ADVOCACY EVENTS FOR EDUCATORS
"In its purest form, advocacy aims to guarantee that the voices of the underrepresented are heard when decisions directly impact their rights, lives and best interests. When it comes to education, all advocacy efforts should focus first on securing what’s not available to students but is critical to their immediate educational needs — curriculum, professional development of teachers and educational technology."
— Jorge Valenzuela
Spring Ed Tech Advocacy and Policy Virtual Fly-Ins
February 24 (noon - 4pm ET) and April 14 (noon - 4pm ET), 2021
REGISTER NOW AT THIS LINK
Good news! Are you a public sector employee? Thanks to our sponsors, your cost of registration is covered! Please contact jamie.brandon@flpadvisors.com for instructions on how to register at no cost.
With a new Congress and a new Administration set to begin in January 2021 will be a crucial time to let your voice be heard regarding ed tech issues. Don’t miss the 2021 Ed Tech Advocacy and Policy Virtual Fly-Ins the afternoons (Eastern time zone) of February 24 and April 14, 2021.
Join CoSN, ISTE, SETDA, and SIIA for a virtual fly-in focused on the critical role of technology in transforming education. The virtual fly-ins – designed purposefully as a two-part event to make sure leaders hear from us at key decision times - will focus on shaping decision makers' opinions about the future of the E-rate, student data privacy, ed tech appropriations and pandemic emergency funding, cyber security, and addressing the homework gap. The events will also shine a light on how schools are using ed tech to support learning and navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. With the new Congress beginning and the incredible changes caused by the pandemic, the 2021 virtual advocacy fly-ins will provide safe and timely opportunities for ed tech leaders to tell their stories about how digital learning benefits students, teachers, families, and communities.
As always, your voice is important to making significant change in ed tech policy and funding. We will provide training and preparation in advance of the virtual meetings with Congressional staff (on February 24), so that you can make a significant impact and serve as an essential resource to the congressional offices that serve your community.
Register using the link above and put the following dates and times on your calendar. In order to register, you will need to create an ISTE Store account using the “log-in” button in the top right corner of the page, but the process is quick and easy.
EdTech Advocacy and Policy Summit 2020: Elections and Federal Edtech Policies Looming
With Congress and the Administration preparing for a consequential election cycle, federal leaders are establishing positions on key edtech issues. Don't miss the 2020 EdTech Advocacy and Policy Summit in Washington D.C. on March 18-19, 2020.
Join CoSN, ISTE, SETDA, and SIIA for a Summit focusing on the critical role of technology in transforming education. This year we'll be focused on shaping decision makers' opinions about the future of the E-rate, student data privacy, edtech appropriations, and the homework gap. With Congress and the political landscape shifting, this year's Summit provides a new opportunity to tell your story about how digital learning benefits your students, teachers, families, and communities.
CoSN, ISTE, and SETDA: EdTech Advocacy and Policy Summit 2019
Join the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) and the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) in Washington, D.C., March 6-7 at the 2019 EdTech Advocacy and Policy Summit to help educate policymakers about the critical role technology plays in transforming education.
The new Congress, which includes a Democratic majority in the House and a Republican-controlled Senate, will have a very full plate next year. Among the issues they'll confront are: negotiating with the Trump administration on a two-year spending caps deal that will have significant importance for annual education spending; considering legislation to rebuild America's schools that will likely include the need to incorporate broadband and up-to-date technology; and the investigation of new laws to govern privacy in and out of school. At the same time, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must determine whether E-Rate's Category 2 formula should remain, and may consider new ways to bridge the homework gap. Add to these critical issues a Congress that will include many new faces and many members contemplating presidential runs, providing edtech advocates with several compelling reasons to come to Washington next year.
Beyond federal policy, the summit will also focus on issues that are arising or will likely arise in multiple states and districts, including screen-time policies, state-specific net neutrality rules and privacy. All of these issues could have a profound impact on the quality of education in your state.
Policymakers need to hear from educators like you about the benefits of digital learning for students, teachers, and families in order to shape sensible, forward-looking policies.
During the summit, you'll have opportunities to:
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Attend in-depth briefings and discussions on key policy issues where you'll gather information you can take back to your state.
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Advocate in face-to-face meetings with members of Congress or their staffs, the Department of Education and the FCC.
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Network and share best practices with your peers from other states and Washington, D.C. education policy leaders.
CoSN, ISTE, and SETDA: EdTech Advocacy and Policy Summit 2018
March 14-15, 2018
Education leaders from around the country attended Washington, D.C., March 14 and 15, 2018 to educate policymakers about the critical role of technology in transforming education at the EdTech Advocacy and Policy Summit 2018. Congress and the Trump administration will make important decisions this year that could significantly impact education technology leaders, their schools and the students they serve. There are discussions about the future of the E-Rate, updating student data privacy requirements and allocating funding for ed tech programs. It is more essential than ever for federal policymakers and officials to hear from educators about the benefits of digital learning for students, teachers, and families, and to help shape policies reflecting this input.
Educators Representing the Virginia Society for Technology in Education
Jan 2017
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On January 24, the U.S. Senate Career and Technical Education Caucus hosted a briefing on how federal policy can support the intersection of infrastructure and CTE. Infrastructure includes a wide variety of fields, ranging from roads and bridges to telecom, water, energy and more. To address the nation’s various infrastructure needs and how CTE is preparing people for careers in these fields, a diverse group of panelists from across the country traveled to Capitol Hill to speak to more than 60 congressional staffers and leaders from different education organizations.
The following experts sat on the panel:
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Kelly Almond, Georgia - Georgia ACTE President; Construction Technology Teacher
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Michelle Gerdes, Wisconsin - Gateway Technical College Graduate; Designer of Energy Infrastructure Distribution Systems
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Matt Szollosi, Ohio - Executive Director of the Affiliated Construction Trades of Ohio; Former Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
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Jorge Valenzuela, Virginia - Instructional Specialist for Richmond Public Schools; Chair of the VA Council on Technology and Engineering Education Supervision
Senate CTE Caucus Holds Briefing on Infrastructure and CTE
