Utah Schools Get a Low Grades for Computers Access in Classrooms

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) Utah schools scored a dismal C grade for use of computers and technology in the classroom. Deputy State Superintendent Ray Timothy says Utah once led the country in classroom technology, but funding lagged and schools were faced with needs more pressing than computers:

"Do I put food on the table or pay the light bill or put gas in the car? Those same issues we deal with in our individual budgets, the school districts have been faced with in their budgets," says Timothy."

An annual report by the trade magazine Education Week finds less than 30-percent of students in Utah have access to a computer in the classroom, compared to 50-percent nationally. Timothy says that should change next year, since state lawmakers allocated 50-million one-time dollars to improve classroom technology. The report also criticizes Utah for not including technology literacy as a pre-requisite for teacher licensure. Timothy says the state does demand technology skills of its teachers, but has not formalized the requirement.

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