To let everyone know, IMSA and not, this is, as Jason mentioned, extremely exciting.<br><br>Thanks to Larry and Steve out of MVCC for pointing this out as it emerged through the technology committee--I went ahead and started doing some of my own research after that.<br>
<br>My uncle, Jack Franks, is in the House. I contacted him about this bill, and he was so excited he is now one of the sponsors. Max McGee, the IMSA President and former State Superintendent of Education, is equally excited about this and has it on his radar. <br>
<br>We are planning some sort of presentation and/or follow-up in the near future, either with some of the sponsors or other interested parties. I think that we can work to all prepare the information available and make easily accessible to the legislators. <br>
<br>Thoughts?<br><br>Kevin<br><br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Mar 20, 2008 at 10:48 PM, Jason Rock <<a href="mailto:jrock@imsa.edu">jrock@imsa.edu</a>> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
Hi,<br>Mel brought some fairly recent Illinois legislation to my attention. The legislation creates, "<span>A low-cost laptop pilot
project whereby low-cost laptop computers are provided to each student,
teacher, and relevant administrator in a participating elementary
school and the use of open-source educational software and computer
skills training is implemented." If anyone wants to they can read more at <a href="http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=5000&GAID=9&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=35963&SessionID=51&GA=95&SpecSess=0" target="_blank">http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=5000&GAID=9&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=35963&SessionID=51&GA=95&SpecSess=0</a>. Personally I will be writing a letter to congressmen and women asking for their support of this bill. It would be great if you would join me, as the passing of this bill would obviously help advance the OLPC project.<br>
<br>Thanks,<br>Jason Rock<br></span>
<br>_______________________________________________<br>
OLPC-Chicago mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:OLPC-Chicago@lists.laptop.org">OLPC-Chicago@lists.laptop.org</a><br>
<a href="http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/olpc-chicago" target="_blank">http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/olpc-chicago</a><br>
<br></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>--Kevin Crews<br>(815)341-8119<br><a href="mailto:kcrews25@gmail.com">kcrews25@gmail.com</a>