April 11, 2007

LANSING - State Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan today said that any recent controversy over proposed funding in the state’s School Aid budget for education technology does not diminish its need in the state’s classrooms.

“We need the infusion of education technology into our classrooms,” Flanagan said. “Whether it’s iPods, or Zunes, online learning, or distance learning from Michigan Virtual High School, we need this. It’s not a brand name issue. It’s a learning issue.”

A State House of Representatives subcommittee has added $38 million in the School Aid budget for “21st Century Learning Environments.” Media reports began to refer to the initiative as “an iPod for every student” program, and some media outlets have been critical of the program and questioned the focus being on one particular product.

“We don’t want this controversy to derail what is a good thing,” Flanagan said. “We are adding education technology into the high school graduation requirements and into the proposed revisions to the state’s teacher preparation programs. Schools, teachers, and students all need to embrace this emerging way to learn.”

The House plan would call on the Michigan Department of Education to work with local school districts, intermediate school districts, business and industry leaders, and innovative education organizations to create a statewide initiative with new learning environments to create academic content and knowledge in digital forms.

The “21st Century Learning Environments” initiative is much broader in scope than a technology device purchase program, according to Flanagan.

Flanagan went on to say that legislation can’t name a specific product in state law, explaining that even in the Michigan Merit Exam law, it does not specifically name the the ACT test.

Flanagan, who recently developed an Office of Education Technology within the Department of Education, expects his department to help lead the evolution of changing Michigan classrooms into technology learning centers. He helps model this commitment with monthly podcasts on education issues, which can be found at the department’s website: www.michigan.gov/mde

“We appreciate the legislature’s support of education technology and its use to improve instruction,” Flanagan said. “The Michigan Department of Education will continue to work with the education communities in determining the best way to achieve improved student outcomes.”