SENATOR CARLA NELSON’S DIGITAL LEARNING BILL PASSES IN SENATE
St. Paul- The Minnesota State Senate passed a digital learning bill (SF 1528) Monday. The digital learning bill would provide teachers with a new tool in their 21st century toolbox: an online catalog of digital learning resources aligned to Minnesota standards, tied to student performance with actual ratings from students and teachers who’ve used the resources. It would also require the Online Learning Advisory Council (OLA) to review education statutes and rules to identify obstacles for digital learning. In addition, the bill allows compensatory funds to be used for digital resources. Senator Carla Nelson (R-Rochester), Vice Chair of the Senate Education Committee and chief author of the digital learning bill gave the following statement on its passage.
“Technology has the ability to transform education, just as it has dramatically transformed so many other areas of our lives. I’m thrilled that my colleagues in the Senate voted to empower educators to take advantage of the wealth of digital learning resources available as they develop their curriculums. My digital learning bill harnesses the power of new technology and innovation, creating a one-stop, online shop for teachers seeking out digital learning content that is aligned with Minnesota standards. Furthermore, my bill instructs the OLA Council to evaluate existing state rules and regulations and identify those that prevent teachers and students from accessing high quality digital learning tools,” said Senator Nelson. “Preparing our children to be successful in today’s complex, technological world is no small task. As a public school teacher, I know that. We can start today by allowing space for more innovation in our classrooms.”
Representative Pam Myhra (R-Burnsville) is carrying the companion bill (HF 2127) in the House where it is currently being processed by committees.