EDITOR'S NOTE -- Updated Oct. 7, 2003, to reflect the correct amount of the grant award.

Mathematica Policy Research in Princeton, N.J., and their subcontractor, SRI International, Menlo Park, Calif., have been awarded a three-year, $10 million contract to carry out a congressionally mandated evaluation of the effectiveness of educational technology in improving student achievement in reading and mathematics. This team brings together expertise with randomized assignment research and the topic of educational technology.

"I am pleased that Congress recognizes the need for rigorous evaluations of the effectiveness of educational technology tools," said Grover "Russ" Whitehurst, director of the department's Institute of Education Sciences. "The results of this evaluation will give schools and policymakers the information they need to choose and implement technologies that will improve the achievement of students."

The No Child Left Behind Act mandates an independent, long-term study using scientifically based research methods and control groups. This study will focus on identifying particular uses of education technology that increase student achievement, and the conditions that increase the ability of teachers to integrate technology effectively into curricula and instruction. A report is due to Congress on April 1, 2006.

"We have an opportunity to truly assess the way technology can make a difference in teaching and learning," said John Bailey, director of the Office of Educational Technology. "We can increase technology's impact on student achievement by better understanding the conditions and practices necessary to improve teaching and instruction."

Over the last year, a technical advisory group composed of subject matter experts and research experts helped to design the study. To implement the study, education technologies in reading and mathematics will be put in place in schools during the 2004-005 school year.

Mathematica and SRI International will assess the impact of these interventions on improving reading and mathematics achievement through a random assignment study design. Vendors of education technologies who would like to participate in the study can log on at http://edtech.mathematica-mpr.com/. Additional information regarding the study can be found: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/os/technology/evaluation.html

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