Educational Software Industry Leaders Urge End of Education Act Filibuster

Legislation Critical To Improving Information Technology Curriculum for
U.S. Students

October 5, 1994 (Dallas, TX) -- Over sixty educational software publishers
have united in support of critical education authorization legislation,
the fate of which will determine the future of educational Technology in
schools. The bill, H.R. 6, is currently being stalled on the Senate floor
by a filibuster led by Jesse Helms (R-NC). In the opening session of the
Software Publishers Association's Annual Conference, representatives from
the nation's leading educational software companies unanimously agreed to
craft and sign a letter urging the Senate to pass the legislation without
further delay.

Legislation to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965 (ESEA), which passed the House by a vote of 262 to 132 last week is
being filibustered by Senator Helms over the issue of school prayer.

The legislation would create an unprecedented opportunity to integrate
technological innovations into the nation's elementary and secondary
schools. In particular, the Act provides new opportunities for teachers to
learn and utilize technology as a fundamental curriculum tool. Local
school districts are also provided with the resources necessary to assess
which technologies best meet their student's needs as well as the means to
access that technology.

The ESEA measure is the largest education bill that has been considered in
the 103rd Congress. The $13 billion authorization would be earmarked for a
broad range of education reforms including, special programs for
disadvantaged school children, professional development for teachers,
bilingual education, and instructional technology.

Jan Davidson, President of Davidson & Associates, Inc., a leading
educational software publisher said today, "If we're going to prepare our
children for the information-age workplace, we need to provide them with
the tools that allow them to succeed." And Ken Wasch, the Executive
Director of the Software Publishers Association added, "If the bill dies,
it will impair the future of the American education system. Hundreds of
thousands of U.S. students will lose the unique opportunity that
technology brings to learning."

The Software Publishers Association is the principal trade association for
the PC software industry. Its 1,100 members, range from industry leaders
to hundreds of small companies involved in the development and marketing
of consumer, education, and business software. SPA has offices in
Washington, D.C. and Paris, France.

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

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