Education

Officials in Lubbock Independent School District already had a system in place to provide devices to all of its students last year when COVID-19 school closures kicked the program into overdrive.

Few unbiased evaluations have been available for schools purchasing tech-based tools and curricula. That may change, but the challenge remains in getting these resources used effectively in classrooms.

By working with Central Community College on a series of scholarships aimed at locals, Loup Power District intends to help build a workforce that will stay in the area and fill technical jobs.

For years, the Dougherty County School System has been staffing classrooms virtually with teachers from other locations through Elevate K-12. Nationwide teacher shortages bode well for the longevity of the program.

The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is revisiting admissions practices to vocational schools as enrollment continues to grow faster than the number of available placements.

The Federal Communications Commission has announced rules for its new Emergency Connectivity Fund, which will distribute $7.17 billion announced earlier this year for school broadband and devices.

Having invested more than $100 million in the online-only community college Calbright, launched in 2019, the state of California found only 12 students had graduated after the first year, with nearly 400 dropping out.

Counting on schools resuming in-person this fall, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s budget proposal aims to hire teachers and counselors, fund transitional kindergarten and set up a college-savings program for low-income students.

The popularity of educational video games may warrant a committee to grade them for merit and usefulness, like the Entertainment Software Rating Board does for objectionable material like sex and violence.

To stem the loss of students looking for flexible or online learning options, the Vigo County School Corp. in Indiana wants to start a commercial, statewide program that could begin at the elementary level next year.

Researchers at the University of Texas in Austin aim to use blockchain technology to help homeless people access health care by verifying their identity and sharing it securely throughout a health services network.

Purdue Polytechnic Institute and UEGroup are preparing a new collaborative center for students and tech companies to design more user-friendly products so that evolving technology doesn’t leave people behind.

The rush to embrace new digital reading platforms and educational materials could have consequences for how students learn, as research shows people read faster but comprehend less with digital texts as opposed to print.

A cyber attack last week took down RPI’s email system, student information system and other network operations, prompting the school to cancel final examinations, papers and projects due Monday and Tuesday this week.

Lincoln Public Schools in Nebraska have approved the purchase of more than 600 Chromebooks for its remote learning program, which the district has no plans to continue beyond the 2021-2022 academic year.

As the state legislature begins negotiations over next year’s budget, educators and elected officials are discussing whether to keep remote learning as an option once everyone goes back to school in the fall.

In partnership with the nonprofit Niswonger Foundation, the state will provide free online Advanced Placement courses to about 5,000 students. Officials say the program will reduce barriers to AP enrollment.

The state House has passed a bill that would require school districts to post teaching materials online, with critics raising concerns about the time commitment and parents meddling in curriculums.