$135 MILLION TO SUPPORT TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM - The Clinton administration on Tuesday announced that it would provide $135 million in three types of grants to promote teacher technology training. The grants will be distributed to consortia composed of colleges, non-profit groups, school districts and state agencies. The three types of grants - capacity building, implementation, and catalyst - will be provided to consortia to develop and carry out teacher-training programs, and to consortia set up to develop larger programs designed to promote the development and certification of technology-savvy teachers. (Chronicle of Higher Education Online 08/26/99)

$70,000 TO BE DISTRIBUTED - The Community Technology Centers' Network and the Civil Rights Forum on Communications Policy will distribute $70,000 over the remainder of 1999 as part of a grant from the Kellogg Foundation's Managing Information with Rural America (MIRA) program. These Third Round Applications are due October 8, 1999. This grant program seeks to support low-income and other disenfranchised people in rural communities who have had some experience with computers and the Internet to educate their communities and advocate telecommunications policies that support technology equity and universal service. Projects may range from public policy advocacy and grassroots organizing, to research and analysis, to efforts that build the capacity of those who are not ordinarily involved in public policy. For further information see: http://www.ctcnet.org/mira (Edupage 27 Aug 99)

GORE ANNOUNCES $10 MILLION IN FEDERAL EDUCATION FUNDS - The new funds will expand access to education for adults and will be provided by the U.S. Department of Education's "Learning Anytime Anywhere Partnerships," (LAAP). Under LAAP, colleges, universities, companies and non-profit organizations join together to expand access to high-quality learning opportunities students can access "anytime, anywhere" for example through the Internet. LAAP is especially designed to help students in underserved geographic areas, who have limited access to the traditional college campus setting and who need more flexible education and training opportunities to keep pace with changes in the job market. Simultaneously, the program helps meet the current critical needs of business and industry. For more information see: www.ed.gov/PressReleases/08-1999/wh-0826.html