In The News

Florida schools are scrambling to be ready for new Common Core academic standards — and the new computer-based tests that go with them — by 2015.

Schools that serve low-income students -- including several area schools -- are eligible for a share of more than $87 million available to purchase new technology and software, the state Education Department said Tuesday.

Money from the sale of a 1960s-era house will help finance 21st-century technology in Howell Public Schools. "We're using it as seed money for the [technology] program," Superintendent Ron Wilson said.

During social studies class, eighth-grader Elliott Headden sketches timelines on his iPad 3. While in math class, he writes math problems using his finger on the iPad screen and shows his teacher the calculations and solutions. In science class Headden uses a search engine app to look up quick facts, such as the sugar content in bananas or the population of the world.

Westtown (Pa.) School held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday, January 25 to inaugurate a new Digital Media classroom. The space supports an innovative Digital Media course in the Art Department which is consistent with a schoolwide vision for STEAM education, adding art and design to the more traditional STEM constellation – science, technology, engineering, and math.

Darien parents urged the Board of Education not to cut spending for school technology at a public hearing Tuesday. "Technology is an integral part of the learning that goes on each day in our schools," said Susan Vogel, co-chair of the Council of Darien School Parents.

With some major names behind it as funders and advisors, the new nonprofit inBloom aims “to make personalized learning a reality for every U.S. student by improving the effectiveness, variety, and affordability of education technology.”

Last year saw 48 acquisitions in the edtech space, with the biggest buys understandably made by publishing juggernauts. GigaOM has a nice summary of these, which only account for a small slice of the 2,277 overall tech M&As tracked by CB Insights.

A $2 million campaign will try to get 21st-century technology into every classroom in the Iowa City school district. The Iowa City Community School District Foundation, a private nonprofit that raises money for the district, launched the public phase of its “EveryClassroom” campaign on Tuesday.

North Carolina lawmakers want to ensure students and teachers are prepared for a digital world. The House Education Committee approved three bills Tuesday related to school technology and Internet access.