SSTI Digest

It caught the attention of quite a few people when it was first proposed in early 2001, but Maine's investment in 2002 to provide every seventh and eighth grader with a new laptop - approximately 32,000 students and 4,000 teachers - continues to provide a useful example of the size and type of commitment and risk that elected leaders have to be willing to make to transform the outlook for a state or regional economy. It took strong leadership and determination from then-Gov. Angus King to make it happen then, but the move very quickly was recognized as a good investment for the state's future (see 2004 evaluation report). This June, Maine renewed its commitment to the Maine Learning Technology Initiative, promising Apple iBook computers to the state's entire seventh and eighth grade population, both teachers and students at the state's 241 public schools, for the next four years. The $41 million price tag works out to roughly $289 per notebook computer and includes wireless networking capabilities. Still considered one of the largest one-to-one educational technology programs in the world, Maine's laptop initiative has…

The Department of Education's Committee on the Future of Higher Education has released a second draft of its report on the state of American colleges and universities. As reported in the July 10 issue of the Digest, the document originally released by the committee harshly criticized the U.S. higher education system for wasteful spending, lack of academic rigor, and failure to serve the needs of the national economy. The newest draft softens the critical tone of the report but retains most of the original recommendations, according to an article in Tuesday's Inside Higher Ed. David Ward, president of the American Council on Education (ACE), noted in a message to ACE members that the updated version contains improvements in both tone and content. Ward also said that the changes indicate a willingness on the part of the commission to develop a constructive set of proposals for the education community. Read the commission's second draft at: http://www.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/hiedfuture/reports/0714-draft.pdf

While much of the attention in the national dialogue on competitiveness and innovation has focused on federal R&D investments and science and tech education, a 62-year-old independent organization of business and education leaders says our attention should be much earlier in the education process. A new report by the Committee on Economic Development (CED) asserts economic development leaders should make quality preschools a top priority. The Economic Promise of Investing in High-Quality Preschool: Using Early Education to Improve Economic Growth and the Fiscal Sustainability of States and the Nation presents a convincing case for expanding state and federal pre-kindergarten programs to encourage economic growth. The CED has long asserted the importance of preschool programs in national and local economies. Since 2002, the organization has held nationwide forums and published several reports in conjunction with the Pew Charitable Trusts to build awareness of the benefits of high-quality preschools among business leaders. This most recent report focuses on the tangible economic returns to policies that improve the quality and accessibility of…

The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), a leading IT and innovation policy think tank, is seeking an IT policy analyst. Candidates should have excellent research and writing skills; knowledge of IT, telecommunications and Internet policy; at least two years of experience with these policy issues; a bachelors degree; and, ideally, a masters degree. Direct resumes to mail@innovationpolicy.org. A complete description of this position opening is available through the SSTI Job Corner at http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has appointed former Kansas Gov. John Carlin to the Kansas Bioscience Authority. Robert Cresanti has been appointed to serve as chief privacy officer for the Department of Commerce, concurrent with his responsibilities as under secretary for technology. Lew Ebert announced he is leaving the Kansas Chamber of Commerce to become president and CEO of North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry. Science Foundation Arizona, a new nonprofit organization, has named Bill Harris as its director. The Greater Phoenix Economic Council recently hired Jim Hudson as vice president of strategy. Louisiana State University appointed Brooks Keel as its new vice chancellor for research and economic development. The Open Technology Business Center, a Beaverton, Ore.-based incubator, has named Steve Morris as its third executive director. Steven Preston was sworn in July 10 as administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, succeeding Hector Barreto. …

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has appointed former Kansas Gov. John Carlin to the Kansas Bioscience Authority.

Robert Cresanti has been appointed to serve as chief privacy officer for the Department of Commerce, concurrent with his responsibilities as under secretary for technology.

Lew Ebert announced he is leaving the Kansas Chamber of Commerce to become president and CEO of North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry.

Science Foundation Arizona, a new nonprofit organization, has named Bill Harris as its director.

The Greater Phoenix Economic Council recently hired Jim Hudson as vice president of strategy.

Louisiana State University appointed Brooks Keel as its new vice chancellor for research and economic development.

The Open Technology Business Center, a Beaverton, Ore.-based incubator, has named Steve Morris as its third executive director.