Good morning, CASL members,
Please see the Commission’s official release on the Educational Software Hub, which should significantly reduce the direct and indirect costs of complying with our student data privacy
laws. Any questions, please reply or call!
Best,
Doug
State Launches New Educational Software Hub
Commission for Educational Technology solution offers efficiencies and insights for vendors and schools
(Hartford, CT) The Connecticut Commission for Educational Technology has launched a new Web site that supports best practices in the use of technology for the State’s public school districts. The Connecticut
Educational Software Hub also lets educators and district leaders search for software that complies with laws governing the use and protection of student data. To learn more, visit
The Hub provides a single point of reference for software developers to understand the State’s relevant laws and commit to a
Student Data Privacy Pledge. State Representative Gail Lavielle (R), Ranking Member of the General Assembly’s Education Committee, called the site “a powerful solution that addresses the intent of the law, which is to ensure
that operators and vendors working with Connecticut's school districts are compliant with student data privacy requirements.” The Hub should dramatically reduce the burden of compliance on districts and vendors alike and “fulfills our goal of protecting students’
privacy without restricting the creative use of technology in education,” added State Representative Cristin McCarthy Vahey (D), also of the Education Committee.
In a short time, the Hub has already gained the enthusiastic support of educators. Leaders of the state’s associations for boards of education, superintendents, and principals have issued a
joint statement urging software developers to utilize the Hub to demonstrate their commitment to student privacy. District leaders see the site as helping streamline the software review and vetting processes. “I am thrilled to have the Hub as a go-to resource
for administrators and teachers,” offered Susan Moore, Supervisor of Blended Learning in Meriden Public Schools. Sue Weber and Anthony Salvatore, President and Past President, respectively, of the Connecticut Educators Computer Association (CECA), called the
Hub “an ingenious platform that streamlines compliance efforts, shares insights about what works in the classroom, and promotes investments in educational technology that are sound and fiscally responsible.”
In addition to these features, the Hub helps schools share best practices and realize purchasing and operational efficiencies:
·
Product Library: Built on LearnPlatform, with more than 100,000 users nationwide and a list of more than 5,000 titles, searchable by subject, grade level, and technology platform.
·
Usage: Analytics that reflect actual use of software licenses to gauge impact and help control spend.
·
Product Report Cards: Ability to create and share rubric-based scorecards of products according to feature set, impact on student learning, and professional development resources.
·
Local, State, and National Community: Peer network of educators within and across school districts to share trusted feedback on the costs and instructional value of educational technology
products.
Visit the Connecticut Educational Software Hub at
http://StudentPrivacy.CT.gov.
For more information, contact Doug Casey at (860) 622-2224 or
doug.casey@ct.gov.
Douglas Casey
Executive Director
Commission for Educational Technology
State of Connecticut
55 Farmington Avenue
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 622-2224
