Over the next decade, the United States will face ever increasing competition in the global economy. To an overwhelming extent, this competition will involve the mastery and application of new technologies in virtually every field of human endeavor. It will place particular emphasis on the need for heightened skills in mathematics and science. It is the responsibility of this nation?s educational enterprise ? including policymakers--to help secure our economic future by ensuring that our young people are adequately prepared to meet these challenges. Today, young people are not. This report explores why, and recommends steps to ensure that they will be. This document examines the nation and where it stands today, along with who the students are and what they are telling the nation. Included are success stories from schools that are leading the way and state initiatives. The explosion in E-Learning and Virtual Schools are discussed in this document. There is a section on the impact of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and a section on the national education technology plan, The Future Is Now. The following are appended: (1) Joint Federal Activities Promoting the Use of Technology in Education; (2) How This Plan Was Developed; (3) Acknowledgements; and (4) Endnotes. [Document prepared by the Office of Educational Technology. Rescinded: This document has been formally rescinded by the Department and remains available on the web for historical purposes only.]