State technology directors respond to what school technology data they would collect. Read a list of recent reports on educational technology. But a lack of research and a dearth of data mean the payoff is unclear. Technology's stock is flying as high in the nation's schools as it is on Wall Street. In poll after poll, parents say technology is essential to a child's education.
Many educators believe it's the missing linchpin of school reform.
Business leaders consider it a mandatory part of a student's preparation for the workplace. And policymakers at every level of government are spending more money on it each year. With support for technology so strong, people might assume its value for schools has been proven beyond question. In fact, the dividends that educators can expect from this investment are not yet clear. There is no guarantee that technology improves student achievement.