Giving Compass' Take:

• This Education Dive post explains how a rural, 4,300-student district in Pennsylvania leveled the edtech playing field and created a consistent experience for all teachers and students.

• The steps described are geared towards other schools that hope to replicate the model, but what would be some obstacles to success? How much is cost a factor, even when finding "creative financing" solutions?

• Here's why demand is on the rise for accessible edtech design.

Knowing that digital equity can help close the achievement gap and help prepare students for success in college and the workforce, our district has invested time and effort over the past few years into infusing uniform technology into our classrooms. Ultimately, our goal was to transform our rural district from one where teachers and students used disparate technology  dry erase boards in one room, traditional projectors in another — into one that helps all students and teachers thrive in a 21st century learning environment.

Here’s how we did it:

  1. Strive for a consistent experience across all classrooms
  2. Find creative financing solutions
  3. Focus on "wins," such as better teacher collaboration
  4. Find modern technology platforms that play well with others

Read the full article about achieving district-wide technology equality by Kevin Ghost at Education Dive.