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Pennsylvania Governor Rendell Teaches Online Class to High School Students Statewide

Posted on: Wednesday, 25 February 2009, 10:57 CST

Budget Discussion Showcases Power of Technology in PA Classrooms

HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- High school students across Pennsylvania today took part in an online class taught by Governor Edward G. Rendell, who used Classrooms for the Future technology to explain how the state's budget process works.

"I welcome the opportunity to help students learn about how decisions made in Harrisburg directly impact their quality of life," Governor Rendell said. "Today's class is a terrific demonstration of how we can use technology in our classrooms to better prepare students for success in tomorrow's workforce while also helping them understand how their state government works."

This was the second class the Governor has conducted using technology provided through Classrooms for the Future, the centerpiece of his administration's continuing efforts to expand the use of computers in classrooms. He conducted a civics class last fall.

Ten high school classrooms across Pennsylvania interacted with the Governor, and scores of other districts watched the lesson via streaming video.

The Governor's lesson addressed several topics related to his proposed 2009-10 budget, including his plan to make college more affordable. Under the Pennsylvania Tuition Relief Act, all incoming, in-state students who qualify and seek to attend state-owned or community colleges will pay what they can afford in accordance with established financial aid practices. Every family will pay at least $1,000 a year for each child in college.

Classrooms for the Future is transforming the learning experience for hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvania students by providing laptop computers, high-speed internet access and state-of-the-art software to high school math, science, English and social studies classrooms. The initiative also provides professional development to help teachers and students derive the greatest benefit from the technology.

Now in its third year, Classrooms for the Future is helping students in 543 high schools across 453 districts during the 2008-09 school year, providing about 140,000 laptops in high school classrooms that are used by about 500,000 students. The Governor has proposed $22 million in the 2009-10 budget to continue the program.

The state's Educational Technology Fund, or E-Fund, provides grants to help school districts obtain quality broadband access and service. Both Classrooms for the Future and the E-Fund strengthen the Governor's commitment to improving educational opportunities in schools by expanding schools' access to technology.

For more information on the Department of Education's initiatives, visit www.pde.state.pa.us.

The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit www.governor.state.pa.us.

EDITOR'S NOTE: A list of the 10 high schools that took part in today's event is below: Girard High School, Erie County Freedom High School, Beaver County Charleroi Area High School, Washington County Forest Hills High School, Cambria County St. Marys Area High School, Elk County Cedar Crest High School, Lebanon County Antietam Middle-Senior High School, Berks County Montrose Area Junior-Senior High School, Susquehanna County Bayard Rustin High School, Chester County Springfield High School, Delaware County

CONTACT: Chuck Ardo 717-783-1116 Leah Harris (PDE) 717-783-9802

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

Source: PR Newswire

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