Principals’ Associations Encouraged by Plan to Modernize E-rate
The National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) are encouraged by remarks made this morning by Tom Wheeler, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), signaling that the commission will work to improve the federal E-Rate program and make it easier for schools and libraries to access connectivity and digital resources that are necessary to improve teaching and learning in the 21st Century.
His remarks follow an announcement made yesterday by President Obama that a host of high-tech companies have pledged $750 million in devices, content, services, and new teacher and principal professional development to increase digital learning opportunities. The additional funding for education technology is a major win for the Administration’s ConnectED initiative to connect 99 percent of students to “next-generation connectivity” in five years.
“We are encouraged by Chairman Wheeler’s remarks and applaud the investments made by the private sector and the administration to improve connectivity and broadband speed for the nation’s schools and libraries,” said Gail Connelly, Executive Director of NAESP. “However, we hope the Chairman and Commission members make a serious attempt to not only improve inefficiencies, but increase E-Rate funding to meet current school and library needs, which is an estimated $5 billion,” said Connelly.