Resources to help school systems, states, libraries, community-based organizations, and others in the K-12 sector advance digital equity

In 2024, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will announce new programs to help eligible entities such as schools and systems pursue activities to advance digital equity in their communities. Several organizations are collaborating to develop resources to help stakeholders in the K-12 sector prepare for these applications.

Advancing digital equity not only establishes conditions for educational equity but also improves community health and economic mobility. When the U.S. government passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, it included a $65 billion broadband package which includes the Digital Equity Act programs administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). This legislation pays particular attention to specific “covered” populations such as those who live in low-income communities, individuals with disabilities, English language learners, members of ethnic and racial minority groups, and individuals who reside in rural areas. Since the K-12 education sector serves these populations, it is crucial that K-12 leaders take advantage of these federal efforts to advance digital equity.

In 2024, the NTIA will announce new funding programs to help eligible entities such as K-12 schools and systems pursue activities to address digital equity in their communities. Several organizations and the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology are collaborating to host events as well as compile and share resources to help the education sector, public libraries, and community-based organizations prepare to take advantage of this new opportunity. The webinar and workshop series described below intends to help leaders at the state, local, and institutional levels build their awareness of the relevant policy context and learn why this issue is important to their stakeholders.

Webinar Series and Resources

To further support leaders in seeing themselves as a critical component of this national focus on digital equity, the 2-part webinar series will feature practitioners and experts to showcase diverse “possibility models” of successful and replicable strategies from around the country so that leaders can be inspired about initiatives they can implement in their own contexts to advance digital equity and potentially get funding from through the NTIA.

Advancing Digital Equity NTIA Digital Equity Grant Program – Part 1 (February 29, 2024)

Organized by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), this first webinar provided an overview of the upcoming Digital Equity Act grant programs and resources for potential applicants. Panelists shared the work they have already completed to advance digital equity for students in their schools.

• Webinar Resources: Slides | Recording

• Moderators and Panelists:

  • Kurt Kiefer, CCSSO

  • Ji Soo Song, Digital Equity Advisor- US Department of Education, Office of Educational Technology

  • Amalia Lopez, High School Principal, Alternative Education- Lindsay Unified School District

  • KC Merchant, Digital Equity & Inclusion Program Supervisor- Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

  • Bre Urness-Straight, Director of Educational Technology- Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

  • Carla Wade, CoSN

Advancing Digital Equity NTIA Digital Equity Grant Program – Part 2 (April 17, 2024)

In this webinar, an expert panel will share exciting partnership models between schools and trusted community anchor institutions and explore future partnership potential

• Webinar Resources: Recording

• Organizers: American Library Association and Common Sense Media

• Moderators and Panelists

  • Larra Clark, Deputy Director- American Library Association
  • Angela Craig, Executive Director- Charleston County Public Library
  • Christy James, Library Media Services Coordinator- Charleston County Public Library
  • Amanda Kordeliski, Director of Libraries and Instructional Technology- Norman Public Schools
  • Amina Fazlullah, Head of Tech Policy Advocacy- Common Sense
  • Noah Lenstra, Associate Professor of Library and Information Sciences- UNC-Greensboro
  • Megan McDermott, Associate Vice President of Digital Equity- ConnectALL

Digital Equity Champions for All Learners: Moving Forward (May 14, 2024)

Education Information Management Advisory Collaborative In-Person Workshop

The two-part webinar series will prepare participants for an in-person digital equity workshop (details TBD)- in May during the spring CCSSO Collaboratives: Education Information Management Advisory Collaborative (EIMAC) meeting. At that event, participants will have an opportunity to create/refine ideas, learn from peers, and develop critical relationships with other leaders in their states/regions.

Resources

If you know of any additional resources, please consider submitting them. This list will be updated as new resources emerge. (If you are unable to access the online form, please email the resource and a brief description to jin-soo.huh@learningaccelerator.org.)

• National Educational Technology Plan (US Department of Education)

• Advancing Digital Equity for All (US Department of Education)

• Stories of EdTech Innovation (US Department of Education)

• Digital Equity Guide (TLA)

Collaborators

The webinar series, workshop, and resources have resulted from the collaborative efforts of these organizations:

• Association of Educational Service Agencies (AESA) Networks

• American Library Association

• Common Sense Media

• Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO)

• The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN)

• Digital Promise

• EducationSuperHighway

• State Educational Technology Directors Association (SEDTA)

• The Learning Accelerator (TLA)

• US Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology