View Header

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary


For Immediate Release June 3, 2000

THE CLINTON-GORE ADMINISTRATION: TRAINING 200,000 NEW TEACHERS TO USE

TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM

Today, in his weekly radio address, President Clinton will announce grants that will help 200,000 new teachers learn to use technology effectively in the classroom. These grants, which total $44 million this year and $128 million over a three-year period, will support innovative partnerships between teacher colleges, elementary and secondary schools, community-based organizations, and high-tech companies. This program, Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology (PT3), is a key element of the Clinton-Gore initiative to bridge the digital divide and create digital opportunity for all Americans. The President will also call upon Congress to fully fund his digital divide and education initiatives. This year, the majority in Congress are threatening to cut the President's important digital divide and education initiatives, including funding for teacher training, Community Technology Centers, school repair, smaller class sizes, and other important school reform programs.

PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL ANNOUNCE $128 MILLION IN GRANTS TO TRAIN 200,000 NEW TEACHERS TO USE TECHNOLOGY. Today, President Clinton will announce 122 grants to partnerships between teacher colleges, elementary and secondary schools, community-based organizations, and high-tech companies. These grants will help meet the President's goal of ensuring that all new teachers can use technology effectively in the classroom to improve student performance.

THIS INITIATIVE IS A CRITICAL ELEMENT OF THE CLINTON-GORE PLAN TO BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE AND CREATE DIGITAL OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE AMERICANS: President Clinton and Vice President Gore have proposed a comprehensive initiative to bridge the digital divide, including:

PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL CALL ON CONGRESS TO INVEST IN EDUCATION AND INITIATIVES TO BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE: In order to pay for risky and fiscally irresponsible tax cuts, congressional Republicans propose to fund investments in domestic priorities $29 billion below the President's level, an average cut of 9 percent. For education, this results in insufficient funding for urgent school repair, smaller class sizes, and school reforms needed to strengthen accountability and turn around low-performing schools. It also denies funding for Administration initiatives to bridge the digital divide. For example:

###