CUE > Legislative Advocacy

CUE

Advancing Student Achievement Through Technology

Legislative Advocacy

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Computer-Using Educators, Inc. recognizes that California schools serve students of increasingly diverse needs and backgrounds who must be ready to succeed in a rapidly advancing technological society. CUE believes that technology is a critical instructional resource required for all K-20 teachers and students. CUE works with many like-minded groups in coordinating policies and practices to advance student achievement.

This year, CUE is focusing on:

• Advocating for restoration of funding for the Federal Enhancing Education Through Technology program
• Promoting ongoing funding for the technical portion of the K-12 High Speed Network
• Working  with legislators to author legislation to promote adoption of digital content

Digital Content
CUE believes that it is in the best interests of educational agencies and students in California to have access to State-Adopted curricular and supplemental content in digital form.  CUE supports access to digital materials since such materials should be less expensive to produce, reducing the cost of adoptions in California, as well as assisting in reducing the negative physical impacts that carrying large numbers of heavy textbooks have on our youth.

Curriculum Support
CUE advocates working with the California Curriculum Commission to ensure that technology is linked to all adopted curriculum and curriculum standards wherever appropriate.

Administrative Uses of Technology
CUE advocates that all administrators should be instructional leaders in the use of technology.  We believe that the use of technology tools to facilitate data-driven decision-making, i.e. selecting those resources that will aid measurable skill acquisition and increase student achievement is a necessity.  Further, we advocate that CDE make available a suite of analysis tools to all schools in California so that all sites have ready access to this important data.

Fully Funded Professional Development
CUE advocates professional development on the 1) basic use, and 2), application use of electronic instructional resources and tools. Training must be fully funded and sustained over multiple years. Funding levels no less than 30 percent of the total technology plan should be used for ongoing professional development. Professional development includes administration (vision, planning and management of the technology resource) and instruction (integrating the technology resource into the classroom curriculum standards).

Continuous Funding for Technical Support
CUE advocates sufficient continuous funding for hardware, software and infrastructure technical support for educational technology. As additional technology continues to enter our schools (adding to an already large installed base), supporting and maintaining these installations have become major financial and personnel issues. On-going technical support beyond basic troubleshooting is not a classroom teacher responsibility.

Continuous Funding for Technology
CUE advocates sufficient continuous funding must be provided to ensure that all California students have equitable and sustained access to technology at a level at least comparable to national averages. California has long treated technology acquisition on a grant or one time basis procurement. Planned continuous funding of technology for acquisition, upgrading and planned replacement of both computer hardware and network gear on a regular basis is recommended.

Inclusion Technology in Single School Plan for Student Success
In K-12 schools, CUE supports the integration of educational technology into the Single School Plan for Student Achievement. CUE advocates a single plan as a part of all school, district, college and university regular planning. The plan should cover all grade levels, curriculum strands and funding initiatives over multiple years for the logical unit or site being planned as required by state and federal statute. 

Integrated Network and K-12 High Speed Network
CUE advocates the development of district- and school-wide integrated high-speed networks. Such networks must be user friendly, cost effective, and facilitate the exchange of applications and information, including administrative, instructional and distance learning services to the classroom, over the Internet, and Internet 2.

CDE Funding Support and Expansion
CUE supports efforts to consolidate and coordinate resources, leveraging resources within and between state and local agencies. CUE continues to support the CTAP organization as a cost-effective method of supporting the technology requirements in our geographically diverse state. CUE supports increasing CTAP funding and expansion of the Statewide Education Technology Services projects.

Federal Education Initiatives
CUE supports federal educational initiatives implemented in California which consistently align with the CUE Advocacy Platform. Federal programs such as E-Rate, Title I and Title 3 have significant financial impact on the technology planning in California schools.

UC-CSU Research
CUE supports the UC and CSU systems in conducting research to validate K-20 best-practices, curriculum standards and effective instructional strategies to promote improved student learning using technology.

IHE Career-Long Professional Development Planning, Including Formal Credential and Certificate Technology Programs
CUE believes that Technology training and professional development must be a comprehensive K-20 plan, beginning with integration into teacher pre-service education throughout California college and university systems. In-service training must continue through the districts and counties, and into individual schools and classrooms. Continuing Education on technology and curriculum training must be provided as a career-long program for all educators. Formalized credential and certificate programs for technology proficiency should be developed on a statewide basis.

Support of Underserved Areas
CUE fully supports the creation and maintenance of equitable access to technology and technology applications for all students, teachers, and administrators in California, particularly those in rural and other underserved areas.  It is the position of CUE that access to technology and technology applications should be the same for all learners in our State, regardless of geographic location or economic status.  Equity of service (in geographically isolated schools and urban antiquated schools) must be maintained. Equitable access includes curricular access by all students, including those with special needs.

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