Actions necessary by state policy makers to ensure a high quality digital education for all students

Governors Jeb Bush and Bob Wise have released Digital Learning Now, a blueprint for the future of education. The report was the result of a rapid virtual policy development process involving 100 advisors, experts, educators and thought leaders in weekly web conferences. The 10 recommendations specifically outline actions necessary by state policy makers to ensure a high quality digital education for all students.

10 ELEMENTS OF HIGH QUALITY DIGITAL LEARNING

1. Student Eligibility: All students are digital learners.

Actions for lawmakers and policymakers:

• State ensures access to high quality digital content and online courses to all students.

• State ensures access to high quality digital content and online courses to students in K-12 at any time in their academic career.

2. Student Access: All students have access to high quality digital content and online courses.

Actions for lawmakers and policymakers:

• State does not restrict access to high quality digital content and online courses with policies such as class size ratios and caps on enrollment or budget.

• State does not restrict access to high quality digital content and online courses based on geography, such as school district, county, or state.

• State requires students take high quality online college-or career-prep courses to earn a high school diploma.

3. Personalized Learning: All students can customize their education using digital content through an approved provider.

Actions for lawmakers and policymakers:

• State allows students to take online classes full-time, part-time or by individual course.

• State allows students to enroll with multiple providers and blend online courses with onsite learning.

• State allows rolling enrollment year round.

• State does not limit the number credits earned online.

• State does not limit provider options for delivering instruction.

4. Advancement: Students progress based on demonstrated competency.

Actions for lawmakers and policymakers:

• State requires matriculation based on demonstrated competency.

• State does not have a seat-time requirement for matriculation.

• State provides assessments when students are ready to complete the course or unit.

5. Content: Digital content, instructional materials, and online and blended learning courses are high quality.

Actions for lawmakers and policymakers:

• State requires digital content and online and blended learning courses to be aligned with state standards or common core standards where applicable.

6. Instruction: Digital instruction and teachers are high quality.

Actions for lawmakers and policymakers:

• State provides alternative certification routes, including online instruction and performance-based certification.

• State provides certification reciprocity for online instructors certified by another state.

• State creates the opportunity for multi-location instruction.

• State encourages post-secondary institutions with teacher preparation programs to offer targeted digital instruction training.

• State ensures that teachers have professional development or training to better utilize technology and before teaching an online or blended learning course.

7. Providers: All students have access to multiple high quality providers.

Actions for lawmakers and policymakers:

• State has an open, transparent, expeditious approval process for digital learning providers.

• State provides students with access to multiple approved providers including public, private and nonprofit.

• States treat all approved education providers- public, chartered and private – equally.

• State provides all students with access to all approved providers.

• State has no administrative requirements that would unnecessarily limit participation of high quality providers (e.g. office location).

• State provides easy-to-understand information about digital learning, including programs, content, courses, tutors, and other digital resources, to students.

8. Assessment and Accountability: Student learning is the metric for evaluating the quality of content and instruction.

Actions for lawmakers and policymakers:

• State administers assessments digitally.

• State ensures a digital formative assessment system.

• State evaluates the quality of content and courses predominately based on student learning data.

• State evaluates the effectiveness of teachers based, in part, on student learning data.

• State holds schools and providers accountable for achievement and growth.

9. Funding: Funding creates incentives for performance, options and innovation.

Actions for lawmakers and policymakers:

• State funding model pays providers in installments that incentivize completion and achievement.

• State allows for digital content to be acquired through instructional material budgets and does not discourage digital content with print adoption practices.

• State funding allows customization of education including choice of providers.

10. Delivery: Infrastructure supports digital learning.

Actions for lawmakers and policymakers:

• State is replacing textbooks with digital content, including interactive and adaptive multimedia.

• State ensures high-speed broadband Internet access for public school teachers and students.

• State ensures all public school students and teachers have Internet access devices.

• State uses purchasing power to negotiate lower cost licenses and contracts for digital content and online courses.

• State ensures local and state data systems and related applications are updated and robust to inform longitudinal management decisions, accountability and instruction.