Resources: North Carolina Digital Learning Plan

The School Connectivity Initiative launched in earnest with the publication of the Developing Regional Education Networks report in May 2006. In the ten years since the inception of the SCI program, NC public schools have procured nearly $800,000,000 in network services and infrastructure with State appropriations totaling $184,000,000 leveraged against over $600,000,000 in federal communications commission (FCC) E-rate discount funding. During the ten-year stretch, the telecommunications and computing markets have shifted dramatically, the regulatory environment has been in near constant flux, and the NC legislature has called for and invested in a digital transition in public schools. Perhaps most impressively, NC public schools Internet usage has grown from about 1000 Megabits per second (Mbps) in 2009 to over 98,000 Megabits per second at the writing of this report – with a similar growth forecast for the foreseeable future.

This North Carolina Digital Learning Plan has been developed to provide recommendations for state actions that will support K-12 schools as they become digital-age learning organizations. It was prepared for the North Carolina State Board of Education and Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) by the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation at NC State University, working in collaboration with educators, policymakers, and other stakeholders across the state.

North Carolina is committed to providing the personalized digital-age education K-12 students need to be successful in college, in careers, and as productive citizens. North Carolina has already made significant progress with statewide efforts, and many districts have digital learning initiatives well underway. However, much remains to be done to ensure that all students throughout the State have equitable access to high quality digital learning. Recent legislative actions that address preparing educators for digital learning, providing digital resources, and ensuring technology access across all schools, as well as the goals of the new State Board of Education Strategic Plan, are important steps in moving forward.

North Carolina is committed to providing the personalized digital-age education its K-12 students need to be successful in college, in careers, and as productive citizens. The transition to digital learning has already begun in North Carolina at the State, district, and school levels:

This document provides educators with background information and recommendations to inform their selection of digital content.

In this Friday Institute Education Brief, the authors break down current recommendations and distinct action steps to continue work on the six key areas of the North Carolina Digital Learning Plan.