Current Practices

Schools are doing the best that they can in incorporating modern technology into their schools. The main issue preventing them from doing this is funding. There are two main sources for technological funding in schools, the E-Rate program and the state formula grant program. The state grant program used to be known as the Technology Literacy Challenge Fund (TLCF) program, which was replaced when the No Child Left Behind act went into effect. The No Child Left Behind was created in 2001 and replaced TLCF program with the new Educational Technology State Grants program also known as the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT). According to the Policy and Program Studies Service(PPSS), "under the EETT program, half of the funds received by the states are awarded to districts by formula, while the other half are awarded competitively as they were under the TLCF program."This means that half of all the funding given to a state must be split between multiple different districts and then the other half is given to schools that apply and compete for grants. The PPSS document also explains that, "the E-Rate program is administered by the Federal Communications Commission and seeks to improve access to digital technology by providing approved schools and libraries with discounts ranging from 20 to 90 percent on qualifying telecommunications services." Technology and internet access is extremely expensive for schools and the E-Rate program helps school cut down on the costs of incorporating technology.

Funding for schools has drastically decreased within the past decade. As indicated from the graph above schools receive less funding every year, with the exception for 2009 which might have had something to do with the presidential election. The graph also shows that the proposed funding for this 2011 school year is less than a sixth of what schools received during the 2010 academic year. These cuts not only make it hard for schools to integrate modern technology into their classrooms, but its making it hard for schools to fund current programs that have been in the education system for years. In 2009 Oregon districts received a total of $6,724,211 in grant funds to be split between 19 districts in order to support the purchase of technology and professional development. That is not very much money when you think about it because this money must be used to not only purchase technology, but maintain, replace and train their staff as well. If schools are able to purchase and use their technology wisely it can greatly benefit them since technology is so versatile. 

Most schools have done their best to incorporate going green methods to reduce their waste production and untimely save their school money. Oregon schools have learned that environmental issues are intertwined with economic and social structures and their success would best be supported by considering the long term sustainability of natural systems. In other words everything is connected in our society and what happens to the environment directly impacts our society and ultimately ourselves. Schools can play a major part in the efforts to go green by educating their students, integrating a recycling program in their school and donating old technology rather than throwing it in the trash. LessIsMore.org states that on average the cost recycling is 36% cheaper than the cost of trash collection. Since waste is up to 80% recyclable, schools can save lots of money by simply recycling. Teaching going green methods to kids at an early age cannot only help reduce the waste production in schools, but also reduce individual waste that is produce outside of school. There is only one world and it is our job to take care of it.