"Relating to the innovative application of education technology tools to provide improved distance education programs in the state. "

SCR 28 is intended to raise awareness of new educational tools that are causing renewed excitement and hope for public K-12 education. Children come to school excited and eager to learn and it is a colossal challenge for teachers to maintain that excitement with fresh things for each child to discover and accomplish; especially in competition with television and the internet. I believe these new tools can empower teachers, parents, and school management to make a positive difference.

New education technology tools allow each student's education information to be accessed by any authorized student, teacher, parent, or administrator from any computer on the internet, 24-7. Individual learning plans (ILPs), portfolios, curriculum, aligned standards, attendance, lesson plans, assignments, virtual "face to face" interactions, assessment tools, and all student records, assessments, student history, challenges, strengths, and special interests can now be at any teacher's fingertips for their students.

An unprecedented scope of information is available on the internet and the tools to manage student access to that information are rapidly coming into place. Never before has there been such an array of exciting teaching tools that can be managed for the benefit of each individual student. SCR 28 brings this news to the table.

SCR 28 collects the factors that are related to innovative application of educational technology in a list of "Whereas" statements, then expresses legislative intent that we work together to find ways to employ these improvements in our Alaska education system.

# # #