$9 million for telecommunications in K-12 budget proposal
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 2, 2005
CONTACT: Bill T. Walsh, (651) 582-1145
K-12 Budget Proposal Includes $9.1 Million for
School Telecommunications Access
(Roseville, MN…) A proposed new Equity in Telecommunications Access (ETA) program would help offset some costs to Minnesota schools of the electronic resources they need to get the highest quality education to their students. Part of the Pawlenty Administration’s K-12 budget proposal, ETA would provide $4.5 million and $4.6 million in the next two school years for telecommunications costs associated with the Internet and distance learning.
“No Minnesota student should miss out on cutting-edge education technology because of where they go to school,” said Minnesota Department of Education assistant commissioner for academic excellence Mary Ann Nelson. “This proposal would help students in both rural schools and diverse urban districts get the best educational opportunities available.”
As proposed, ETA would pay a portion of public and private schools’ telecommunications costs that exceed $15 per student. ETA would partially reimburse schools for Internet access and audio-visual connections they use to provide electronic information resources and education programs.
“We are pleased that the Governor has chosen to make the equity revenue formula more truly what it says it is, a means of greater fairness for students at the bottom,” said Minnesota Rural Education Association executive director Jerry Ness.
- 30 -
MDE E-mail Updates