HR0082 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0082 LRB094 08387 CSA 38586 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, TECH 2005 is celebrating its 14th anniversary at the State Capitol Building in Springfield on May 19, 2005, at which students and teachers from nearly 104 schools throughout Illinois will demonstrate to State legislators and other visitors the vast number of ways that students are using technology to learn; and

WHEREAS, More than 5000 Illinois students of all ages have benefited from participating in TECH 2005 school technology demonstrations since 1991; and

WHEREAS, TECH 2005 is a statewide initiative representing every legislative district in Illinois and supported by a broad range of education and business organizations to increase awareness about classroom technology and the role it plays in preparing students for the workplace of their future; and

WHEREAS, Due to a commitment to improving technology education, Illinois advanced from 49th place in 1998 in educational technology to 1st place in the nation by 2002; and

WHEREAS, The need continues to provide professional development that empowers Illinois teachers to become 21st century learners who can prepare their students for the challenges of the 21st century; and

WHEREAS, Schools have experienced a 78% decrease in technology funding since 2002, making it difficult for schools to stay current and placing our students at risk; and

WHEREAS, Awareness and support must be increased for educational technology by raising its visibility in a positive context and by communicating that information fluency and 21st century skills are valuable and necessary for the future of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Administrators, teachers, and students encourage the State of Illinois to provide sufficient funding to support technology, telecommunications, and Internet access in order to accomplish the goals and objectives of the state educational technology plan, as well as district and school improvement efforts; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate TECH 2005 on its 14th anniversary and we encourage all citizens to visit their local school, observe classrooms, and thank their teachers for preparing the citizens of Illinois' future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we hereby declare May 19, 2005 as TECH 2005 Day in Illinois.