In addition to this training service, the Technology Center has plans for educating the public about policy issues related to telecommunications. First, the students and staff of the center will do research to become more fluent with legislation, such as Senate bill 1153, which proposes establishing a rural-oriented federal policy effort. Community forums will follow, where the participants are taught how to use the Internet as a research tool to learn more about various legislation and how to identify and contact key legislators all valuable skills for any active citizen, and ones that increase their confidence and ability with the technology. A new tool from the National Center for Education Statistics provides fast answers to education questions. Teacher Shortage in Iowa Legislators in Iowa are trying to come up with solutions to the state s projected teacher shortage, which is being exacerbated by other states teacher recruitment programs.
Rural areas are particularly vulnerable.
The National Center for Education Statistics has recently released state education profiles for each state. A new report on Internet access in public schools finds that access in rural and small schools increased significantly between 1994 and 1999. The debate that played out in the House last fall over legislation linking rural school funds to timber sales on National Forest lands moves ahead now with S. 1608, the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 1999. The House passed a companion bill aimed at giving relief to rural counties most impacted by the reduction in timber sales from federal lands in recent years. Many systems budgets were heavily hit when federal timber revenues dropped due to changes in management practices, environmental concerns, and market pressures.