding a cheerleader—and possible $10 billion benefactor—in former U.S. education secretary, Senator Lamar Alexander.

Alexander is pushing President Bush to mention new technology and science education legislation in his State of the Union address this month. The measure would fund science and tech K—12 and higher education programs to the tune of $10 billion in the first year alone, says Harvey Valentine, spokesman for the former cabinet secretary and GOP Senator from Tennessee.

“The Senator believes that other than the war on terror, the other issue facing this country is retaining jobs and remaining competitive in science and technology,” Valentine says.

Alexander met with the President in December 2005. Also at the meeting were Senators Pete Domenici (R-NM) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM). They discussed the findings of a report commissioned from the National Academies of Sciences and Engineering last year. The study set priorities for how the federal government could ensure science and technology advancements into the 21st century.

Among its suggestions: the report recommended recruiting 10,000 K–12 science and mathematics teachers with four-year scholarships. Providing training for another 250,000 teachers through summer institute programs, master’s and AP/IB courses is another recommendation. The Academies’ report also noted that on a recent general science and math test, U.S.12th graders scored below the average of 21 countries.

“The Senator hopes that the President will mention this in his address, and that he will also make this issue a priority for his last three years in office,” says Valentine.

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