As state and local education leaders await word from Washington, D.C., on how much money the federal government will spend on education in 2004, a new survey from the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) paints a troubling picture of school technology funding at the state level.

SETDA's survey of budget data from 31 states reveals that the average budget for a state education technology office decreased from $13.9 million in 2002 to $10.4 million in 2003, with more cuts expected for 2004. More than half of the responding states say they've had to reduce their number of ed-tech office staff members during the last year as well.

This news isn't good for local school technology leaders, who themselves are being asked to do more than ever before with fewer resources at their disposal. Even worse, federal government spending isn't likely to make up the gap as Congress struggles to pass a 2004 education budget.

At press time, the omnibus appropriations bill approved by House members Nov. 8 had yet to be approved by the full Senate. Senate members have recessed until Jan. 20, when they are scheduled to resume debate over the bill.

The bill includes level funding ($695.5 million) for the Ed Tech Block Grant program, which is given to states to distribute to local school systems, half by formula and half competitively. But it would provide only $20.5 million for the federal Star Schools program, nearly $7 million less than 2003, and only $10 million for the Community Technology Centers program, or $22 million less than last year's budget. What's more, the $62.5 million Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology (PT3) program does not appear in the bill at all.

"As state funds become scarce or nonexistent, federal programs are critical to help us maintain and move forward in implementing instructional technology in schools," said Jayne Moore, director of instructional technology and school library media for the Maryland Department of Education.

The budget for Moore's department has suffered significant cuts this year, she said. Programs and positions have been cut across the board.

Although the state Office of Instructional Technology has not lost any positions, "there are many initiatives that we would like to implement but cannot because of limited funding," Moore said. "Our office has been mandated by the state legislature to take the lead in providing and or assisting local school systems to provide online courses for students and teachers; however, no funding has been provided for this."

In addition, the Technology in Maryland Schools Program, which was a five-year program to wire schools and provide them with access to technologies and professional development, has ended--and it appears that no new funding will exist to replace it.

Because Maryland has no significant funding from its state legislature to create systemic change through the use of technology, state education leaders are relying on partnerships formed through Maryland's share of the federal Ed Tech Block Grant to help with a variety of issues that will benefit the whole state, Moore said.