Florida gets the highest marks in the country for its digital learning policies, according to a report released Tuesday by an advocacy group.
Florida has typically gotten strong grades from Digital Learning Now in its annual report cards. This year, the state leapfrogged Utah to claim the top score, thanks in part to digital classrooms legislation that increased planning and funding for technology in the state’s public schools.
“Florida has a lot to be proud of, and it reflects a commitment not just to digital learning, but creating more options for kids,” John Bailey, a vice president at the Foundation for Excellence in Education and the director of the digital learning group, said in an interview.
Among the state’s policies that drew praise:
- A course access system that allows students to sign up for online classes – including Massive Open Online Courses in certain subjects – using an online course catalog. (The first round of approved courses is expected to be announced in the coming weeks).
- Policies that allow multiple providers to receive funding for virtual courses, and hold them accountable for their students’ performance.
- Rules that make most students eligible to take online courses, and require all students to take at least one before they graduate.
- A 2012 law that expanded students’ access to accelerated learning options.
Florida’s weaknesses in the report come in areas that faced renewed scrutiny this legislative session: Students’ access to computers and schools’ broadband infrastructure (both of which fall under the report’s “delivery” category).
Changes made last year helped Florida improve its grade in this area. New laws required districts to start using state textbook funding to pay for digital learning materials and the technology that enables them, and created the state’s digital classrooms program.
A second round of digital classrooms legislation, which among other things is aimed at avoiding future problems with the state’s computerized testing system, has been proposed this year but is now in limbo (like a number of other issues).
Bailey said the shift to computerized testing around the country is creating hard deadlines for states to build more connected classrooms, something they should be doing anyway. Some of the states that scored well for technology access have invested in statewide broadband networks for schools, which could be aided by a recent overhaul of the federal E-Rate program.
Some, like North Carolina, which received a similar score to Florida for broadband access, have enlisted universities, state agencies and private broadband companies to help in that task.
“I think you’re going to see more states explore statewide networks,” Bailey said. “The North Carolina model could be a great example for Florida.”
