Gov. Mary Fallin said Monday that the Oklahoma Connect and Learn Initiative aims to provide every school with fiber optic connections.
"This technology also creates digital learning opportunities so that every student may have a personalized learning plan that may include upper level math and science classes, and concurrent enrollment courses," Fallin said.
Under a voluntary program, school districts would have their high-speed internet requirements assessed and plans would be developed to meet those needs.
A nonprofit company called EducationSuperHighway will assist in these efforts at no charge.
"At EducationSuperHighway, we have one mission: get more students online at speeds that can support digital learning," said Evan Marwell, founder and CEO of EducationSuperHighway.
As schools have greater internet connectivity and classrooms have more access to Wi-Fi, students can make greater use of digital devices and will have more opportunities for online, or distance learning, said state schools Superintendent Joy Hofmeister.
"In order for our state to really lift up education outcomes, we have to increase access, and this initiative is really about that competitiveness. That competitiveness needs to be mindful of the global competition, so our competitiveness needs to span oceans not just the Red River," she said.
©2016 The Oklahoman, distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
