[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 32 (Tuesday, March 2, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2096-S2097]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. LAUTENBERG:
  S. 491. A bill to enable America's schools to use their computer 
hardware to increase student achievement and prepare students for the 
21st century workplace; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions.


               the ``education for the 21st century act''

  Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I rise to introduce ``E-21''--the 
Education for the 21st Century Act.
  The E-21 Act will help ensure that all middle school graduates attain 
basic computer literacy skills that will prepare them for high school 
and beyond, and ultimately, for the 21st Century workplace. The E-21 
Act will also allow all school districts to obtain and utilize the 
latest high-quality educational software, free of charge.
  Mr. President, the first piece of legislation I introduced in the 
Senate was to provide financial assistance to introduce computers into 
schools, to help students learn and expand their horizons. That was in 
1983. Back then, it was the exceptional school that even had a 
computer. It was an unusual teacher or student who knew how to use one.
  That legislation was enacted into law. Along with other resources, it 
helped bring computers into our schools as part of everyday learning.
  Mr. President, as many of my colleagues know, I got my start in the 
computing business. Back then, computers filled large rooms and were so 
expensive that only the largest corporations could afford their own 
computing centers. Today, even more powerful computers sit on a desktop 
in millions of homes, schools and businesses across the nation.
  Mr. President, we've made great strides toward introducing computers 
into schools, but too many of these computers are not being utilized to 
their potential due to lack of updated computer training for teachers.
  Mr. President, a recent study by the Educational Testing Service 
confirmed that computers do increase student achievement and improve a 
school's learning climate. However--and this is critical--the study 
specified that to achieve those results, teachers must be appropriately 
trained and use effective educational software programs. Otherwise, 
these computers become mere furniture in a classroom.
  To boost student achievement through computers and technology, my 
``Education for the 21st Century Act'' will provide up to $30 million 
per year to train a team of teachers from every middle school in the 
nation in the most up-to-date computing technology. These Teacher 
Technology leaders could then share their training with the rest of the 
faculty in their schools, so all teachers are ready to pass these 
skills on to their students.
  Mr. President, the E-21 Act will also create national educational 
software competitions, open to high school and college students, to 
work in partnership with university faculty and professional software 
developers. The best of these software packages would be available 
free-of-charge over the Internet through the Department of Education's 
web page.
  Mr. President, I want to make clear to my colleagues that this 
emphasis on computer training is not at the expense of the fundamental, 
basic skills that underlie education: reading, writing and arithmetic. 
It's still important to master these traditional basics. But we should 
also add a ``new basic'' to the list--computer literacy. Americans will 
need those skills to compete in the 21st Century.
  Mr. President, this proposal is part of President Clinton's FY 2000 
Budget, and as Ranking Member of the Budget Committee and a member of 
the Appropriations Committee, I will work to see that it is funded for 
years to come.
  Mr. President, as a businessman who got his start at the beginning of 
the computing age, I am proud to see the way our nation has led the 
world in computer technology. I want to make sure that we continue to 
lead--through the second computer century--the 21st Century.
  I therefore ask my colleagues to support ``E-21''--the Education for 
the 21st Century Act.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 491

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Education for the 21st 
     Century (e-21) Act''.

     SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

       It is the purpose of this Act to enable America's schools 
     to use their computer hardware to increase student 
     achievement and prepare students for the 21st century 
     workplace.

     SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Establishing computer literacy for middle school 
     graduates will help ensure that students are receiving the 
     skills needed for advanced education and for securing 
     employment in the 21st century.
       (2) Computer literacy skills, such as information 
     gathering, critical analysis and communication with the 
     latest technology, build upon the necessary basics of 
     reading, writing, mathematics, and other core subject areas.
       (3) According to a study conducted by the Educational 
     Testing Service (ETS), eighth grade mathematics students 
     whose teachers used computers for simulations and 
     applications outperformed students whose teachers did not use 
     such educational technology.
       (4) Although an ever increasing amount of schools are 
     obtaining the latest computer hardware, schools will not be 
     able to take advantage of the benefits of computer-based 
     learning unless teachers are effectively trained in the 
     latest educational software applications.
       (5) The Educational Testing Service (ETS) study showed that 
     students whose teachers received training in computers 
     performed better than other students. The study also found 
     that schools that provide teachers with professional 
     development in computers enjoyed higher staff morale and 
     lower absenteeism rates.
       (6) Some of the most exciting applications in educational 
     technology are being developed not only by commercial 
     software companies, but also by university faculty and 
     secondary school and college students. The fruit of this 
     academic talent should be channeled more effectively to 
     benefit our Nation's elementary and secondary schools.

     SEC. 4. MIDDLE SCHOOL COMPUTER LITERACY CHALLENGE.

       (a) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary of Education is 
     authorized to award grants to States that integrate into the 
     State curriculum the goal of making all middle school 
     graduates in the State technology literate.
       (b) Uses.--Grants awarded under this section shall be used 
     for teacher training in technology, with an emphasis on 
     programs that prepare 1 or more teachers in each middle 
     school in the State to become technology leaders who then 
     serve as experts and train other teachers.
       (c) Matching Funds.--Each State shall encourage schools 
     that receive assistance under this section to provide 
     matching funds, with respect to the cost of teacher training 
     in technology to be assisted under this section, in order to 
     enhance the impact of the teacher training and to help ensure 
     that all middle school graduates in the State are computer 
     literate.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $30,000,000 for 
     each of the fiscal years 2000 through 2004.

     SEC. 5. HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE FOR ALL SCHOOLS.

       (a) Competition Authorized.--The Secretary of Education is 
     authorized to award grants, on a competitive basis, to 
     secondary school and college students working with university 
     faculty, software developers, and experts in educational 
     technology for the development of high-quality educational 
     software and Internet web sites by such students, faculty, 
     developers, and experts.
       (b) Recognition.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Education shall recognize 
     outstanding educational software and Internet web sites 
     developed with assistance provided under this section.
       (2) Certificates.--The President is requested to, and the 
     Secretary shall, issue an official certificate signed by the 
     President and Secretary, to each student and faculty member 
     who develops outstanding educational software or Internet web 
     sites recognized under this section.

[[Page S2097]]

       (c) Focus.--The educational software or Internet web sites 
     that are recognized under this section shall focus on core 
     curriculum areas.
       (d) Priority.--
       (1) First year.--For the first year that the Secretary 
     awards grants under this section, the Secretary shall give 
     priority to awarding grants for the development of 
     educational software or Internet web sites in the areas of 
     mathematics, science, and reading.
       (2) Second and third years.--For the second and third years 
     that the Secretary awards grants under this section, the 
     Secretary shall give priority to awarding grants for the 
     development of educational software or Internet web sites in 
     the areas described in paragraph (1) and in social studies, 
     the humanities, and the arts.
       (e) Judges.--The Secretary shall designate official judges 
     to recognize outstanding educational software or Internet web 
     sites assisted under this section.
       (f) Downloading.--Educational software recognized under 
     this section shall be made available to local educational 
     agencies for free downloading from the Department of 
     Education's Internet web site. Internet web sites recognized 
     under this section shall be accessible to any user of the 
     World Wide Web.
       (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for 
     each of the fiscal years 2000 through 2004.
                                 ______