SETDA Releases 'Navigating the Digital Shift 2019: Equitable Opportunities for All Learners'

Washington, D.C. – The shift to digital instructional materials has continued to accelerate since SETDA first reported on the journey in the 2015.  SETDA, the principal membership association of the U.S. state and territorial educational technology leaders, today announced the launch of the Navigating the Digital Shift 2019: Equitable Opportunities for All Learners report. Current data and trends, coupled with implementation exemplars provides valuable information for stakeholders charged with transforming learning in the digital age.

“Equity is the practice of leveling the playing field – of ensuring each student has what they need to achieve high standards,” stated Dr. Carmen I. Ayala, Illinois State Superintendent of Education. “Personalized instruction and supports lay at the heart of equity. Digital tools, coupled with high-quality professional learning, are critical so that teachers can practice equity in the classroom. I appreciate the Navigating the Digital Shift report for celebrating progress and promoting dialogue about the work still to be done,” Superintendent Ayala continued.

“In education, access and opportunities to utilize digital resources for learning provide students with the necessary skills and connections to be successful learners and contribute to their own futures.” stated Candice Dodson, Executive Director, SETDA. “In the report, SETDA shares how states are navigating this shift regarding instructional materials policies and practices, providing professional learning, supporting personalized learning, and ensuring essential conditions are in place.”

“In Navigating the Digital Shift, SETDA provides insight on key aspects of quality digital instructional materials that should be at the forefront of all evaluative processes,” shared Elizabeth James, Curricular Materials Coordinator, Idaho State Department of Education and President of the State Instructional Materials Review Association. “Equitable access to digital materials can make an enormous difference in what and how students learn.”

The Full Report and Document will be available here:  https://www.setda.org/priorities/digital-content/navigating-the-digital-shift2019/

Complementary to this work, SETDA’s 2019 State K12 Instructional Materials Leadership Trends Snapshot summarizes current state policies and practices in the selection and implementation of digital instructional materials. Additionally, stakeholders can access the Digital Instructional Materials Acquisition Policies for States (DMAPS), an online database providing details related to state and territory policies and practices for K12 instructional materials selection, implementation and procurement.

In addition, SETDA hosts the Essential Elements for Digital Content, a free online community to encourage dialogue about the shift to digital including the vetting process, accessibility, professional learning, OER, procurement, implementation and infrastructure.

Featured

  • Preparing for the Next Era of Healthcare Education, Innovation

    Across the country, public universities and community colleges are accelerating investments in healthcare education facilities as part of a broader strategy to address workforce shortages, modernize outdated infrastructure, and expand clinical training capacity. These projects, which are often located at the center of campus health and science districts, are no longer limited to traditional classrooms.

  • Florida SouthWestern State College, Skanska Partner for Humanities Hall Renovation

    Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) in Fort Myers, Fla., recently announced that it is partnering with construction firm Skanska to renovate the school’s Humanities Hall, according to a news release.

  • UNT Dallas Holds Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for $100M STEM Building

    The University of North Texas at Dallas in Dallas, Texas, recently celebrated the opening of its new, $100-million STEM Building, according to local news. The ceremony on Dec. 2 preceded the first day of classes in the facility on Jan. 12, 2026.

  • Los Angeles City College Breaks Ground on New Administration, Workforce Building

    Los Angeles City College (LACC) in Los Angeles, Calif., recently broke ground on a new $72-million administrative facility, according to a news release. The Cesar Chavez Administration and Workforce Building will stand four stories, cover 67,230 square feet, and play home to a wide variety of the school’s educational and administrative services.

Digital Edition