1. Shaftesbury Society Luncheon John Locke Foundation Jamey Falkenbury, Lieutenant Governor’s Office Jeni Corn & Trip Stallings, Friday Institute Prepared for the NC State Board of Education-Department of Public Instruction

2. A Plan to Implement Legislative Actions

3. What is the Friday Institute? Advancing education through innovation in teaching, learning and leadership, the Friday Institute (FI) brings together students, teachers, researchers, policy-makers, educational professionals, and other community members to foster collaborations in improving education.

4. Digital-Age Teaching and Learning Advancement based on demonstrated mastery of the content and competency in applying what has been learned. Anywhere and anytime learning, inside and outside of schools, 24/7, with most learning blending face-to-face and online activities. Personalized learning and flexible resources optimized for each student. Student-centered instruction, combining large group, small group and individualized learning, with teachers serving as facilitators and coaches. Digital content providing interactive, flexible and easily updated educational resources. Assessments integrated into learning activities to provide ongoing information about students’ achievement that can be used to improve teaching and learning. Parent portals provide 24/7 access to their children’s assignments, grades, and records, as well as a means to communicate with teachers and administrators. Project-based and community-based learning activities connecting to students’ lives outside of school.

5. Guiding Principles 1.Focus on effective teaching and learning, enabled and enhanced by technology. 2.Leverage existing innovations, expertise, and resources from throughout NC. 3.Develop leadership capacity throughout the State. 4.Engage teachers, administrators, students, parents, business leaders and other stakeholders. 5.Focus on equity of educational opportunities for all students throughout NC. 6.Plan for long-term sustainability, continuous improvement, and educational return on investment.

6. Methodological Approach

7. Process and Outreach

8. Deep Dive Site Visits And several charter schools

9. Selected Findings Data Sources: NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey (2014) Annual Media and Technology Report (AMTR) (2015) NC Digital Learning Progress Rubric for Districts and Charter Schools (2015) Deep Dive District Visits (2014-15)

10. Technology Access Exceeds Training 2014 Teacher Working Conditions Data Teachers have sufficient access to instructional technology, including computers, printers, software and internet access. Teachers have sufficient training to fully utilize instructional technology.

11. 688 NC Schools have a 1:1 Initiative 2015 AMTR Results 91 LEAs have at least one 1:1 school 10 LEAs are 1:1 in all schools 14 LEAs have only a single 1:1 school  Growing connectivity demands

12. 16% of Schools have an Instructional Technology Facilitator 2015 AMTR Results

13. Student Home Internet Access Differs Dramatically Across Schools 2015 AMTR Results

14. Digital Learning Progress Rubric 2015 Digital Learning Progress Rubric

15. LEAs are at Different Places in their Progress Toward Digital Learning 2015 NC Digital Learning Progress Rubric Results

16. Key Elements on Which LEAs Rate Themselves Highest Key Element Average Key Element Score L3 - Communication & Collaboration 3.0 T1 - School Networks 2.9 D3 - Authentic Assessments 2.7 L6 - Policy 2.5 T2 - End-User Devices 2.5 Note: “Key element score” is the score each LEA rated itself on a single key element. The rubric is scored on a 4-point scale: “early” (1-1.9); “developing” (2-2.9); “advanced” (3-3.9); and “target” (4). All data are self-reported.

17. Key Elements on Which LEAs Rate Themselves Lowest Key Element Average Key Element Score L5 - Sustainability 1.9 P3 - Professional Development 1.9 T6 - Outside of School 1.9 T5 - Supporting Services 2.0 C1 - Educator Role 2.0 Note: “Key element score” is the score each LEA rated itself on a single key element. The rubric is scored on a 4-point scale: “early” (1-1.9); “developing” (2-2.9); “advanced” (3-3.9); and “target” (4). All data are self-reported.

18. 2014-15 Deep Dive District Visit Findings 1.Statewide digital learning supports need to be targeted to the local context, needs, and prior progress in each setting; there is not a “one-size-fits-all” approach. 2.Leading digital learning transitions presents new challenges for school and district leaders; many do not feel well-prepared for the challenges involved. 3.Home Base supports the digital learning transition in NC, and it is widely viewed as a potentially positive contribution to the work of schools and districts. Educators are now looking for improvements and updates to make the system more useable and effective in meeting their needs.

19. 4.Many teachers are now using OER and Internet resources in instruction, along with instructional materials that they are creating or that schools are purchasing. 5.North Carolina has become nationally recognized as a leader in bringing broadband Internet access to schools, as a direct result of the School Connectivity Initiative, which provides a fiber connection to virtually every school in the state. 6.Most LEAs and charter schools lack sustainable funding sources or strategies for full-scale digital learning initiatives, and almost all highlight funding to provide and maintain devices for all students as an area of great concern. 2014-15 Deep Dive District Visit Findings

20. Purpose of January 2015 Policy Brief Inform near-term (2015-17 Biennium) funding and policy decisions to move digital learning forward in NC. Provide recommendations to build the foundation for long- term success. Outline an ambitious plan that can be adjusted to fit within available funding.

21. Technology Infrastructure Expand the School Connectivity Initiative to support internal Wi-Fi infrastructure$12M-R Establish a collaborative procurement service Create multi-agency plan for addressing broadband access in rural communities Model Digital Learning Innovations Establish a grants program for innovative district-level digital learning models$24M-R Local Educator Leadership Capacity Support professional learning for digital learning leaders$5M-R High Quality Digital Education Resources Implement Home Base curriculum and learning management system 2.0$6M-R Expand access to digital education resources, focused on NC resources$10M-R Begin transition to digital education resource adoption process State and Regional Support Structures Strengthen regional support structures$4M-R State-level management of centralized functions$1M-R Total$62M-R Preliminary Recommendations (2015-17)

22. Technology InfrastructureH(*)/S(^) Budgets Expand the School Connectivity Initiative to support internal Wi-Fi infrastructureF(C16)*/ —^ Establish a collaborative procurement service8.14*/ —^ Create multi-agency plan for addressing broadband access in rural communities(Ofc. of Digital Infra.) Model Digital Learning Innovations Establish a grants program for innovative district-level digital learning models— Local Educator Leadership Capacity Support professional learning for digital learning leadersF(C17)*/ —^ High Quality Digital Education Resources Implement Home Base curriculum and learning management system 2.0— Expand access to digital education resources, focused on NC resources— Begin transition to digital education resource adoption process(Textbook Comm.) State and Regional Support Structures Strengthen regional support structuresF(C17)*/ —^ State-level management of centralized functions— Relationship to House & Senate Budgets

23. Final Comments NC is positioned to be a national leader in digital learning. There will be good long-term for the state in terms of educational outcomes, increased graduate rates, and workforce preparation. The Digital Learning Initiative will move things in the right direction, but changes will be ongoing. Successful implementation will require investments in infrastructure, digital content, and human capacity development.

24. NC Digital Learning Plan Resources http://ncdlplan.fi.ncsu.edu/ Jeni Corn, Director of Evaluation Programs, Friday Institute for Educational Innovation, NC State University, jocorn@ncsu.edu jocorn@ncsu.edu Trip Stallings, Director of Policy Research, Friday Institute for Educational Innovation, NC State University, dtstalli@ncsu.edu dtstalli@ncsu.edu Jamey Falkenbury, Director of Operations, Office of the Lieutenant Governor, jamey.falkenbury@nc.govjamey.falkenbury@nc.gov