State leadership can have a powerful impact on broadband best practices in K-12 schools–and a new report highlights success stories and strong policies supporting broadband connectivity.
State K-12 Broadband Leadership: Driving Connectivity, Access and Student Success, the new report from SETDA, highlights how state leaders are instrumental in advocating for policies and policy decisions that focus on broadband networks, bandwidth capacity, Wi-Fi implementation, and off campus access for low-income families.
“In order to provide personalized learning experiences for students to best prepare them for college and careers, and to compete in a global economy, all schools need access to reliable, high-speed broadband,” says SETDA’s incoming Executive Director, Candice Dodson. “No two states approach broadband implementation the same, however, state leadership is essential to the process in implementing high speed broadband for all.”
Key elements in broadband best practices
1. State leadership practices: Each state is different because of various factors in play, including geography, state education agency practices, and state procurement laws. Some states have implemented a statewide network, while some states solicit different state agencies to collaborate with each other and partner with non-profit organizations. Other states collaborate with various state agencies or external organizations. Sometimes the state legislature plays an instrumental role in expanding access for schools. In other states, infrastructure programs include provisions to ensure classrooms have updated and reliable wi-fi.
For instance, in Arkansas, connectivity is the top aim–100 percent of the state’s K-12 school districts were connected to high speed broadband through the Arkansas Public School Computer Network.
- Could nearly half of cybersecurity leaders leave their roles by 2025? - March 21, 2023
- 5 innovative ways educators are using digital learning tools - March 15, 2023
- Use these 5 learner-centered models to inspire educators - March 10, 2023