Mass Networks Education Partnership, Inc.

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THIRD MASS NETDAY HELPS STATE LEAP FORWARD

(Click here to see pictures of the NetDay Rally at the Curtis Guild School in East Boston)

Over 900 Schools in Two-Thirds of State’s Public School Districts Have Participated!

Mass. Jumps From Almost Last to Top Quarter of National Standings

It was only two years ago that a controversial national survey placed Massachusetts nearly last in the country in terms of percentage of classrooms with Internet access. While the Commonwealth was pushing forward with an ambitious education reform effort, it had not yet built the electronic infrastructure needed to implement systemic change.

Today, nearly every public school in the state has written an Education Technology implementation plan, a majority of the state’s schools have begun building networks, there are opportunities for teacher training almost every week in every part of the state, and according to unofficial estimates, Massachusetts has leaped up to the top quarter of the nation in networked classrooms. It was done through the effort of hundreds of local educator-led groups supported by over 19,000 community volunteers, and business and union contributions of products and labor worth nearly $25 million.

Catalyzing the effort was the mission of Mass Networks Education Partnership Inc., an independent nonprofit group formed to promote state-wide action by organizing a series of NetDay campaigns. Mass Networks President Joyce Plotkin, who is also Director of the Massachusetts Software Council, stated, "Key leaders from education, business, labor, and government came together in a united and nonpartisan effort to help give our children the tools and skills they need for success in the 21st century. Senator Kennedy was instrumental in getting things going. The Governor has been fully supportive. The business community donated the funds needed to get started. Everyone had a seat at the table and worked together."

"We realized that educational improvement, economic growth, and the health of our civil democracy were all dependent, to some extent, on ensuring that everyone had access to the new electronic tools for communication, research, and commerce," said Mass Networks Chairman Joseph A. Alviani, Director of the Mass. Technology Collaborative. "And we all agreed that an important place to start was in our schools. Mass Networks also felt that the best strategy was one that empowered local leaders to take action in ways that met their own needs."

Today, after the third state-wide NetDay effort on October 25, 1997, the people of Massachusetts can be proud that over 900 public and private schools, including schools representing over two-thirds of the public school districts, have participated in one or more Net Day campaigns. From the Berkshires to the Cape, from Westport to Amesbury, in rural and urban areas, this grass roots effort has helped schools leapfrog forward.

"We have been repeatedly told by local education leaders," said Mass Networks Executive Director Steven E. Miller, "that NetDay has allowed them to speed up their technology implementation plans by months or even years, to cut their costs by 20% to as much as 80%, and to create relationships with their communities that will be the basis for future efforts."

While Mass Networks does not intend to organize any more state-wide NetDay campaigns, it will continue to support schools and districts that wish to conduct local Net-Day efforts. It will also continue to provide technical workshops, as well as curriculum development institutes for state educators. In addition, Mass Networks is starting an effort to help schools fully participate in the $2.25 billion worth of "E-Rate" discounts made available through the new Telecommunications Act. It is advising the state Department of Education of ways to provide advanced telecommunications services to all educators and schools. The group is also hoping to help convene an "Ed Tech Summit" this spring to explore key state-level policy issues in this area.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steven E. Miller, Executive Director, Mass. Networks Education Partnership Inc.
tel: 1-888-NET-1997