With 12.6 percent growth, the Department's budget request includes the largest increase in discretionary spending in the history of the Department. Funding for educational research would increase by $30 million. S&T highlights include:

  • Community Technology Centers – $100 million (up $67.5 million) to create 1,000  computer centers in low-income urban and rural neighborhoods around the country.
  • Next Generation Technology Innovation – $170 million (new), replacing two other programs that received $197 million in FY 2000, NGTI would provide funding to develop new applications of educational technologies and telecommunications for teaching and learning.
  • Regional Technology in Education Consortia – $10 million (no change) to support regional consortia of states, districts and schools to integrate technology with teaching and learning.
  • Technology Leadership Activities – $2 million (no change) to promote leadership in the field of educational technology, including measuring the effectiveness of technology programs.