Comments on: Margaret Spellings is under fire http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/04/20/margaret-spellings-is-under-fire/ Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:26:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: llary52 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/04/20/margaret-spellings-is-under-fire/#comment-34731 llary52 Tue, 24 Apr 2007 06:10:00 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/04/20/margaret-spellings-is-under-fire/#comment-34731 So here's what I don't understand. It's clear from your post that you're not a fan of Spellings. But as far as I can tell, the lack of an ed tech discussion is bigger than just her. Look at the competitiveness reports: Gathering Storm, National Innovation Intiative, etc. Not a single reccomendation or reference to ed tech. Competitiveness legislation is going to be introduced this coming week - I suspect there won't be any new funding for ed tech in it. There's a similar theme in the general education policy space. A bunch of education bills are getting dropped on the Hill, the most recent being the Graduation Promise Act (http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2007/04/gpa.html). Again, ed tech isn't a part of the agenda. You make it sound like Spellings is unusual in her interest in data systems yet a quick review of major education associations and their reccomendations for NCLB, finds lengthy discussions about the importance of data systems: Allience for Excellent Education: http://www.all4ed.org/press/pr_042307.html Ed Trust: http://www2.edtrust.org/EdTrust/Press+Room/NCLB+Recommendations.htm Aspen Commission: http://www.aspeninstitute.org/atf/cf/%7BDEB6F227-659B-4EC8-8F84-8DF23CA704F5%7D/NCLB_Section7.pdf NGA, NASBE, CCSSO: http://www.nga.org/Files/pdf/0704NCLBSTATEMENT.PDF Here's my concern. I think the ed tech community has tried to blame the Admin for taking ed tech off the agenda. But it isn't on the Democrats agenda either, as evidenced by the recent legislation that doesn't include any ed tech programs. And despite ISTE's claims in the eschoolnews article you cite, ed tech isn't listed in any of the competitiveness reports. Where are the groups in these discussions? Blaming the Dept. of Ed is an easy way to get an applause line but I think it misses this bigger problem that maybe we're to blame for allowing this to slip off of everyone's agenda. So here’s what I don’t understand. It’s clear from your post that you’re not a fan of Spellings. But as far as I can tell, the lack of an ed tech discussion is bigger than just her. Look at the competitiveness reports: Gathering Storm, National Innovation Intiative, etc. Not a single reccomendation or reference to ed tech. Competitiveness legislation is going to be introduced this coming week - I suspect there won’t be any new funding for ed tech in it.

There’s a similar theme in the general education policy space. A bunch of education bills are getting dropped on the Hill, the most recent being the Graduation Promise Act (http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2007/04/gpa.html). Again, ed tech isn’t a part of the agenda.

You make it sound like Spellings is unusual in her interest in data systems yet a quick review of major education associations and their reccomendations for NCLB, finds lengthy discussions about the importance of data systems:
Allience for Excellent Education: http://www.all4ed.org/press/pr_042307.html
Ed Trust: http://www2.edtrust.org/EdTrust/Press+Room/NCLB+Recommendations.htm
Aspen Commission: http://www.aspeninstitute.org/atf/cf/%7BDEB6F227-659B-4EC8-8F84-8DF23CA704F5%7D/NCLB_Section7.pdf
NGA, NASBE, CCSSO: http://www.nga.org/Files/pdf/0704NCLBSTATEMENT.PDF

Here’s my concern. I think the ed tech community has tried to blame the Admin for taking ed tech off the agenda. But it isn’t on the Democrats agenda either, as evidenced by the recent legislation that doesn’t include any ed tech programs. And despite ISTE’s claims in the eschoolnews article you cite, ed tech isn’t listed in any of the competitiveness reports. Where are the groups in these discussions? Blaming the Dept. of Ed is an easy way to get an applause line but I think it misses this bigger problem that maybe we’re to blame for allowing this to slip off of everyone’s agenda.

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