Beth Schmid
Headquarters, Washington, DC               September 17, 1998
(Phone:  202/358-1760)

NOTE TO EDITORS:  N98-58

STUDENTS GO BACK TO SCHOOL WITH NASA COMPUTERS

     Students at Kramer Middle School in Washington, DC, will show 
NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin how NASA-donated computers 
will be used in their classroom on Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 10:30 a.m. 
EDT.

     In just one year, NASA has donated over 36,000 excess 
computer items with an original cost of $75 million to public, 
private and parochial schools serving students in pre-kindergarten 
through 12th grade.  Working with the federal Computers for 
Learning program, established by Vice President Al Gore in 1997, 
Federal agencies can now streamline the transfer of excess 
computer equipment to those U.S. schools with the greatest need.

     A new website funded by the U.S. Department of Energy has 
made it even quicker and easier for schools to request and obtain 
free equipment that includes shipping by private companies.  The 
web address is:  www.computers.fed.gov

     "Vice President Gore's program gives deserving schools 
greater access to NASA's excess computer equipment," Goldin said.  
"These computers, what I call 'tools of the future,' will help 
ensure America's children have the skills they need to succeed in 
the information-intensive 21st Century."

     U.S schools or educational nonprofit organizations seeking 
additional information or assistance in accessing the computer 
upgrades should visit the website.  A toll-free Computers for 
Learning hotline -- 1-888/362-7870 -- is available from 1-5 p.m. 
EDT, Monday through Friday.

     The Computers for Learning program is part of President 
Clinton's Education Technology Initiative.  NASA's Education 
Division, working with schools like Kramer, is committed to 
increasing student interest in mathematics, science and 
technology.

Event:      NASA Administrator Goldin and students at Kramer 
            Middle School - 202/645-3520
Where:      1700 Q St., SE, Washington, DC; Principal, Cynthia 
             Poole-Gibson
When:       Tuesday, Sept. 22, 1998; 10:30 - 11 am EDT

                            -end-