[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 134 (Wednesday, September 30, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S11190]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          NEBRASKA NUMBER ONE IN INTERNET ACCESS IN CLASSROOMS

 Mr. KERREY. Mr. President, earlier this year Nebraska was 
recognized (along with our friends from Michigan) for being the best 
college football team in the land. But yesterday brought even better 
news about a number one ranking for Nebraska.
  As reported in the Omaha World-Herald, the Nebraska school system has 
been recognized in a recent national study as ranking first in the 
Nation when it comes to teachers using the Internet in the classroom. 
Mr. President, I ask that the article, ``Nebraska is Number One in 
Classroom Internet Use'' by Melissa Matczak and Michael O'Connor be 
printed in the Record at the conclusion of my remarks.
  The World-Herald reported that a study released yesterday by 
Education Week, a national education newspaper, says Nebraska has the 
highest percentage of schools where at least half of the teachers use 
the Internet for instruction.
  I am not surprised by this ranking, and neither are Nebraska 
educators. In rural States, the Internet has become an indispensable 
educational tool for teachers and students. And for quite some time 
Nebraska has been at the forefront in connecting our classrooms to the 
Internet as well as in realizing the benefits of distance learning.
  I offer my great congratulations to Nebraska educators and 
educational service units, Governor Nelson and the many State and local 
officials who made this possible. We should be very proud.
  The article follows:

                [From the World-Herald, Sept. 29, 1998]

            Nebraska Is Number One in Classroom Internet Use

               (By Melissa Matczak and Michael O'Connor)

       In a tiny school district in western Nebraska, students use 
     the Internet to chat to children in Iceland, sharing stories 
     on rural life.
       Across the state in Omaha, middle-school students track 
     space shuttles via the Internet.
       In some Nebraska schools, using the Internet is becoming as 
     common as flipping open a textbook. A national study 
     recognizes that, ranking Nebraska No. 1 when it comes to 
     teachers using the Internet in the classroom.
       A report released Tuesday by Education Week, a national 
     education newspaper, says Nebraska has the highest percentage 
     of schools where at least half of the teachers use the 
     Internet for instruction. Iowa ranks fourth in the report, 
     tied with Minnesota.
       Nebraska education officials say the results don't surprise 
     them. In largely rural states, they say, the Internet is fast 
     becoming an important classroom tool.
       ``It helps eat up the distance,'' said Jim Lukesh, a 
     technology administrator with the Nebraska Department of 
     Education. ``We've got a lot of small schools that are going 
     to be able to get things over the Internet that they wouldn't 
     be able to get otherwise.''
       The report is based on a survey of predominantly public 
     schools that rates each state on schoolchildren's access to 
     computers and computer training available to teachers.
       In 64 percent on Nebraska's schools, at least half of the 
     teachers use the Internet for instruction, the highest 
     percentage in the country.
       In Iowa and Minnesota, the figure is 46 percent.
       Nevada had the lowest ranking, 13 percent. Other states 
     near the bottom were Alabama at 21 percent, Georgia at 22 and 
     Louisiana and Florida at 23 percent.
       Wayne Fisher, the Internet program specialist for the 
     Nebraska Department of Education, said policy-makers have 
     pushed for Internet access in the state's schools.
       Lack of Internet training for teachers also had been a 
     concern, but state education officials say gains have been 
     made in that area.
       Five years ago, about $500,000 was spent to train teachers 
     from across the state on how to integrate the Internet into 
     classroom lessons. The money came from a portion of a half-
     cent tax levied by educational service units.
       About two years later, the Legislature passed a law 
     requiring every school district to be hooked up to the 
     Internet by the year 2000.
       To help the districts pay for the technology, about $13 
     million was shifted from a school loan program to a school 
     technology program. Schools used the money to pay for wiring 
     their buildings for Internet use.
       An $89 million bond issue approved last year is helping the 
     Millard School District continue its push to increase 
     Internet access.
       The district plans to spend at least $4 million in bond 
     money over the next five to six years to add Internet 
     connections and purchase new computers. Classrooms now have 
     at least one connection. The goal is to have four.
       It's not just large districts such as the 18,800-student 
     Millard school system that have made the Internet a priority.
       The 1,400-student Seward School District west of Lincoln 
     started increasing Internet access a few years ago. Now all 
     but several classrooms are connected.
       ``We have a community that thinks it's very important,'' 
     Superintendent Marshall Adams said. It's a tremendous 
     teaching tool.''
       Fisher said the Internet allows students--especially those 
     in rural isolated areas of the state-to branch out.
       ``Students and schools always struggle to learn beyond the 
     walls of the classroom,'' he said.
       Iowa's Internet push received a boost two years ago when 
     the Legislature approved an education measure providing $30 
     million a year for five years for technology.
       School districts receive funding based on enrollment. the 
     money also can be used to train teachers in using the 
     Internet and other technology.
       ``It's been a priority,'' said Klark Jessen, an Iowa 
     Department of Education spokesman.

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