The Technology for Education Consortium (TEC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving K-12 edtech procurement, today at FETC 2017 launched the TEC Data Platform.
The TEC Data Platform was developed through a partnership with Lea(R)n, using LearnPlatform as the unified edtech management ecosystem that allows for the collection and analysis of district technology contracts. The platform will allow member districts to access price reports on the products they are considering for first-time purchase or renewal.
Districts will have access to easy-to-read graphs that provide insight into how other districts are buying and utilizing edtech. This transparency will allow districts to make better-informed decisions that improve efficiencies and increase cost savings for TEC districts.
“We’re thrilled to introduce the TEC Data Platform, which we believe will change the way districts buy technology,” said Hal Friedlander, co-founder and CEO of TEC. “This platform will significantly expand the intelligence and decision support we can provide district leaders.”
Currently, the platform’s library provides a sample report on iPads and Chromebooks. The library will grow to include pricing information on curriculum and assessment software products by the end of February.
To collect district pricing data, member districts share contract and pricing information that TEC analyzes–and fully anonymizes–to produce the national price reports.
“As a former CFO for schools, I understand how deeply budgets impact equitable access for America’s children,” said Karl Rectanus, co-founder and CEO of the company that built the underlying technology, LearnPlatform. “We are very excited that the TEC Data Platform will provide the relevant information and analysis, so TEC members–new and old, and of any size–are getting the jump on their 2017-18 budgets.”
Access to the TEC Data Platform is limited to member districts only. TEC currently partners with more than 50 member districts, representing 3.5 million K-12 students and approximately $300 million in edtech spending. TEC’s membership initiative is designed to transform district technology procurement into a more efficient, cost-effective use of taxpayer funds. Currently, districts can join TEC at no cost. To find out more about membership, reach out through TEC’s membership site or join TEC and Lea(R)n at FETC: Saving Big Money: How to Improve Efficiency, Transparency and Collaboration with National K-12 Purchasing Data January 26 4:20-5:00pm C622.
Material from a press release was used in this report.
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