SETDA Highlights from 2017
2017 was a great year for state leadership for educational technology. SETDA engaged members, affiliates, private sector partners, and partner organizations around federal and state advocacy efforts and provided national leadership for broadband, digital instructional materials, and data interoperability. Below are highlights from the work of 2017.
Advocacy
With a new federal administration in 2017, SETDA partnered with both ISTE and CoSN on advocacy efforts around educational technology. In May, 2017, the three organizations held an Ed Tech Policy and Advocacy Summit in Washington, DC, that included a congressional briefing, visits to the offices of members of Congress, and visits to the FCC and the US Department of Education. The event focused on advocacy around E-rate, Lifeline, funding for Title IV-a, and Student Data Privacy. At the October leadership summit, SETDA members also had the opportunity to visit members of congress to continue advocating for these important issues.
Broadband
As mentioned above, SETDA has been a strong advocate for state leaders for E-rate, Lifeline, and most recently, Net Neutrality. We have participated in coalitions such as EdLINC and SHLB to provide comments and feedback to the FCC on these vital issues. SETDA remains strongly committed to access to high quality broadband for all students.
In September 2017, SETDA and ENA released the report, State Wi-Fi Leadership for Fostering Digital Learning Ready K-12 Schools exploring the steps states are taking to address the wireless equity gaps that exist among their schools. Leaders from Illinois, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Utah outline the planning, policy, funding, and management approaches their state agencies or education technology leaders are adopting regarding Wi-Fi, and they share their recommendations for promoting and/or creating equitable access opportunities to high-quality Wi-Fi connectivity.
Digital Instructional Materials
2017 was both a year for updating current SETDA digital content resources and a time to launch new resources to support state and district leaders, policy makers and the private sector. SETDA’s suite of to digital instructional materials resources is provided via the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
- From Print to Digital: Guide to Quality Instructional Materials http://www-setda-org.www.setda.org SETDA’s From Print to Digital: Guide to Quality Instructional Materials, published in February of 2017, provides guidance to administrators and educators in the selection of instructional materials. The toolkit includes useful resources, guidance and examples that will help identify best practices when considering instructional materials including both core-instructional materials and supplemental resources
- State Procurement Case Studies: Spotlight on Digital Materials Acquisition https://www.setda.org/priorities/digital-content/procurement/ Published in October 2017, this publication highlights state level procurement case studies that share how states have effectively established and implemented policies for the procurement of high quality instructional materials and devices. As the process for the acquisition and implementation varies widely from state to state, the case studies provide detailed information about the process in each state. These in-depth studies of California, Indiana, Louisiana and Utah provide road maps for other states that are moving forward to implement digital learning materials policies and procedures.
- Digital Instructional Materials Acquisition Policies for States (DMAPS) www-setda-org.www.setda.org Updated in 2017, the goal of the Digital Instructional Materials Acquisition Policies for States (DMAPS) portal is to provide a clear picture of each state’s instructional materials policies and practices to help encourage increased implementation of digital learning. Educators, policy makers and private sector executives have the opportunity to learn about state policies and practices regarding the procurement and implementation of instructional materials, including the ability to access individual state profiles.
- Navigating the Digital Shift II:Implementing Digital Instructional Materials for Learningnhttps://www.setda.org/priorities/digital-content/navigating-the-digital-shiftii_2017/ This 2017 report, expands upon the 2015 Navigating the Digital Shift report with a focus on living and learning in the digital age. In this second publication, stakeholders will learn about states’ guidance and policies around the implementation of digital instructional materials, as well as best practices.
Interoperability
In 2017, SETDA engaged members, affiliates, and partners in discussions around data interoperability with a focus on how state leaders can leverage data transform teaching and learning. SETDA members participated in a working group at the SETDA Leadership Summit in October. In December, SETDA partnered with the Ed-Fi Alliance and the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation to bring nine state teams composed of both data and academic leaders along with private sector partners and organizations focused on data interoperability to have a focused discussion around the current successes and challenges of states around leveraging data for academic excellence. SETDA looks forward to publishing a report on Interoperability in 2018 and continuing to support states this area.