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Dear Colleague Letter: Leveraging Federal Funds for Teaching and Learning with Technology

Our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic will take more than just restoring the “pre-pandemic” education systems. For the field of educational technology, it will require us to consider the ways in which technology can advance equity while students keeping students safe. 

It will require innovative work of piloting, refining, and scaling technologies that make a meaningful impact on the holistic learning and development of students or the “whole learner.” These efforts must be built on a robust and streamlined infrastructure of devices, connectivity, capacity, and protections. Many schools and communities, particularly high-need schools and communities, lack the connectivity, resources, and support for teachers and leaders needed to implement digital learning strategies to improve student achievement. 

The 2023 Dear Colleague Letter: Leveraging Federal Funds for Teaching and Learning with Technology provides information to State, district, and eligible partnership grantees on core areas for maximizing investment in innovative technology-based learning strategies. 

Section 1 provides an overview and examples of Federal funds to support digital learning, including:

  1. improving and personalizing professional learning and other supports for educators;
  2. increasing access to high-quality digital content and resources for students;
  3. facilitating educator collaboration and communication; and
  4. providing devices for educators and students to access digital learning resources. 

Section 2 provides example questions to support the selection of high-quality educational technology strategies related to the critical areas of needs assessment, policy and infrastructure, alignment with instructional approach, professional learning, and evidence.