Acknowledgements

Our deepest thanks go to the Washington State Legislature for funding the Digital Learning Commons. We're indebted to them for devoting funds to help bridge the digital divide across Washington and support schools and students in meeting their academic goals.

We appreciate Governor Gary Locke's leadership in initiating the task force process that led to the creation of the Digital Learning Commons and his unwavering support of the DLC.

We are grateful to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, and The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation for the significant support they have given to create the Digital Learning Commons. All have given generously of their time, wisdom, and resources.

While there have been many individuals and organizations that have been instrumental in launching the Digital Learning Commons, one in particular deserves special mention. The civic spirit of Preston Gates & Ellis is evident in their willingness to lend one of their partners, Marty Smith, to this effort. His leadership through the task force process and now as Chairman of the DLC Board of Directors has been an essential ingredient in the creation and development of the Digital Learning Commons.

We are appreciative of the able assistance and partnership of the Technology Alliance, without whom neither the Task Force nor the DLC would have been possible.

Lastly, thanks to the University of Washington, in particular to Educational Partnerships and Learning Technologies and Computing & Communications, for their work in setting up the beginning phase of the DLC.