Administrations at the federal, state and local levels are stressing the value of implementing technological solutions in schools, and the White House on Wednesday recognized Connecticut as a leader in this area. Ed Drapp, the superintendent of Connecticut's sixth school district, was one of the invitees to a summit on technology in the classroom, which Representative Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.) also attended.

The summit was part of the private-public ConnectED Initiative to bring broadband internet to all schools. The Federal Communications Commission has invested $2 billion to that end, and 10 companies have matched that total. Attendees took part in panel discussions about the benefits and challenges of implementing technology in education centers, and success stories, including Connecticut's, were highlighted.

In the state's sixth district, Wamogo Regional High School in Litchfield has created a so-called "makerspace" where students can experiment with technology, including a 3D printer. Esty, for her part, is a member of the United States House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, and stressed the importance of students learning to use technology that will be essential once they enter the job market.

"One of the things that we also need to do is to yank our schools into the 21st century when it comes to technology, and providing the tools and training that teachers need to use that technology to prepare all of our students for the competition that they're going to face globally," said President Barack Obama at the meeting.

Public officials nationwide are stressing the importance of providing students with the necessary tools to develop the STEM fields and keep the U.S. at the forefront of the technology world.