About The Idaho Educational Network (IEN)

Overview

Governor Otter's vision for the Idaho Education Network sets forth the goals for the use of information technology in Idaho, building upon Idaho's successes in using technology to expand access to services, reduce costs, increase efficiency, and improve public safety. He recognizes that high-speed broadband access and connectivity are vital for economic growth, education, global competitiveness, innovation and creativity. Specifically, ensuring high-speed broadband access for all Idaho students will prepare them for work and life in the 21st Century and will also accelerate our teachers’ ability to teach and our students' ability to learn.

Background

In Idaho, there is broad consensus on the need to improve broadband access at the school, district and state level in K-12 education, as evidenced by the recent introduction and passing by our State Legislature of House Bill No. 543-Idaho Education Network. Legislative directives stipulated in this bill, emphasize the urgency of making improvements. These include: the efforts of the Idaho Department of Education to implement a "longitudinal" data system, to track students throughout their time in the Idaho Education System; expansion of concurrent dual enrollment programs enabling students to take college courses while still in High School; upgrading current online assessment capabilities; addressing the critical need to recruit and retain new teachers, due to the expected change in the education workforce as a result of retirements, declining teacher education graduates, and low teacher salaries; and capitalizing on the tremendous quantity of untapped resources available online for teaching and learning coupled with the universal interest in increasing the competitiveness of Idaho's children both nationally and internationally.

While some Idaho schools and public libraries currently operate with adequate high speed internet connectivity (T1 connections or more), others operate with little or no high speed internet access. This disparity affects individual students, as those without access also must learn without modern learning tools. It also affects the state system, keeping it from implementing state-wide improvement tools like online assessments and other collective investments as they are forced to lower standards to include the lowest level capabilities.

Finally, despite the fact that Idaho has made significant strides in improving student-to-computer ratios, in large part thanks to JA and Kathryn Albertson Foundation technology funding contributions, this standard is no longer relevant in the modern, connected world. Instead, the relevance is derived from the ability of the students to connect, utilize and interact with online resources. These include streaming video, interactive learning websites, and virtual instructional tools. These learning resources are available to all "connected" students in the world and should be available to all Idaho students as well. Both the Governor and members of our State legislature recognize their responsibility to provide the students of Idaho with a world class educational environment.

E-Rate

IEN Technical Advisory Committee (IEN-TAC) MEMBERS:

  • Greg Zickau (Co-Chair), Office of the CIO
  • Jerry Reininger (Co-Chari), Meridian School District
  • Brady Kraft, IEN Technology Director
  • Randy Gaines, Idaho State University
  • Ryan Gravette, Idaho Digital Learning Academy
  • Ann Joslin, Idaho Commission for Libraries
  • Jerry Piper, Cambridge Telephone Co.

Schedule of Meetings for 2009

  • June 8 – Minutes and associated documents
  • June 25 – Minutes and associated documents
  • July 7 – Minutes to be approved
  • August 11 – meeting cancelled
  • September 1 – NEXT MEETING
  • October 14
  • November 3
  • December 2