Dive Brief:

• When districts decide to integrate digital coursework, having strong leadership and a consistent standards-based framework can help to ease the transition.
• The interoperability standards organization IMS Global Learning Consortium provides resources that can help schools develop such standards.
• School systems also need to consider accessibility and security measures that will protect both students of all ages and devices before launching into digitally-integrated learning.

Dive Insight:

According to District Administration, a hands-on approach to online or digitized coursework can help school leaders connect with both students and educators. With leadership that responds to concerns and presents avenues for questions and feedback, more teachers can be empowered to explain what's working and what's not in their classrooms. And by having entire school systems clearly understand and adhere to certain frameworks, it's easier to ensure that instruction will help students hit academic goals and targets. 

That said, some research has shown that educators don't place as much weight in the importance of digital strategies as CIOs do. In higher ed, faculty have expressed doubts over learning benefits and how students are able to access the tech devices required to use such platforms. The same issues related to access and equity need to be considered by K-12 schools.