LUTHERAN QUILTERS – Members of the Quilts for Comfort Group stand between pews draped with some of the 205 quilts they made, in the Sitka Lutheran Church Tuesday. The group made the quilts for five local non-profits and one in Anchorage. The remaining quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief which  distributes them to places around the world in need, such as Ukraine, as part of Personal Care Kits. Pictured are, from left, Helen Cunningham, Kathleen Brandt,Vicki Swanson, Paulla Hardy, Kim Hunter, Linda Swanson and Sue Fleming.  (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

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Daily Sitka Sentinel

Obama Pledges Billions for School Technology

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following account of President Obama’s speech to school superintendents this week is condensed from the text of his remarks provided by the White House.

By Sentinel Staff

More than 100 school superintendents, including Mary Wegner of Sitka, were addressed by President Obama in the East Room of the White House Wednesday as he launched a new effort to assist school leaders in their transition to digital learning.

Sitka School District Superintendent Mary Wegner holds up her cell phone showing the White House logo on coffee cups and napkins at a reception at the White House Wednesday, this afternoon.  (Sentinel Photo)

The Future Ready Digital Pledge is part of the President’s ConnectED initiative, which Obama said “empowers teachers with the best technology and the training to make the most of it, and empowers students through individualized learning and rich, digital content.”

ConnectED also seeks to connect 99 percent of America’s students with high-speed broadband internet in their schools and libraries.

The president said more than 1,200 school superintendents have already signed the pledge, in which they agree to:

– foster a culture of learning through technology across their schools 

– assist their students and families in the transition to high-speed connectivity 

– provide their learners greater access to high-quality digital devices and content 

– provide teachers and principals the support needed to use technology in innovative ways 

The “ConnectED to the Future” event also featured announcement of new commitments from private and non-profit partners and from the U.S. Department of Education to support educators as they transition to digital learning. 

He said the FCC will double its investment in broadband for schools, investing an additional $2 billion over two years, connecting more than 15,000 schools and 20 million students to high-speed Internet. The plan is to connect 99 percent of students within five years.

He announced that his administration is making “two new tools available, first an infrastructure guide to help you make the best decisions based on your resources and needs, and second, a “learning tool-kit” with goals and checklists for teachers and principals.

Also, the president said, his administration will convene 12 regional summits for superintendents and principals over the next year “to help more districts get ready for the future.”

Obama said 10 companies have made commitments totaling more than $2 billion.

“So Apple, for example, has pledged $100 million, which is going to 114 schools across 29 states. Students will get iPads. Teachers will get McBooks -- or MacBooks, depending on how you say it.  (Laughter.)  Classrooms will get Apple TV.

“And that’s just one of many commitments.  Other companies are providing hundreds of millions of dollars in software, eBooks, teacher training.  And 100,000 high-need students will receive free wireless service. He announced that two companies that provide online courses are offering some courses free. EdX, which already offers its Advanced Placement-level courses for free, is now making the certification for those courses free as well.  More than a dozen training courses will be offered to teachers nationwide for free. 

 

Also, the president announced, the company Coursera will offer free credentials for district-approved professional development courses to any teacher, anywhere in the country.

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20 YEARS AGO

March 2004

Advertisement: Tea-Licious Tea House & Bakery 315 Lincoln Street Grand Opening! Freshly Baked Scones, Cakes & Pastries Innovative Salads, Soups & Sandwiches Harney & Sons Tea. Lunch * Afternoon Tea * Supper.

50 YEARS AGO

March 1974

Photo caption: National Republican Chairman George Bush takes a drink of water offered by Jan Craddick, Sitka delegate, during the Republican convention held here. Mrs. Craddick explained to Bush that the water was from Indian River, which means, according to local legend, that he will return.

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