GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Susan Patrick, deputy director of the office of educational technology at the U.S. Department of Education, today concluded a visit to Michigan, where she discussed the No Child Left Behind Act and educational technology during a school visit to Sherwood Park Elementary in Grand Rapids. Patrick made the keynote address at the Michigan Educational Technology forum in Detroit and in a meeting with members of the Michigan Legislature in Lansing.

Today, Patrick, Jeanne Englehart, community services director for Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R), a member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, and Grand Rapids Public Schools Superintendent Bert Bleke participated in the school visit to see firsthand how technology is helping students close the achievement gap with steady progress in student reading and math scores.

Approximately one-third of all students at Sherwood Park are bilingual, with more than 12 different languages spoken by the school's students. Sherwood Park is committed to continual improvement by its students through a comprehensive program that includes extensive use of technology throughout its curriculum. The technology component of this program is being run in conjunction with the Van Andel Education Institute in Grand Rapids.

"No Child Left Behind will transform our education system to ensure it is focused on students through proven teaching and learning techniques," said Patrick. "Technology can help us achieve this goal in powerful ways by tailoring and adapting instruction to meet the needs and abilities of each student through distance learning, personalized instruction, assessment and expanding available resources. We are beginning to see technology serve as a catalyst for student achievement across the country."

The Enhancing of Education Through Technology Program under No Child Left Behind provides $700 million to schools to meet their technology needs. At least 25 percent of the funds must be spent on professional development for teachers. Michigan has received $24.3 million as part of this plan.

No Child Left Behind is the landmark education reform law designed to change the culture of America's schools by closing the achievement gap, offering more flexibility, giving parents more options and teaching students based on what works. Foremost among the four key principles is an insistence on stronger accountability for results. To achieve that, states must develop strong accountability systems or improve those already in place, establish high standards and hold all children to the same standards. They also must provide instruction by highly qualified teachers, which results in steady progress and, ultimately, proficiency for all students by the 2013-14 school year.

Despite all the priorities competing for our tax dollars, President Bush's budget increases federal education funding for Michigan to more than $1.6 billion--$342 million more than when the president took office. Michigan's neediest children would see an increase in Title I funding to nearly $498 million--$139 million over 2001 funding levels.

For more information about the No Child Left Behind Act, go to www.nochildleftbehind.gov.

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