June 7, 2004

Utilizing its network of mayors' education policy advisors, the U.S. Conference of Mayors was instrumental in getting teachers from all fifty states participate in a national survey on technology use in education. Over 11,000 teachers from 1,885 schools from around the country participated in completing an online survey during Speak Up Day for Teachers. This exceeded the goals for the day by over 10 percent. This is a program of NETDAY and the U.S. Conference of Mayors is one of its sponsors.

NETDAY was formed as a non-profit organization to help wire schools for the Internet. Its current mission is to connect every child to a brighter future by helping educators meet educational goals through the effective us of technology. NETDAY continues to focus on education technology and raising awareness about it in schools and classrooms. Speak Up Day for Teachers builds upon the success of Speak Up Day for Students in 2003 at which time over 210,000 went online to share their views on technology us.

The teachers during Speak Up Day for Teachers not only gave their opinions to a national survey on uses of technology in the classroom but also stimulated local and regional conversations on the topic. The goal was to inform those involved in developing a national strategy for education technology at the U.S. Department of Education to hear from teachers about their ideas and views.

The results of the survey will provide guidance in developing new policies and programs that will provide better support to teachers as they use technology as a resource in the classroom and at home when planning lessons. The data will be used by the Department in shaping new policy and available to local boards as they make decisions to support technology in their districts.

Speak Up Day for Teachers began as a one-time event and has become an annual opportunity to collect input from all stakeholders in the education community on topics of interest. The Conference representing the nation's mayors will continue to be involved as one of the key stakeholder organizations. For more information on NETDAY activities go to www.netday.org.