Hi!

eLearningi advocacy can be played out in many venues. The Native American arena might be interesting to you. eSATSi will be attending. I have attached my answers to their survey.

Cheers!

Ted

eLearning System for Arizona Teachers and Students Inc. not-for-profit 501-c3 volunteer design and advocacy organization.

Theodore C. Kraver Ph.D. President

602-944-8557 www.AZelearning.net
225 West Orchid Lane, Phoenix, AZ 85021

NATIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN ECONOMIC POLICY SUMMIT

May 15-17, 2007

Phoenix, Arizona
Hyatt Regency Phoenix

Online Registration

Registration Form (PDF)

Policy Recommendation Survey - SHARE YOUR IDEAS!!

Agenda in Brief (PDF)

Draft Agenda

Policy Recommendation Survey

http://www.ncai.org/index.php?id=228

SHARE YOUR IDEAS!

The overarching goal of the National Native American Economic Policy Summit is to identify policy changes that would make a real difference for tribal economies. In anticipation of the Summit, we are collecting information from a variety of sources about the barriers to economic development for tribal communities and the policy solutions that could address those barriers. We are eager to hear from you about your experiences and ideas.

1. What’s the barrier/challenge to economic development that you are identifying? Please include specific examples that illustrate the problem.

Answer: In general our K-12 students are not relating to old time legacy education and are having poor academic achievement compared to the needs of the 21st century. Many do not graduate high school. As a result we have a population of workers that are not well educated, do not have 21st century skills, and have virtually no chance of competing in the 21st century global economy.

2. What policy change(s) would address this issue? (where possible please indicate if the policy change is legislative or regulatory, which federal agency is involved, etc).

Answer: There has been some efforts over the past ten years in the Arizona legislature but it has produced sparse and incomplete results. Most has focused on cyber (virtual) schools, researchi and wiring of schools. Current legislationi for the Arizona Broad Band Initiative that would have addressed the middle mile issue did not even get a hearingi. HB2742 would put policy in place and a grants fund to transform all of education to eLearning on a school by school basis. Depending on current budget hearings it may pass with a small appropriate to start the ball rolling.

3. Is there any additional information that is relevant? (Has this policy change been attempted before? Is this a new idea? What potential concerns does this change raise? What additional information do we need assess this recommendation?)

Answer: We need Bureau of Indian Affairs, tribal council, school district, diocese schools, and state of Arizona K-12 education policy that addresses professional development of all teachers into elearning savvy educators with the most academically effective digital curriculum in the classroom. This policy must also assure broadbandi Internet connectivity into the classroom and communityi, on site technical support and a computer for each student.