Comprehensive Report Explores Solutions for Equitable Tech Access and Sustainable Device Programs in Post-Pandemic Education System
Washington, D.C. (October 31, 2023) – The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) today released a comprehensive K-12 sustainability report entitled “Navigating Student Device 1:1 Sustainability: Challenges and Solutions in a Post-Pandemic Landscape.” Authored by Monet Massac, a recipient of The Blaschke Fund fellowship, the report delves into the challenges and solutions for sustaining 1:1 device programs in K-12 education.
The report takes an in-depth look at the critical issues faced by educational institutions as they work to ensure equitable access to technology and digital resources for students. It is broken into two parts — “Challenges to K-12 Sustainability” and “Sustainable Models” — offering valuable insights into the challenges presented by the expiration of federal funds, hidden costs associated with 1:1 programs, sustainable models for device procurement and the importance of repair systems within schools.
“The CoSN report emphasizes that 1:1 programs go beyond devices and form a larger ecosystem, encompassing professional development, IT support, cybersecurity, student data privacy and internet access,” said Diane Doersch, CoSN Chair. “It calls for a holistic approach to address the broader needs of educational institutions.”
Key highlights from the report include:
- Challenges to K-12 Sustainability: Examines the need to extend device lifespan, the fiscal challenges schools face when federal funding expires in 2024 and hidden costs associated with 1:1 programs.
- Sustainable Models: Explores whether devices should be considered operational or capital expenses and outlines key considerations for strategic planning and device procurement.
- Repair Models: Discusses three repair models for school tech programs and the benefits of engaging students in the repair process.
- Available Federal Funding (Beyond ESSER): Provides information on various federal funding sources targeting the enhancement of 1:1 digital programs in education.
The report reflects interviews with experienced educational leaders, CIOs, CTOs and representatives from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology. It also draws upon relevant webinars and articles, making it a valuable resource for policymakers, educators and administrators.
”It is hard to believe that it has been five years since the passing of my husband, Charles Blaschke,” said Kathy Hurley, CEO, Kathy Hurley Consulting and Former EVP, Pearson Foundation. “However, each year when the latest report from the Blaschke Fund is published, I’m overwhelmed with pride knowing that Charles would be honored to know that his legacy lives on through the research of stellar Blaschke Fellows, like Monet Massac. This latest report is exceptional and addresses the challenges faced by school districts to provide equity of access to reliable devices to ensure that students have the latest tools to help them achieve in school and in life.”
The complete report, “Navigating Student Device 1:1 Sustainability,” is available for download on the CoSN website at https://www.cosn.org/2023-blaschke-report-navigating-student-device-11-sustainability/.
About CoSN
CoSN is the premier professional association designed to meet the needs of K-12 EdTech leaders, their teams and other district leaders. CoSN provides thought leadership resources, community, best practices and advocacy tools to help edtech leaders succeed in the digital transformation. CoSN represents over 13 million students and continues to grow as a powerful and influential voice in K-12 education. CoSN.org
Blaschke Fellowship Fund
The Blaschke Fund was created in 2019 to support emerging leaders in education technology policy and advocacy. The memorial fund honors the late Charles Blaschke, who conducted pioneering research and analysis on the ever-changing U.S. education landscape for over 50 years. The Blaschke fellowship is designed to give graduate students in public policy and/or education an opportunity to work with CoSN on education policy projects. Priority is given to initiatives focused on national education technology issues, such as funding, legislation and/or policies. Policies could include ensuring digital equity, protecting privacy of education data, enabling accessibility or other key topics.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Makenzie Carlin, mcarlin@fratelli.com, (703) 967-6954