SETDA Honors Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA 34th) for Outstanding Leadership in Educational Reform

LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - March 28, 2008) - California State Superintendent Jack O'Connell presented Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard with the prestigious State Educational Technology Directors Association's (SETDA) Federal Policy Maker Award today during an awards ceremony at the Los Angeles School of Global Studies on the campus of the Miguel Contreras Learning Complex in Los Angeles.

Annually, SETDA recognizes a federal leader who "Champions the Cause" and demonstrates leadership in the support of educational technology. Among her accomplishments, the Congresswoman has been instrumental in helping to continue Federal funding to support educational technology in California. Most specifically through the NCLB Title IID program that has benefited the Los Angeles Unified School District, school districts throughout California and the entire United States.

Congresswoman Roybal-Allard also partnered with Congressman Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX), Ron Kind (D-WI) and Congresswoman Judy Biggert (R-IL) to co-sponsor the ATTAIN Act which was included as Title IID of the House's discussion draft for the reauthorization of NCLB. Building upon data from several research studies, the bill focuses on the integral role of educational technology in systemic school redesign and professional development for core curricular areas. Congresswoman Roybal-Allard and her staff understand the issues and collaborated with both Democrats and Republicans to build upon past federal technology programs and to expand them to provide systemic educational change that assures our nation's global competitiveness.

Goals of the ATTAIN ACT include:

1.  To ensure that through technology every student has access to
    individualized, rigorous, and relevant learning to meet the goals
    of NCLB and to prepare all students and America for the 21st Century.
2.  To increase on-going, meaningful professional development around
    technology that leads to changes in teaching and curriculum, and
    which improves student achievement, including but not limited to
    core academic subjects, and student technology literacy.
3.  To evaluate, build upon and increase the use of research-based and
    innovative systemic school reforms that center on the use of technology
    and lead to school improvement and increase student achievement.

"I thank Secretary O'Connell and the members of the State Education Technology Directors Association for the honor of receiving this award. The association has been an invaluable partner and resource to my office as we have worked to pass the ATTAIN Act," Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard said. "I thank the association for its commitment to education technology and I look forward to continuing this partnership as we work together to make a high quality, 21st Century, education a reality for each and every student in our country."

"Rep. Roybal-Allard's leadership in education, specifically with the importance of educational technology, is critical," stated Mary Ann Wolf, Executive Director of SETDA. "The Congresswoman's support of Title IID and the proposed ATTAIN Act provides a needed catalyst for improving student achievement, retaining motivated teachers, and decreasing America's drop out rates through innovative teaching approaches with proven results."

Superintendent Jack O'Connell stated, "The most significant issue facing public education in California is the achievement gap that exists between white students and students of color, as well as gaps with English learners, students in poverty, and students with disabilities. Because today's students will enter a hyper-competitive global marketplace that is increasingly technology-based and driven, closing these gaps hinges on educational technology. The ATTAIN Act introduced by Rep. Roybal-Allard (CA), strengthens the efforts of Title IID of which California has benefitted tremendously. Rep. Roybal-Allard has championed education technology, which has led to achievement gains across the nation and in California."

About SETDA

The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) is the principal association for state directors of technology and their staff members providing professional development and leadership around the effective use of technology in education to enhance competitiveness in the global workforce.

Contact Information: CONTACT: Mary Ann Wolf, Ph.D SETDA, Executive Director 410-647-6965