Over at The Hill, DLN Executive Director John Bailey argues that the needs of our current and future classrooms demand streamlined E-Rate program, attuned to the demands of 2013 rather than 1996. Building off the foundation of DLN’s E-Rate Policy Brief , this article continues the important conversation happening in the weeks leading up to the September 16th…
In Plain English: ME LD 1533
Summary LD 1533/SP580 (Open States or Maine Legislature) was vetoed on July 8 by Governor LePage. The bill established provisions to fund public charter schools that are authorized by the Maine Charter School Commission beginning in fiscal year 2014-15. These provisions would be tied to annual requirements over experience. Governor LePage vetoed this bill due…
19 Aug 2013
RAND Study: Blended Learning Works
By Nathan Martin August 16, 2013 The promise of digital learning is getting a bit more concrete. According to a new study from the Rand Corporation, blended learning helps students make significant gains in math scores. Financed by the Department of Education, the two year study looked at over 18,000 students from 147 schools and…
16 Aug 2013
In Plain English: ME LD 1057
An Act Related to Public Funding of Charter Schools Summary LD 1057/HP750 (LegiScan or Maine Legislature) was vetoed by Gov. LePage on July 8. The legislation established new provisions to fund public charter schools authorized by the Maine Charter School Commission. This would have ended the transfer of money from school districts to charters and…
16 Aug 2013
In Plain English: IA HF 215
Summary HF 215 (Iowa Legislature or Open States) introduces a range of new education reforms including teacher leadership, mentorship and professional development programs. It establishes a competency-based instruction task force and a competency-based education grant award. The bill also appropriates $1.5 million per year for administering the state online learning initiative. Competency-based Education Grant Program This…
15 Aug 2013
In Plain English: FL HB 7029
Summary HB 7029 (Open States or Florida Legislature) expands the market of online courses in Florida, including Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and removes limits on which students can register for online classes The legislation requires the Florida Department of Education to create an online course catalog for digital learning courses. This catalog must provide…
14 Aug 2013
In Plain English: CT HB 6358
Summary HB 6358/Public Act No. 13-108 (Connecticut Legislature or Open States) allows students to earn academic credit towards graduation through non-traditional methods, by demonstrating mastery based on competency and performance standards adopted by the State Board of Education. It also increases education funding for education. Legislative Analysis By law, a student may already earn non-traditional…
13 Aug 2013
Blended Learning Goes Mainstream
By Nathan Martin August 13, 2013 For classrooms in the not too distant future, “Blended Learning” will be a term relegated to Wikipedia pages on the history of education and the vernacular of those people who still reference 8-track players and “the World Wide Web.” Students and parents will expect that schools will be defined…
13 Aug 2013