BCPS digital curriculum receives national honor
S.T.A.T. recognized by Center for Digital Education
TOWSON, MD. – The signature digital initiative of Baltimore County Public Schools – S.T.A.T. (Students and Teachers Accessing Tomorrow) – has been selected for a national award from the Center for Digital Education.
The Digital Content and Curriculum Achievement Award will be presented to BCPS during the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) annual conference in Philadelphia on Monday, June 29.
“Team BCPS can be proud of the hard work of students, teachers, families, and administrators to make S.T.A.T. a successful example of how digital education, done the right way, can create effective, dynamic child-centered instruction,” said BCPS Superintendent Dr. S. Dallas Dance. “And without a doubt, much of its success comes from the review and assessment of national organizations such as the Center for Digital Education. We appreciate their support.”
The S.T.A.T. initiative was recognized by the Center in the K-12 Large District/School Category for school systems of more than 12,000 students. It was one of 11 programs and districts from nine states honored this year with Digital Content and Curriculum Achievement Awards.
The third annual awards program recognized school districts for their work with digital content, curriculum, and tools.
“It is clear that schools all over the country are moving from pilot projects to full-scale implementations. Districts are combining content created by their faculty with content curated from other organizations or purchased from private-sector curriculum providers in ways not truly realized in past years,” said Alan Cox, senior vice president for the Center for Digital Education. “This year’s honorees are taking the practice of education to new heights that show great promise for other districts to follow.”
Added BCPS Chief Academic Officer Verletta White, “S.T.A.T. continues to receive interest from across the nation as we begin to move into the second year of implementation. It is gratifying to see that leaders in education understand and appreciate what we are putting in place to ensure that Baltimore County’s students are well-equipped with the digital learning skills they will need in the 21st century.”
BCPS embarked this school year on transforming the state’s third-largest school system into a fully digital learning environment through a variety of initiatives collectively known as Students and Teachers Accessing Tomorrow, or S.T.A.T. The initiative this year included extensive teacher training, a “Lighthouse Schools” pilot that provided 1:1 digital devices for students in Grades 1-3, and the BCPS One information portal for students, parents, and educators.
The Center for Digital Education is a national research and advisory institute that specializes in K-12 and higher education technology trends, policy, and funding. It provides education and industry leaders with decision support and insight to help effectively incorporate new technologies in the 21st century. CDE is a division of e.Republic, the nation’s only media and research company focused exclusively on state and local government and education.