Diane Rezendes Khirallah

About the author: Diane Rezendes Khirallah is the senior editor of Information Week magazine.

Less than half of America's children have access to the Internet. The "digital divide" between technology "haves" and "have-nots" is a serious problem for the nation's schools, many of which cannot afford computer technology. The digital divide is also a serious concern for corporate America, which currently suffers from a shortage of information technology (IT) professionals. Some companies have programs designed to help disadvantaged schools implement computer-assisted education, but much more needs to be done in order to prepare America's youth for the IT workforce.

Information technology (IT) director Sue Becker wants more. She wants a bigger budget to bring her IT infrastructure up to capacity. She wants more bandwidth for her network. And she...