![\"Schools](\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/files\/2013\/07\/7-11-iPadCart.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nElle Moxley \/ StateImpact Indiana<\/p>\n
Schools are switching to mobile carts like this, loaded with iPads, and Wi-Fi hot spots for new online tests and high-tech lessons.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
But Lanoue doesn\u2019t have a smartboard — or the Internet — in his portable classroom.<\/p>\n
\u201cYouTube might not be the greatest thing to let a kid use unattended,” he said, “but for the teacher to use it there\u2019s a ton of resources on there.<\/p>\n
“It would help a lot to show performances; to show historic stuff would be great.\u201d<\/p>\n
Miami-Dade schools are finishing a $1.2 billion overhaul of schools across the district. Most now have fast wireless networks — as of the end this school year. Others will soon \u2013 like Oliver Hoover Elementary.<\/p>\n
Florida schools are in the middle of a high-tech transformation<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n <\/p>\n A new generation of online tests are coming out next year<\/a>. There\u2019s a requirement that students start using digital technology. And that\u2019s forcing schools to add more computers and classroom technology.<\/p>\n At 238 Miami-Dade schools, the district used federal E-rate grants to pay for the upgrades<\/a>.<\/p>\n E-rate is a little-known program \u2013 unless you\u2019re one of the people who reads the small print charges at the end of your phone bill. But for schools, it\u2019s crucial.<\/p>\n It\u2019s run by the Federal Communications Commission and helps schools and libraries buy high-speed Internet. But the program \u2013 like most technology \u2013 is now out of date.<\/p>\n That\u2019s because E-rate pays for wired broadband first — and then wireless — with any money left over.<\/p>\n \u201cThey did a remarkably good job of getting Internet to the buildings,” said Lindsey Tepe, researcher with the New American Foundation in D.C.<\/a><\/p>\n But schools that want to go wireless have been shut out from the $2.3 billion in recent years.<\/p>\n “Getting internal connectivity,” she said, “that is a roadblock because the program isn\u2019t funded at a high enough level to meet all those priority two requests.\u201d<\/p>\n But that may change.<\/p>\n The FCC could vote Friday<\/a> to add $2 billion to the program over the next two years. And wireless grants would no longer go to the back of the line.<\/p>\nRelated<\/h4>
Posts<\/h5>
Topics<\/h5>
Classroom 2.0: Why Florida Schools Are Going Digital<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n