Enormous challenges for school technology leaders marked the year just ended--from shrinking state budgets to more stringent requirements for hiring teachers, educating students, and collecting and reporting school data under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).

Viruses, worms, and unsolicited commercial eMail (or spam) throttled school computer systems to an unprecedented extent. Digital copyright dilemmas cropped up on several fronts. And the largest single program for funding school technology--the eRate--was beset with problems of its own, culminating in a congressional probe into alleged instances of waste, fraud, and abuse.

The news wasn't all bad. One-to-one computing initiatives continued to gain momentum in states such as Maine, Michigan, and New Hampshire. But not even this development was free from the impact of state budget cuts, as Michigan's ambitious plan to provide laptop computers to all sixth-graders now appears headed for a 56-percent cutback.

In this special feature, the editors of eSchool New reveal their choices for the 10 most important school technology stories of 2003. How these stories continue to play out in this new year will have significant repercussions for school leaders nationwide.

10. Laptop learning gains momentum

It was a good year for proponents of one-to-one computing initiatives in schools. In March, a mid-year progress report on Maine's groundbreaking program to give all seventh graders in the state a laptop computer said the machines already were benefiting students. Inspired by Maine's success, leaders in Michigan and New Hampshire announced similar programs in those states. And, though Gov. Jennifer Granholm later announced her intent to cut $22 million in state funding from Michigan's program, the initiative still appears to be moving forward, as eSchool News reported last month.

Maine laptop program gets high marks in mid-year survey
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstory.cfm?ArticleID=4310

Gov. backs one-to-one computing in spite of looming budget deficit
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstory.cfm?ArticleID=4517

N.H. follows Maine's lead with school laptop plan
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstory.cfm?ArticleID=4628

HP to provide laptops to Michigan schools
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstory.cfm?ArticleID=4793

9. Digital copyright law challenges policy makers

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998, which prohibits the production and distribution of any product that circumvents the security features of digital media, was intended to prevent the illegal copying and distribution of electronic content. But civil libertarians and some education groups say this controversial law stifles academic research and gives publishers too tight a grip over online content. The past year brought several key legal challenges and interpretations of the law, with broad implications for both students and educators.