States and school districts would see new money for teacher-training, “personalized learning,” and other efforts under a $200 million budget proposal from President Obama.
Complications around student-data-privacy, frustrations with the K-12 procurement process, and the lure of the global marketplace are some key trends to watch in 2015.
A major infusion of cash into the E-rate program, coupled with policy changes, should spark innovation in the digital industry, FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel predicts.
A proposal by FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler would raise yearly funding for the E-rate program from $2.4 billion to $3.9 billion.
A broad coalition opposes the FCC’s new definition of “rural” in its E-rate modernization plan. That change results in a potential funding loss for many of the 1,500 schools and libraries in reclassified areas.
With $2 billion in funding in its first two years, the recently passed E-rate modernization order will be a boon to broadband providers, and a bust for other companies.
A new report says Internet filtering in school libraries is blocking access to important educational content and undermining students from low-income households.
Requests for E-rate funding are 79 percent higher for charter school buildings than traditional school buildings for 2014-15.
The Obama administration, in the latest phase of its “ConnectED” plan, has launched a website to direct K-12 schools to digital products offered by technology companies.
School districts are eyeing major upgrades to their broadband speeds through the federal E-rate program, according to an analysis by Funds for Learning, a consulting group.