ISTE releases statement from CEO Brian Lewis on Senate Appropriations Subcommittee’s approval of SSAEG funding level
WASHINGTON, D.C. (PRWEB) June 07, 2016 -- Statement from Brian Lewis, CEO of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE®):
"The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee's proposal to fund the Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grant Program (SSAEG) at $300 million, which is less than 20 percent of its authorized level, is, to be frank, stunningly shortsighted. If this anemic funding level stands, school districts would receive substantially less than the program's $10,000 statutory minimum allocation in 2017. They would be unable to make meaningful investments in any of SSAEG's priorities, which include technology, art, music, foreign languages, Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate, computer science and violence prevention.
"ISTE urges the Senate Appropriations Committee to reconsider this inadequate funding level for SSAEG and find a way to fully fund this program, approved by Congress less than six months ago to help ensure all students receive a well-rounded education. Absent a significant change in this funding level, it is doubtful that ISTE can support the committee's overall FY17 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education spending bill."
About ISTE
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE®) is the premier nonprofit organization serving educators and education leaders committed to empowering connected learners in a connected world. ISTE serves more than 100,000 education stakeholders throughout the world.
Innovative offerings include the ISTE Conference & Expo– the world’s most comprehensive ed tech event – as well as the widely adopted ISTE Standards for learning, teaching and leading in the digital age. The organization’s robust suite of professional learning resources features online courses, consulting services for schools and districts, books, and peer-reviewed journals and publications. For more information, visit iste.org. Connect with ISTE via Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Lisa Wolfe, L. Wolfe Communications for ISTE, +1 (773) 278-2800, [email protected]
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