[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 188 (Thursday, December 8, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2218]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             THE ATTAIN ACT

                                  _____
                                 

                       HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 8, 2011

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the 
Achievement Through Technology and Innovation Act of 2011 (ATTAIN).
  Given the challenges facing job seekers in our current economy, 
technology skills are now more critical than ever. As a nation, we need 
to prioritize technology literacy, and it should begin with our 
educational system.
  Whether students are preparing for college or planning to go straight 
into the workforce, we must provide them with the high tech skills 
employers and the economy demand. Obtaining these critical skills is of 
particular concern to low income and minority students who are falling 
further behind their higher income peers in terms of 21st century 
college and workplace skills.
  Not only has technology literacy become a critical life skill, but 
studies show technology also has a tremendous impact on student 
learning. In this era of ever shrinking school budgets, overcrowded 
schools and overextended teachers, technology provides an opportunity 
to improve academic outcomes for our students.
  I had the opportunity to see this first hand at the LA School for 
Global Studies in my district. This school seamlessly integrates 
technology in the classroom and I was amazed to see students that were 
previously low performers academically and at risk of dropping out of 
school, engaged and eager to learn. My visit underscored the promise 
that initiatives like the ATTAIN Act hold for closing the student 
achievement gap.
  The ATTAIN Act amends the current ``Enhancing Education Through 
Technology'' program in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to 
better target federal education technology resources to raise student 
achievement, ensure high quality teaching and improve our education 
system while ensuring our students are college and career ready and 
prepared to compete in the digital economy.
  The bill authorizes up to $1 billion in annual funding to train 
teachers, purchase education technology hardware and software, and to 
support student technological literacy.
  Under the bill's provisions, if Congress appropriates more than $300 
million annually for ATTAIN, 60% would be used to purchase new 
technology and train teachers on how to effectively use these new 
tools.
  The remaining 40 percent of ATTAIN funds would be distributed through 
competitive grants that encourage schools to undertake comprehensive, 
technology based reform initiatives that have been proven to increase 
student achievement.
  However, should Congress appropriate $300 million or less for this 
program annually, the Secretary of Education would allocate the 
entirety of the funding to conduct a competition and award grants to 
those states with the most promising initiatives to improve K-12 
education through the use of technology. This provision is intended to 
ensure that there is adequate funding to impact student outcomes during 
lean fiscal years.
  It is my hope that through this competition states and districts 
across the country will be compelled to evaluate their technology use 
and work to integrate it effectively throughout all classrooms, and 
especially those that are currently underserved by education 
technology.
  Mr. Speaker, we know that when teachers are properly trained and 
schools are properly equipped with technology, students are engaged, 
eager to learn, and ultimately better prepared to meet the challenges 
of the 21st century. I believe that the ATTAIN Act is integral to our 
continued efforts to deliver all students the world class education 
they expect, need and deserve. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this 
important bill.

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