This document presents witness testimony and supplemental materials from a Congressional hearing focused on the role of technology in promoting distance learning in the United States. Distance learning programs make educational resources available to citizens, regardless of socioeconomic status or geographic location, and enable citizens to remain competitive with each other and with other countries. Issues of cost and funding for distance learning are discussed. The document features an opening statement by Senator Conrad Burns, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space; and statements by Senator Ernest F. Hollings, Senator John D. Rockefeller IV, Senator J. James Exon, and Senator Larry Pressler. Testimony and prepared statements are included from the following witnesses: (1) Kimberly K. Obbink, director of Distance Learning and Instructional Telecommunications at Montana State University; (2) Janet K. Lewis, Ph.D., Dean of Continuing Education, University of South Dakota; (3) Henry Marockie, Ph.D., West Virginia State Superintendent of Schools; (4) Jessica Lambert, Distance Learning Student, Mount View High School, Welch, West Virginia; (5) Patrick Portway, founder and executive director, U.S. Distance Learning Association; (6) Linda G. Roberts, Ph.D., director, Office of Educational Technology, U.S. Department of Education; (7) Kenneth C. Elliott, assistant professor of psychology, Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of Maine at Augusta; (8) Shelly Weinstein, president and CEO, National Education Telecommunications Organization; (9) Pat Wright, senior vice president of Education, ETC, with Telecommunications, Inc.; (10) David W. Jupin, general manager of Network Systems, COMSAT RSI; (11) Carl E. Swearingen, president, Georgia BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc.; and (12) Sally M. Johnston, Ph.D., director, Western Cooperative for Educational Telecommunications, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. (SWC)

Focuses on the role of technology in promoting distance learning in the U.S. Includes statements from members of the Committee (Burns, Exon, Hollings, Rockefeller, and Pressler) as well as witnesses and prepared statements from: Univ. of Maine; Western Coop. for Educational Telecomm.; COMSTAT RSI; Mount View High School, Welch, WV; Univ. of S. D.; West VA State Superintendent of Schools; Montana State Univ.; U.S. Distance Learning Assoc.; Office of Educational technology, U.S. Dept. of Education; Georgia BellSouth Telecomm., Inc.; Nat. Educ. Telecomm. Org., Telecomm., Inc.; Columbia Communications Corp., and others.

This book brings together the literature in a field which may define the 21st century. Can economic and technological progress continue with educational systems which seem to answer to no one but themselves and which output graduates who can barely read and write and who have only the faintest clue how to use a map? This bibliography provides access via Title, Author and Subject Indexes. Contents: Educational Accountability; Educational Change; Educational Equalisation; Educational Leadership; Educational Planning; Educational Indicates.

The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. It is published daily when Congress is in session. The Congressional Record began publication in 1873. Debates for sessions prior to 1873 are recorded in The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States (1789-1824), the Register of Debates in Congress (1824-1837), and the Congressional Globe (1833-1873)