DESCRIPTORS

In order to assess the current presence of computing technology in American schools, a national survey was conducted of elementary and secondary principals and technology coordinators in 655 public and private schools. Results are discussed in terms of: computer density; computer capacity; computer renewal; peripherals; computer location; technology-intensive schools; software; and Internet access, including type of access and Internet penetration. Distributions and disparities of technology presence indicators are then examined in terms of the following background categories: school level; public versus private schools; size of enrollment; percent of minority enrollment; student poverty (Chapter 1 eligible); community income (zip code based); metropolitan status; and region. The study concludes that the state of computing capacity for instruction in the nation's schools has improved dramatically in the past six years. Findings also indicate some major deficiencies. Most of the computers in schools do not have the capability to run the large variety of multimedi