Election Impact on US Educational Technology Policy

This post is copied word-for-word, with permission, from Hilary Goldmann's Voices Carry blog.  Hilary is the Director for Government Affairs, ISTE. She wrote this blog post on Nov 7, 2012, the day after Election Day.

After all of the dollars spent, countless advertisements and robocalls, we woke up today to elected Executive and Legislative branches of government that in composition appear very similar to the one we had prior to the election.  President Obama was re-elected to a second term, Democrats retain control of the Senate while picking up at least one seat, and the House remains in Republican control with several races still too close to call.  Nonetheless, when the new Congress convenes in January, there will be some significant changes afoot as committee assignments are made and leadership positions are filled.  These changes in leadership and committee assignments will have a direct impact on education policy.

There are rumors that House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi may step down, which would certainly shake things up on the House side for Democrats and would have implications for the workings between the two sides of the aisle.  Term limits will be in effect for eight House Committee Chairs, including Vice Presidential Candidate Paul Ryan, Chair of the House Budget Committee (though it is expected that he will be granted a waiver and continue as the Chair of that powerful Committee).  Several Republican Senators will be term-limited as Committee Ranking Members. Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY) the Ranking Member of the Senate Health,Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee will likely be replaced by Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN). As with all elections, policymakers may choose to change committee assignments and serve on committees that are either perceived as more powerful or more in line with the needs of their district or state.  Therefore, it is likely that between retirements and shifting committee memberships we will have new leadership and members on many of the critical House and Senate committees with jurisdiction over education, broadband, funding, STEM and other important education policy areas.

Two  of education technology policy’s strongest advocates retired this year, Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) author of the Achievement Through Technology and Innovation Act, and Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) a leading advocate for the E-Rate program and education technology.  Judy Biggert (R-IL) who co-sponsored of the Achievement Through Technology and Innovation Act was defeated in her re-election bid.  We will miss their leadership and strong support of digital learning.

Thus, while leadership of the Executive and Legislative branches of government remain the same, (even Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has indicated his desire to remain for Obama’s second term), the inner workings of the government will change.

ISTE will continue our bi-partisan advocacy efforts to support a 21^st century education for ALL students that ensures all high school graduates are college and career ready.

The Move From Print to Digital Content

I read an article from the October 2011 issue of THE Journal, titled "Driving Digital Change."  As a recent grad of the Educational Policy Fellowship Program and the current chair of MACUL's Advocacy Committee, I found the article very interesting and relevant.

There are about a dozen states that have changed laws or provided initiatives to encourage the use of digital content in schools. The driving force for changing policies having to do with digital content is saving money in a tough economic climate.

The Indiana State Board of Education changed the definition of "textbook" to include digital content. The state allows textbook funds to be used to purchase technology.  California, Maryland, Virginia, Texas, and Maine (there may be others) support and fund the use of open educational resources, which is free or low cost materials with Creative Commmons licenses.

The impact of the policies of these states and how they are implemented can provide some logical guidelines for other states. Policy makers should consider some key ideas when considering a move from print to digital content:  Instructional materials need to be included with any reform package, implementation must be included as part of policy, and the traditional concept of "instructional materials" needs an update.

If states and districts could work with internet and business-savvy experts to create a more modern, interconnected  vision for content, then related areas, like professional development and assessment, might become more cost-effective and efficient. Then and only then will policy for instructional materials reach every district.

The market is wide open for companies to develop and bring mobile technology with digital content to schools in our nation.  The "winner" will be a concept that includes device, content, and an easy management system for delivering individualized content to meet the needs of all learners.