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SIIA Urges Education Leaders and Policymakers to Continue Investments to Meet President Obama's Goal for 21st Century Learning Environments

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) today expressed support for the $650 million investment in educational technologies included in the Economic Recovery & Revitalization Act (HR.1), as well as for related investments in educational innovation and modernization. In addition, SIIA continues to call upon government and education leaders to push for further investment to ensure all students benefit from a technology-rich education.

"This investment is a critical down-payment to laying the nation's 21st century economic recovery path through an innovative educational system with modernized classrooms, curriculum and instruction," noted Ken Wasch, SIIA President. "These funds will not only boost the education and technology sectors today, but also help provide our students with the knowledge and skills to compete globally in the technology-rich, knowledge economy. We look to policy makers to make further investments in modernizing our classrooms through technology," Wasch continued.

The funding, provided through the existing Enhancing Education through Technology (EETT) program, helps the neediest communities and students achieve technology-rich teaching and learning environments, including thorough teacher professional development. SIIA worked closely with the Obama transition team and Congressional leaders in recommending investment through the EETT program to help President Obama fulfill his pledge to provide new computers, new technology, and new training for teachers.

The U.S. House and Senate passed stimulus bills that originally allocated $1 billion to the EETT program, but that was reduced to $350 million in cuts during final negotiations between the House and Senate in an effort to reduce the overall cost of the legislation. SIIA estimates a cost of $9.9 billion to provide all of the nation's disadvantaged Title I students with technology-rich classrooms (e.g., well-equipped with computer hardware, software, digital and online curricular resources, and its teachers provided with professional development and support).

"President Obama and Congressional leaders called for educational innovation and 21st century learning for all students as part of the Recovery Act, and technology is critical to that goal," noted Mark Schneiderman, SIIA's Director of Education Policy. "We are pleased that funding for classroom technology was included, though we are disappointed that EETT funding was reduced from earlier versions of the legislation. We call on policy makers to make necessary further investments in the upcoming annual education appropriations, as well as on educators to leverage Recovery Act and other funds to modernize teaching and learning through technology."

About SIIA

The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) is the principal trade association for the software and digital content industries. SIIA provides global services in government relations, business development, corporate education and intellectual property protection to more than 500 leading software and information companies. For further information, visit www.siia.net.

SIIA Communications Contact: Eileen Bramlet, 703-927-2022

PR Firm Contact: Don Marshall, Rational PR, 202-429-4932, donmarshall@rationalpr.com