Better collection of data on current access levels, costs, and availability of broadband services around the nation will facilitate this goal. Greater Internet access for education enables the private sector to build the base of skilled workers it needs to operate in the global economy and to expand its market for enhanced telecommunications goods and services. This opportunity brings with it responsibilities for helping to build and support this capacity. Policymakers should seek out new partnership opportunities focused on high quality services, affordable rates, and sustained upgrades and improvement in access. We call on policymakers at all levels to work with educational institutions and the private sector to support the continuous growth of educators through the use of technology.
Educators are the ultimate knowledge workers.
We know that more and different training will be necessary if teachers, administrators, and faculty members are to integrate the advances of technology into the curriculum and into their teaching. To do so will require a major new direction and commitment from policymakers, from the private sector, and from educators themselves. Congress has begun to focus on building the institutional capacity to assure that the next generation of teachers uses technology as effortlessly and effectively as workers in other industries. The reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act offers the opportunity to make this happen and to incorporate the best thinking and practices identified by this Commission. In addition, the Higher Education Act reauthorization down the line will provide another vehicle to articulate the federal role in professional development.