ET3 evolved from three pressing needs:

A need for ongoing stakeholder exchange of information related to technology and telecommunication opportunities,

A need to harness technology and telecommunications as tools of transformation to ensure equity and excellence in education and training, and

A need to ensure equitable access to technology in homes, schools and communities across the country.

The Education Technology Think Tank, ET3, was established in June 1997 by a collaborative of business, civic and government sector representatives concerned with the conditions of the growing digital divide in America.  ET3 is an affiliate entity of the Minority Legislative Education Program, a 501(c) 3 educational organization.  ET3 works nation-wide to promote forums for information exchange and to catalyze private-public partnerships as the strategy for change at both the national and local level.

The new programmatic  entity was an outgrowth of several forums convened by Congressman Major Owens. The Congressman, and the participants who helped give birth to ET3, represented a broad cross section of stakeholders, identified with a core mission of harnessing technology for economic and educational empowerment in traditionally underserved communities.

Since its inception, ET3 has developed three programmatic initiatives that are being adopted in communities around the country:

1. NetGeneration of Youth, with affiliations in nineteen states and the District of Columbia, is committed to expanding the capacity of America's youth to assume leadership in the 21st Century

2. The TEC Watch Alliance, a comprehensive holistic community model that systematically mobilizes diverse stakeholders around technology partnerships to create both an Ecology of Community Renewal and Social Capital for Youth, their families, and community service providers.

3. The CIS TEC Watch Alliance Learning Community in New York that convenes regular meetings of the CTCs to promote collaboration, inquiry and problem solving around issues of technology integration and sustainability.

Going forward, ET3 will continue to expand technical assistance to communities interested in affiliation with NetGeneration of Youth, and to promote Technology Partnerships to further develop organizational capacity and achieve innovative program sustainability.  Indicative of ET3's determination to expand its regional/national  focus is the creation of a new thrust (the):  "No American School Left Behind Initiative." 

The Intiative will focus on community education and mobilization on School Modernization.  The education campaign will be facilitated through the No American School Left Behind website -- a clearinghouse and portal for cutting edge perspectives, issues and advocacy campaign information for 21st century
schools.