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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 12, 2016
Governor Mary Fallin Launches
Oklahoma Connect and Learn Initiative
Coordinated effort brings together state, national organizations
to focus on expanding broadband and digital learning opportunities for schools across
state
OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor
Mary Fallin today launched the Oklahoma Connect and Learn Initiative, a
coordinated effort to bring high-speed broadband and digital learning
opportunities to schools across the state. As
part of the initiative, Oklahoma is partnering with interested school districts
and telecommunications service providers to increase the number of schools with
fiber optic connections, improve the capacity and affordability of those
connections and ensure Oklahoma classrooms have Wi-Fi access to better
facilitate digital learning.
“I am
proud to establish the Oklahoma Connect and Learn Initiative,” said Fallin. “The
initiative is a voluntary program that works with schools to use existing
funding efficiently and effectively to maximize opportunities to provide high-speed
broadband and Wi-Fi access to students across Oklahoma.
“This
techonology also creates digital learning opportunities so that every student may
have a personalized learning plan that may include upper level math and science
classes and concurrent enrollment courses.”
The
Oklahoma Connect and Learn Initiative state team includes the governor’s office,
Oklahoma State Department of Education,
Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC), Oklahoma Office of Management and
Enterprise Services and a local school superintendent.
The
National Governors Association
Center for Best Practices and EducationSuperHighway, the nation’s leading non-profit
focused on upgrading Internet access in every public school classroom in
America, are providing technical assistance to the state.
“At
EducationSuperHighway, we have one mission: get more students online at speeds
that can support digital learning,” said Evan Marwell, founder and CEO of
EducationSuperHighway. “In our modern educational environment that is
imperative to ensuring students can truly access the tools and resources they
need to learn and grow. No student should ever miss out on an educational
opportunity because of where they go to school. That’s not fair to them, and
it’s not how we will build the strong and vibrant economy we need in the years
ahead.
“We
are thrilled to partner with the governor in this visionary effort. We are
going to get high-speed broadband into more Oklahoma schools, and it’s going to
make this great state even stronger. We congratulate Governor Fallin for her
leadership and can’t wait to get started.”
State
Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister said she is thrilled for
the Education Department to play a role in an initiative as critical to student
success as the Oklahoma Connect and Learn Initiative.
“Now
is the time to invest in our children’s future by providing them with the tools
they need to succeed in a 21st-century education,” said Hofmeister. “It is our
shared goal that all Oklahoma schoolchildren become actively engaged in a
connected, digital world while preparing for college and career. This
initiative is an important step forward in reaching that goal.”
Oklahoma
Corporation Commissioner Dana Murphy said this initiative will be a boon to
Oklahoma students.
“Access
to the digital superhighway is no longer a luxury. It’s a necessity,” said
Murphy. “The OCC is proud to do its part to make it a reality for Oklahoma’s
students.”
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Web: www.governor.ok.gov
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GovernorMaryFallin
Twitter: www.twitter.com/GovMaryFallin
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