GovTech.com
By Brandon Paykamian
As K-12 schools across the U.S. spend billions in federal COVID-19 relief funds on devices and Internet access needed for digital learning, the question of how to train teachers to make the most out of new ed-tech tools is up to state and local authorities.
Noting a need for state support, the California state Legislature has proposed SB 767 to help steer district-level professional development efforts in the years to come. The state Assembly's Appropriations Committee is in the process of reviewing the bill, which aims to create a Digital Education Equity Program (DEEP) within the state Department of Education to administer a regional network of technical assistance for schools.
The bill would establish a new Office of Educational Technology and Digital Equity within the department to lead planning, and delegate to 11 regional groups made up of county education offices that would identify and address local ed-tech needs. The law would additionally require school districts to adopt a local education technology equity plan, and guidelines for digital inclusion, by 2024.
Sen. Josh Becker, who introduced the bill earlier this year, said many schools need guidance or support to train teachers how to use new technologies effectively in the classroom. This has only become more pressing as demand for remote and hybrid learning options increased during COVID-19. And while in-person classes resumed this year, no one is expecting classroom technologies to go back in the box.
“We all saw with the pandemic the importance of digital technology in education,” he said. “Schools and teachers were able to adapt quickly, and some weren’t. We had the pandemic really shining a spotlight on the need for better use of education technology and its increasing importance.”
Becker said that despite districts receiving federal and state funding for school technology needs and broadband access, many lack cohesive state-level support in the realm of professional development guidance.
“In California, we’re passing $6 billion for broadband,” he said. “That’s great to get that connectivity, but none of that provides tech support or training in schools on how to use technology effectively. That’s what this bill is all about – it’s really about technical support and training for teachers to use technology."