I
107TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4064
To enable America’s schools to use their computer hardware to increase
student achievement and prepare students for the 21st century work-
place, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 20, 2002
Mr. ROTHMAN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce
A BILL
To enable America’s schools to use their computer hardware
to increase student achievement and prepare students
for the 21st century workplace, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Education for the 21st
Century (E–21) Act’’.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
It is the purpose of this Act to enable America’s
schools to use their computer hardware to increase student
achievement and prepare students for the 21st century
workplace.
SEC. 3. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) Establishing computer literacy programs for
students will help ensure that the Nation’s children
are receiving the skills needed for advanced edu-
cation and for securing employment in the 21st cen-
tury.
(2) Computer literacy skills, such as informa-
tion gathering, critical analysis and communication
with the latest technology, build upon the necessary
basics of reading, writing, mathematics, and other
core subject areas.
(3) According to a study conducted by the Edu-
cational Testing Service (ETS), eighth-grade mathe-
matics students whose teachers used computers for
simulations and applications outperformed students
whose teachers did not use such educational tech-
nology.
(4) Although an ever increasing amount of
schools are obtaining the latest computer hardware,
schools will not be able to take advantage of the ben-
efits of computer-based learning unless teachers are
effectively trained in the latest educational software
applications.
(5) The Educational Testing Service study
showed that students whose teachers received train-
ing in computers performed better than other stu-
dents. The study also found that schools that pro-
vide teachers with professional development in com-
puters enjoyed higher staff morale and lower absen-
teeism rates.
(6) Some of the most exciting applications in
educational technology are being developed not only
by commercial software companies, but also by sec-
ondary school and college students. The fruit of this
academic talent should be channeled more effectively
to benefit the Nation’s elementary and secondary
schools.
SEC. 4. COMPUTER LITERACY CHALLENGE.
(a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Education
is authorized to award grants to States that inte-
grate into the State curriculum the goal of making
all middle school graduates in the State techno-
logically literate.
(2) PRIORITY.—The Secretary shall give pref-
erence in awarding grants under this section to
States that place a priority on training middle school
teachers.
(b) USES OF FUNDS.—Grants awarded under this
section shall be used for teacher training in technology,
with an emphasis on programs that prepare one or more
teachers in each elementary, middle, and secondary school
in the State to become technology leaders who then serve
as experts and train other teachers.
(c) MATCHING FUNDS.—Each State shall encourage
schools that receive assistance under this section to pro-
vide matching funds, with respect to the cost of teacher
training in technology to be assisted under this section,
in order to enhance the impact of the teacher training and
to help ensure that all middle school graduates in the
State are technologically literate.
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section
$30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2003 through 2007.
SEC. 5. HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE FOR ALL
SCHOOLS.
(a) COMPETITIVE GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The Sec-
retary of Education is authorized to award grants, on a
competitive basis, to students in secondary schools and in-
stitutions of higher education, working with faculty of an
institution of higher education, software developers, and
experts in educational technology for the development of
high-quality educational software and Internet websites by
such students, faculty, developers, and experts.
(b) RECOGNITION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Education
shall recognize outstanding educational software and
Internet websites developed with assistance provided
under this section.
(2) CERTIFICATES.—The President is requested
to, and the Secretary shall, issue an official certifi-
cate signed by the President or the Secretary (or
both), to each student and faculty member who de-
velops outstanding educational software or an Inter-
net website recognized under this section.
(3) FOCUS.—The educational software or Inter-
net websites that are recognized under this section
shall focus on core curriculum areas.
(4) JUDGES.—The Secretary shall designate of-
ficial judges to recognize outstanding educational
software or Internet websites assisted under this sec-
tion.
(c) PRIORITY.—
(1) FIRST YEAR.—For the first year that the
Secretary awards grants under this section, the Sec-
retary shall give priority to awarding grants for the