SPA Endorses $2 Billion White House Initiative to Bring Technology Into
America's Classrooms

WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 15, 1996 - The Software Publishers Association today
strongly endorsed President Bill Clinton's announcement of a new
Technology Literacy Challenge Fund, which will generate billions of
dollars worth of investment in school technology and stimulate greater
educational achievement through the end of the century.

The President will send legislation to Congress soon to establish a
$2-billion, five-year proposal to spur local and national investment in
full technology literacy by the year 2000. The plan's mainstay is grants
for states, which communities and public and private sector entities will
match. States are then free to use these funds in innovative ways to
integrate technology into education for the benefit of all school
children.

"This is exactly the kind of federal incentive that makes sense in the new
era of small government," said Ken Wasch, SPA president. "What's exciting
to us about this initiative is its ability to motivate parents, educators,
businesses and communities to raise funds locally that will be put to good
use within their own schools. This plan benefits every American with a
stake in a technologically literate society and a high-performing,
information-age workforce. And the best part is that the entire country is
eligible!"

SPA urges Congress to pass the Technology Literacy Challenge Fund swiftly
into law when it is introduced. "In one fell swoop President Clinton has
upped the ante on public dialogue and action and has focused the spotlight
directly on the benefits of technology as a tool for achieving real gains
in education," said David Byer, SPA education policy manager. "Today's
announcement signals a serious national commitment to moving the issues of
education and technology from the political periphery to the mainstream of
meaningful policy debate at all levels."

SPA also urges all education stakeholders and state policymakers to adopt
pro-education technology measures that build the right kind of foundation
for modern learning. "We cannot afford to lose another generation of
learners who graduate from school lacking the skills and abilities
necessary to succeed in our dynamic information-age economy," Wasch said.

SPA believes technology literacy is crucial in today's economy as companies
in every major sector, including high tech, strive for competitive
advantage using information driven by sophisticated technologies requiring
advanced knowledge and skills.

"In a world redrawn by NAFTA and GATT, where factors of intellect and
innovation dictate our competitive edge, understanding technology is
essential," Byer said. "It means the difference between winning and
losing. And, with at least 60 percent of all U.S. jobs requiring
proficiency in sophisticated technologies by the year 2000, now is the
time to act."

SPA believes a strong investment in technology literacy will boost U.S.
productivity substantially, lead to higher wages for all American workers
and offer greater opportunity for society's less fortunate. Independent
research is demonstrating that effective integration of technology into
education is having a stronger, more positive impact on achievement levels
among all student populations.

SPA's focus is on companies developing and publishing software applications
and interactive content. SPA is the leading trade association of the
desktop software industry, representing the leading publishers as well as
many start-up firms in the business, consumer and education markets. Its
1,200 members account for 90 percent of the sales of the U.S. packaged
software industry. SPA is an international organization with offices both
in the United States and Europe. SPA press releases are available through
CompuServe (GO:SPAFORUM), on SPA's Web site at http://www.spa.org or
through Fax-on-Demand at (800) 637-6823.

Software Publishers Association
1730 M St, Northwest, Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20036
202-452-1600,  Fax: 202-223-8756
 
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