Governor Applauds West Virginia's High Marks In National Education Technology Survey
Governor Manchin was extremely pleased to hear that West Virginia's school system received the highest marks in the country in a national education technology survey released today, earning a grade of "A" in Education Week's "Technology Counts 2006 Report."
The Education Week report tracks state progress in several critical areas of technology policy and practice - access, use and capacity. For the first time in its nine year existence, the annual report also assigns grades to states for their performance in these three areas.
In the areas of access to technology and capacity to use technology, West Virginia received "A" marks, while the state's schools received an "A-" mark for its use of technology. Nationally, states received average "C+" marks for access and use, and a "C" average in the area of capacity.
"This report is great news for West Virginia students, their families and every stakeholder in our education community," the governor said. "I thank State Superintendent Steve Paine and the State Board of Education for their steady leadership in these efforts, and I look forward to building upon the solid foundation of progress that is making our state a national education technology leader. This study is proof that our state is finally starting to be seen as first in good categories, not last."
According to the survey, fewer students are forced to share instructional and Internet-connected computers in state classrooms. Student-to-computer ratios in West Virginia schools are better than the national average, with fewer students sharing instructional and Internet-connected computers in the classrooms - resulting in more opportunity for one-on-one instruction time in today's technology-driven environment. West Virginia is also one of only nine states that requires has technology requirements in its initial administrator license and teacher recertification.
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