Education

Leadership for Digital Transformation

Objective: Assessment and Review of the State Digital Equity Plan

Develop a comprehensive process for the assessment and review of the state’s digital equity plan that includes specific recommendations formulated to ensure the successful execution of the plan’s objectives for K-12, Higher Education, and Lifelong Education. (Skills-Driven State Community Of Practice 2022)

Requirements

• Establish a committee of individuals and community-based organizations that represent the cultural and socio-economic diversity within the state or territory to review the State Digital Equity Plan and make recommendations for updating it to include technology integration across all educational systems.
• Ensure that the plan pays special attention to marginalized/most disadvantaged populations, including low-income households and historically marginalized populations such as Black, Latino/e, immigrant and Tribal communities, seniors, and disabled populations.
• Ensure alignment with the objectives and milestones for technology integration specified in the BEAD and Digital Equity Plan for the state or territory, found here.
• Establish a process and cadence for maintaining or updating the State Digital Equity Plan.

Metrics

• Documentation of the State-level Strategic Priorities for Digital Equity for individuals in K-12, Higher Education and Lifelong Education
• Documentation of goals to increase digital equity for marginalized/most disadvantaged populations
• Evidence of strong Private-Public Partnerships in order to leverage all available resources
• Evidence of improved digital access and skill for marginalized/most disadvantaged population

Objective: Emerging Technology Taskforce

Track advancements in emerging technologies, including but not limited to artificial intelligence, and provide strategic advice to policymakers about their potential impact on the state’s economy, education, workforce, and public services.

Requirements

• Create a committee of academics, researchers, industry experts, and representatives from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, including private and public sector partners, to provide advice to policymakers on emerging technologies.
• Develop or adopt clear guidelines for the review and evaluation of new technologies, focusing on their potential impact and appropriate use in education and workforce development.
• Establish a continuous review process to monitor technological advancements and update policies and guidelines accordingly, ensuring they remain relevant and effective.

Metrics

• Publish quarterly and annual reports on the state of emerging technologies, detailing their potential economic, educational, and workforce impacts, and providing actionable recommendations for policymakers.
• Measure and report on the increase in equitable learning opportunities for students, including access to new technologies and improvements in educational outcomes.

Digital Ecosystem

Objective: Integrated Support Systems

Ensure statewide systems connect educational support with other family services. Any integration should include academic tutoring, health and human services such as mental health services, telehealth, and career counseling, accessible through a centralized online platform.

Requirements

• Evaluate the existing systems to ensure that they integrate various support services into a cohesive and user-friendly online platform.
• Leverage Public-Private Partnerships to develop and maintain a secure and user-centric online platform.
• Allocate Digital Navigators to provide training to residents on how to leverage all the tools and resources available online (The Digital Navigator Model 2024).

Metrics

• Successful development and launch of the integrated online platform for support system
• Significant increase in access to educational and family support services for learners and families, particularly in underserved areas

Objective: Sustainable Funding for Educational Resource Allocation

Establish a transparent process for short-term funding and long-term planning for the sustainable equitable distribution of appropriate technology and technology resources for educational purposes based on the specific needs of schools and districts. This should take into account factors such as socio-economic status, language barriers, existing resource gaps, and specific unique challenges of the population that the schools or districts serve.

Requirements

• Conduct comprehensive needs assessments to identify resource gaps and specific challenges faced by different schools and districts (Narechania 2023).
• Create a long-term plan for resource management to ensure continuous access to technology.
• Develop and implement a sustainable funding model to support ongoing technology needs.

Metrics

• Demonstrated alignment of resource distribution with the specific needs of the populations served
• High levels of satisfaction among stakeholders with the transparency and fairness of the resource allocation process
• Improvement in educational outcomes, particularly in schools and districts that previously lacked adequate technology resources

Consistent Access to Devices and Connectivity

Objective: Statewide Device Distribution Program

Establish a program that ensures every K-12 and higher-ed student has access to a personal device suitable for their educational needs. This program should include access to regular updates and maintenance protocols to keep devices functional and up-to-date.

Requirements

• Leverage Digital Navigator Programs to ensure that every K-12, higher education and lifelong learner has access to a personal device, the necessary skills to operate it, and the digital citizenship education to use it responsibly (The Digital Navigator Model 2024).
• Implement effective maintenance protocols to ensure devices remain functional and meet evolving educational technology standards.

Metrics

• Increased use of technology by learners at all levels for education and personal development
• Increased preparedness of students for the workforce due to improved access to and proficiency with technology

Objective: Budget for Educational Devices and Connectivity

Provide evergreen funding to educational institutions, especially in underserved areas, to upgrade their student learning devices and internet infrastructure, ensuring students are equipped with up-to-date devices and schools have high-speed, reliable connectivity to support student learning in school environments.

Requirements

• Develop sustainable funding models for ongoing technology upgrades in educational institutions.
• Appropriately allocate funds and support annually to underserved K-12 and higher education institutions in both urban and rural areas to procure the necessary digital devices and infrastructure for learning.

Metrics

• Successful establishment of a program that provides evergreen funding for educational devices and connectivity
• Improvement in educational outcomes, particularly in areas that previously lacked adequate technology and connectivity

Digital Competency

Objective: Statewide Digital Competency Standards for Students

Develop/adopt digital competency standards that ensure the integration of current educational technology in core-content instruction to empower students across K-12 and higher education to use technology for production, creation, and innovation.

Requirements

• Develop or adopt digital competency standards based on cutting-edge educational research and proven impact on learning outcomes.
• Develop a State-level Profile of a Learner/Graduate that requires proficiency in critical digital skills.
• Ensure alignment of the digital competency standards with the State’s Profile of a Learner/Graduate.

Metrics

• Successful development and/or adoption of a comprehensive digital curriculum across K-12, higher education and lifelong learning institutions (Reynolds, R., Aromi, J., McGowan, C., & Paris, B. 2022) (DRAW, 2021)
• Measurable increase in students proficiency in using technology not only for consumption but also for creation and innovation (DRAW, 2021)

Objective: Statewide Technology Professional Learning Standards for Educators

Develop/adopt new standards in degreed teacher-training programs, alternative certification programs, and ongoing professional development programs to elevate the role of pedagogical practices that leverage the use of technology for core-content instruction, addressing learner variability and personalized learning in K-12 institutions.

Requirements

• Implement well-defined K-12 professional learning standards that align with the State’s Digital Equity Plan for technology integration for inclusive and equitable education.
• Include clear guidelines for technology integration in K-12 education.
• Create systems for evaluating the effectiveness of the standards and professional learning programs.

Metrics

• Measurable improvement in educators’ skills and confidence in using technology for teaching and learning to meet the needs of their students
• Demonstrated positive impact on learners’ overall outcomes as a result of the new standards and training

Objective: Digital Citizenship and Media Literacy

Provide guidance for the integration of digital citizenship and media literacy standards in existing K-12, higher education, and lifelong curricula. This will empower learners to be responsible, ethical, and informed users of technology and media, capable of critically evaluating online information and media content.

Requirements

• Evaluate existing guidelines and develop new guidelines where necessary to ensure comprehensive standards for digital citizenship education and media literacy in K-12, higher education, and lifelong education programs.
• Integrate digital citizenship and media literacy standards into the existing curriculum for K-12, higher education, and lifelong learning programs.
• Create programs to engage guardians and the community in digital citizenship and media literacy education, providing them with resources and training to support learners at home.

Metrics

• Demonstrated improvement in students’ ability to critically evaluate online information and manage their digital footprints
• Reduction in incidents of cyberbullying and other negative online behaviors among students

Technology for Accessibility & Inclusion

Objective: Funding for Accessible Technology

Establish funding mechanisms to ensure equitable access to digital resources, tools, and devices such as screen readers, speech-to-text software, magnification tools, alternative input devices (eg., voice command), and specialized learning software for personalized learning and learner variability.

Requirements

• Develop sustainable funding model for schools and districts for the continuous provision of accessible technology devices to meet the needs of their unique student populations.
• Establish guidelines for learners to acquire accessible technology tools beyond what is available on traditional devices.

Metrics

• Appropriate allocation of funds to schools and districts to purchase accessible technology tools
• Improvement in educational outcomes for students with learning variability as a result of using accessible technology for a personalized learning experience