[Page S11190]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

NEBRASKA NUMBER ONE IN INTERNET ACCESS IN CLASSROOMS

<bullet> Mr. KERREY. Mr. President, earlier this year Nebraska was
recognized (along with our friends from Michigan) for being the best
college football team in the land. But yesterday brought even better
news about a number one ranking for Nebraska.
As reported in the Omaha World-Herald, the Nebraska school system has
been recognized in a recent national study as ranking first in the
Nation when it comes to teachers using the Internet in the classroom.
Mr. President, I ask that the article, ``Nebraska is Number One in
Classroom Internet Use'' by Melissa Matczak and Michael O'Connor be
printed in the Record at the conclusion of my remarks.
The World-Herald reported that a study released yesterday by
Education Week, a national education newspaper, says Nebraska has the
highest percentage of schools where at least half of the teachers use
the Internet for instruction.
I am not surprised by this ranking, and neither are Nebraska
educators. In rural States, the Internet has become an indispensable
educational tool for teachers and students. And for quite some time
Nebraska has been at the forefront in connecting our classrooms to the
Internet as well as in realizing the benefits of distance learning.
I offer my great congratulations to Nebraska educators and
educational service units, Governor Nelson and the many State and local
officials who made this possible. We should be very proud.
The article follows:

[From the World-Herald, Sept. 29, 1998]

Nebraska Is Number One in Classroom Internet Use

(By Melissa Matczak and Michael O'Connor)

In a tiny school district in western Nebraska, students use
the Internet to chat to children in Iceland, sharing stories
on rural life.
Across the state in Omaha, middle-school students track
space shuttles via the Internet.
In some Nebraska schools, using the Internet is becoming as
common as flipping open a textbook. A national study
recognizes that, ranking Nebraska No. 1 when it comes to
teachers using the Internet in the classroom.
A report released Tuesday by Education Week, a national
education newspaper, says Nebraska has the highest percentage
of schools where at least half of the teachers use the
Internet for instruction. Iowa ranks fourth in the report,
tied with Minnesota.
Nebraska education officials say the results don't surprise
them. In largely rural states, they say, the Internet is fast
becoming an important classroom tool.
``It helps eat up the distance,'' said Jim Lukesh, a
technology administrator with the Nebraska Department of
Education. ``We've got a lot of small schools that are going
to be able to get things over the Internet that they wouldn't
be able to get otherwise.''
The report is based on a survey of predominantly public
schools that rates each state on schoolchildren's access to
computers and computer training available to teachers.
In 64 percent on Nebraska's schools, at least half of the
teachers use the Internet for instruction, the highest
percentage in the country.
In Iowa and Minnesota, the figure is 46 percent.
Nevada had the lowest ranking, 13 percent. Other states
near the bottom were Alabama at 21 percent, Georgia at 22 and
Louisiana and Florida at 23 percent.
Wayne Fisher, the Internet program specialist for the
Nebraska Department of Education, said policy-makers have
pushed for Internet access in the state's schools.
Lack of Internet training for teachers also had been a
concern, but state education officials say gains have been
made in that area.
Five years ago, about $500,000 was spent to train teachers
from across the state on how to integrate the Internet into
classroom lessons. The money came from a portion of a half-
cent tax levied by educational service units.
About two years later, the Legislature passed a law
requiring every school district to be hooked up to the
Internet by the year 2000.
To help the districts pay for the technology, about $13
million was shifted from a school loan program to a school
technology program. Schools used the money to pay for wiring
their buildings for Internet use.
An $89 million bond issue approved last year is helping the
Millard School District continue its push to increase
Internet access.
The district plans to spend at least $4 million in bond
money over the next five to six years to add Internet
connections and purchase new computers. Classrooms now have
at least one connection. The goal is to have four.
It's not just large districts such as the 18,800-student
Millard school system that have made the Internet a priority.
The 1,400-student Seward School District west of Lincoln
started increasing Internet access a few years ago. Now all
but several classrooms are connected.
``We have a community that thinks it's very important,''
Superintendent Marshall Adams said. It's a tremendous
teaching tool.''
Fisher said the Internet allows students--especially those
in rural isolated areas of the state-to branch out.
``Students and schools always struggle to learn beyond the
walls of the classroom,'' he said.
Iowa's Internet push received a boost two years ago when
the Legislature approved an education measure providing $30
million a year for five years for technology.
School districts receive funding based on enrollment. the
money also can be used to train teachers in using the
Internet and other technology.
``It's been a priority,'' said Klark Jessen, an Iowa
Department of Education spokesman.<bullet>

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