E-Rate restructuring could trigger an education revolution

The Federal Communications Commission recently started a proceeding to restructure the "E-rate" under which Washington provides funds to help schools connect to the Internet, which could trigger an education revolution by enormously accelerating the deployment of tablets and other digital tools into classrooms.

The changes will affect the families of America's 76 million primary and secondary students--and sooner than many might imagine. "This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to allow our education system to essentially leapfrog some of our competitor nations," says James Shelton, the acting Education Department deputy secretary.

The generational opportunity that Shelton and other advocates envision centers on the use of digital technology to create a more personalized learning environment. Reformers project a reimagined classroom in which all students are equipped with tablets or laptops that allow them to work at their own pace on lessons that adjust to their progress; use video links to take courses, such as advanced science lessons, only available at other schools; and receive real-time feedback from teachers who obtain reports on their performance through online connections with the students' devices.

National Journal, July 18, 2013