The document discusses three major challenges facing K-12 education: declining state fiscal revenues, mounting teacher shortages, and increased global demands for skilled workers. It notes that state budgets have faced major cuts in recent years, including cuts to K-12 education. It also discusses the declining experience levels of teachers and increasing teacher shortages. Additionally, it outlines how the skills required of the global workforce are rising and changing. The document proposes that improving access to quality digital learning courses could help address these challenges by personalizing instruction, improving access to advanced courses, and making learning more relevant for students. It provides 10 elements of high quality digital learning that could help achieve this goal.

1. January 25, 2011 The State of Digital Learning: A National Perspective Bob Wise, President Alliance for Excellent Education

2. Challenges in America’s K-12 Education System Three Looming Crises: Declining State Fiscal Revenues Mounting Teacher Shortages Increased Global Demands for Skilled Workers

3. Challenge 1. Declining State Fiscal Revenues… 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Source: Boyd, Donald J. What Will Happen to State Budgets When the Money Runs Out? Issue brief. The Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government, 19 Feb. 2009. Web. 1 Oct. 2009. <http://www.rockinst.org/pdf/government_finance/2009-02-19-What_Will_Happen_to.pdf>.

4. In FY 2010, 39 states made mid-year budget cuts totaling $18.3 billion. 35 of those states cut K-12 education. The Fiscal Survey of the States, Fall 2010; National Association of State Budget Officers and the National Governors Association. Mid-Year Budget Cuts Demonstrate fiscal stress

5. Challenge 2: Mounting Teacher Shortages The nation faces a supply issue… Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Projections of Education Statistics to 2017 (NCES 2008-078) (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, September 2008).

6. Challenge 2: Mounting Teacher Shortages… There is a significant drop in experience in the classroom. In 1987-88 the typical teacher had 15 years of experience. Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Projections of Education Statistics to 2017 (NCES 2008-078) (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, September 2008); K. Smith, National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future. Presentation to Arkansas AACTE-NEA Meeting, May 14, 2009.

7. Challenge 2: Mounting Teacher Shortages… There is a significant drop in experience in the classroom. By 2007-08 the typical teacher had just 1 to 2 years of experience. Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Projections of Education Statistics to 2017 (NCES 2008-078) (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, September 2008); K. Smith, National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future. Presentation to Arkansas AACTE-NEA Meeting, May 14, 2009.

8. …and Finding the Right Teachers 88 qualified physics teachers  440 high schools

9. Challenge 3: Increased Global Demands for Skilled Workers… Tasks carried out by the American workforce 1960-2002 Percent change Source: Author, Levy, and Murnane 2003.

10. There Is Growing Demand For An Increasingly Educated Workforce Workforce job requirements, by education level Graduate degree Bachelor’s degree Associate’s degree Some college HS diploma HS dropouts 1973 1992 2007 2018 Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, December 2009

11. Opportunity…Provide Students With Access to Quality Learning Improve access to courses that prepare students for college Personalize instruction and make it more relevant

12. At one time these were cutting edge:

13. We need to go from this:

14. To this:

15. The Challenge for the Nation Three out of every ten students do not graduate from high school. About half of those who graduate are not college- and work-ready. Source: EPE 2007; Greene 2002

16. The Choice: Be boldly innovative Or badly irrelevant

18. Governor Bob Wise Alliance for Excellent Education www.all4ed.org

19. 10 Elements of High Quality Digital Learning

20. 1. Student Eligibility All students are digital learners.

21. 2. Student Access All students have access to high quality digital content and online courses.

22. 3.Personalized Learning All students can customize their education using digital content through an approved provider.

23. 4. Advancement Students progress based on demonstrated competency.

24. 5. Content Digital content, instructional materials, and online and blended learning courses are high quality.

25. 6. Instruction Digital instruction and online teachers are high quality.

26. 7. Providers All students have access to multiple high quality providers.

27. 8. Assessment andAccountability Student learning is the metric for evaluating the quality of content and instruction.

28. 9. Funding Funding creates incentives for performance, options and innovation.

29. 10. Delivery Infrastructure supports digital learning.

30. For More Information: Alliance for Excellent Education http://www.all4ed.org/ Foundation for Excellence in Education http://www.excelined.org/ Digital Learning Now! http://www.digitallearningnow.com