This letter will be submitted to President Clinton along with the names of the institutions that have submitted the accompanying Commitment Form.

April 8, 2003

Dear President Clinton,

     Technology is an integral part of our children's reality today and the future they will create. Technology offers great potential for new and more powerful learning, but only if teachers are prepared to guide, shape, and lead this change. Today's teacher preparation programs play a major role in meeting this challenge. Working together, stakeholders can ensure that tomorrow's teachers are equipped to support the learning needs - and the ever-expanding dreams - of America's children.

     In less than a decade, the United States will need over 2.2 million new teachers to fill the nation's classrooms. Teachers of the new millennium will need a profound knowledge of their field, a thorough understanding of the learning process, a sincere commitment to nurturing a child's potential, and a love of learning that is shared with their students.

     These attributes alone aren't enough for teachers to prepare their students to succeed in the Digital Age. Teachers must be comfortable with technology as a tool to engage students and enhance their learning. If new teachers are ill prepared to use the instructional tools technology has made available, their professional education will be incomplete.

     Encouraged by members of Congress, the U.S. Secretary of Education, experts in the teacher education community, business, and industry the CEO Forum on Education and Technology has developed a self-assessment tool that can help colleges of education chart a new course to strengthen the teacher preparation programs.

     Therefore, we, the undersigned are committed to:

1. Completing the CEO Forum's STaR Chart self-assessment*
2. Setting a long-range goal of moving toward Target Tech status; and
3. Ensuring that every new teacher graduates from our institution prepared to use and integrate technology effectively into teaching and learning.

     We know that by assessing our current success, we will be positioned to move forward on our collective goal of ensuring the most qualified teachers for our children.

 
 
Please submit the Commitment Form by Friday, April 14, 2000, so that we may add your institution's name to this Commitment Letter being submitted to President Clinton demonstrating your dedication to improving teacher preparation.