Ted Richane
The Fratelli Group
202.822.9491
trichane@fratelli.com

Michelle Shirley, Director of Meetings
CoSN
866.267.8747 x131
michelle@cosn.org

Washington, DC (July 5, 2006) – The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) has opened the call for presentations for its 12th annual K-12 School Networking Conference. CoSN is accepting proposals for presentations that relate to the theme Bridging Individualized Learning and High Stakes Accountability until the August 1, 2006 deadline. The conference will take place March 28-30, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency Embarcadero Center in San Francisco, CA, and is expected to draw 1000 district, state and national education technology leaders.

“The 2007 CoSN conference promises to be time well-spent for visionary education leaders eager to seek out best practices and engage in dynamic discussions with peers from around the globe” said Katie Lovett, CIO for Fulton County Schools (GA), CoSN Chair-Elect, and Co-Chair of the 2007 conference. “From plenary sessions to break out sessions, speakers are strategically aligned to the needs of today’s technology leaders in K-12 education.”

The three-day meeting will afford participants an opportunity to share ideas and best practices for using new technologies to individualize learning. In addition, education leaders will discuss some of the key issues facing school decision-makers, including:

Visionary leadership: What role does it have in technology implementation?

Leadership skills: What’s essential for technology decision-makers to help lead accountability and learning?

Assessment and accountability: What is the role of the district-level technology leader in assuring accountability for results?

Individualizing student learning: How is technology being leveraged to advance student learning, and what can our parents and stakeholders expect?

The total cost of technology: How can school districts keep up with the challenge of ever-changing technologies and ever-shrinking budgets?

The use of data: Does data-based decision-making lead to learning transformation?

The role of students: What role do students have and are we really listening to their wants and needs?

Accessible technologies: Can accessible technologies help students learn better?

The impact of technology use: What is the Value of Investment?

Best practices from around the world: What can we learn from our international colleagues?

CoSN is seeking presentation submissions that are related to these subject areas and that focus on the implementation of emerging technologies to enhance learning and teaching in K-12 education. Submissions may also focus on strategies technologists can employ to lead the charge for introducing new technologies in schools, among other topics.

More information about the conference and submitting proposals can be found by visiting www.k12schoolnetworking.org.

About the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN)

The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) is the country’s premier voice in education technology leadership with a mission to serve as the national organization for K-12 technology leaders who use technology strategically to ultimately improve teaching and learning. CoSN provides products and services to support and nurture leadership development, advocacy, coalition building, and awareness of emerging technologies.

CoSN leadership initiatives include: Accessible Technologies for All Students (www.accessibletech4all.org); Cyber Security for the Digital District (www.securedistrict.org); Data-Driven Decision Making (www.3d2know.org); K-12 Open Technologies (www.k12opentech.org); Safeguarding the Wired Schoolhouse (www.safewiredschools.org); Taking Total Cost of Ownership to the Classroom (www.classroomtco.org); and the development of the Council of School District Chief Technology Officers (CTO Council).

CoSN’s membership includes a unique blend of education and technology leaders, policy makers, and influencers from the public and private sectors. Our audience includes key technology leaders (often called Chief Technology Officers—CTOs) in leading-edge states and districts, policy makers, private sector leaders, as well as those technology leaders who wish to accelerate their districts’ or states’ systemic technology use. Visit www.cosn.org or phone 866.267.8747 to find out more about CoSN’s programs and activities supporting leadership development to ensure that information technology has a direct and positive impact on student learning in elementary and secondary schools.