Exposure to computer technology in school will permit students to become familiar with the necessary tools at an early age. By using the technology well, they will also acquire better thinking skills to help them become informed citizens and active community members. Better training for students today will also prepare them for the workforce of tomorrow. More and more jobs in the United States require employees to have higher levels of skills than ever before. This need arises in part from the increasingly global marketplace, which has transformed the environment in which American companies do business.
Companies are willing to pay for increased job qualifications.
Recent research indicates that employees reap an 8 percent average increase in income for each additional year of high school, college, or graduate school they complete. These emerging needs present a dual challenge to America's public schools. We must raise academic standards for students and help them acquire the skills they need to function effectively in the modern workplace. Our success in meeting these challenges can be increased by making technology, including the Internet, available to all schools, and by using it effectively. Technology can also help us focus our energy on improving education.