Category: In the News

Cooperative Purchasing in K-12: What are the Best Co-ops for Maximizing Savings?

Posted on | by Hope

Cooperative Purchasing Agencies (Co-ops) are organizations that combine the purchasing power of multiple entities to negotiate better pricing and terms for goods and services.

By: Ymkje Wideman-van der Laan, for ed-spaces.com

Cooperative Purchasing Agencies (Co-ops) are becoming indispensable for procurement professionals in school districts. By leveraging collective buying power, co-ops streamline procurement processes, secure significant cost savings, and provide access to a wide range of products and services, ultimately helping school districts reach their financial and operational goals. School districts today are grappling with tight budgets, increased demand for transparency, and the need for more efficient procurement practices. Recent trends indicate a growing reliance on digital tools and centralized purchasing to cut costs and improve operational efficiency.

What Are Cooperative Purchasing Agencies?

Cooperative Purchasing Agencies (Co-ops) are organizations that combine the purchasing power of multiple entities to negotiate better pricing and terms for goods and services. For example, a co-op might pool the purchasing needs of several school districts to obtain discounts on classroom supplies or technology equipment that would be unattainable individually. The concept of cooperative purchasing dates back to the early 20th century, when local governments and educational institutions began forming alliances to optimize their procurement processes and save taxpayer dollars. Today, co-ops operate at regional, state, and national levels, providing comprehensive procurement solutions to a diverse range of public sector organizations.

Benefits of Using Cooperative Purchasing Agencies

One of the primary advantages of co-ops is cost savings. By using the collective buying power of many members, co-ops can secure significant discounts that individual school districts might not achieve independently. Co-ops offer time efficiency by streamlining procurement processes and reducing the administrative burden on school staff.

According to the latest reports, the Association of Educational Purchasing Agencies (AEPA) saw annual purchases exceed $1 billion in 2022, reflecting a significant increase from previous years. This growth underscores the rising reliance on co-ops for cost-effective procurement solutions. Similarly, Sourcewell, another leading co-op, facilitated over $4 billion in cooperative purchasing contracts in 2022, marking a 15% year-over-year increase. These figures highlight the significant financial impact of co-ops in helping school districts and other public entities maximize savings and streamline procurement processes​.
Access to a wide range of products and services is another benefit, as co-ops maintain extensive catalogs of pre-vetted suppliers. This simplifies vendor selection and ensures compliance with legal and policy requirements. Additionally, Co-ops provide valuable expertise and support, helping procurement professionals navigate complex purchasing decisions.
Another significant benefit of using co-ops is the ability to “piggyback” on existing contracts. This process allows school districts to leverage contracts that have already been negotiated by other entities, saving time and resources that would otherwise be spent on the procurement process. Piggybacking ensures that districts can take advantage of competitively bid contracts that meet stringent standards and regulations, thereby enhancing efficiency and cost-effectiveness. This approach fosters collaborative purchasing, which can lead to better pricing and terms due to the aggregated demand from multiple districts. By utilizing piggybacking through co-ops, school districts can achieve greater purchasing power and streamlined procurement processes, ultimately benefiting their overall operational efficiency.
While co-ops offer significant benefits, there are also potential drawbacks. One limitation is the potential lack of flexibility; school districts may be constrained by the terms and conditions negotiated by the CPA, which might not perfectly align with their specific needs. Also, smaller vendors might be excluded from CPA contracts, limiting the diversity of suppliers. There is also the risk of dependency on a limited number of large contracts, which could reduce competitive pricing in the long term. Understanding these limitations is crucial for school districts to make informed decisions about their procurement strategies.

Top Six Co-ops for School Districts

Below are the top 6 Co-ops that stand out for their exceptional services and benefits, each offering a comprehensive range of products and services tailored to the needs of school districts. Case studies from districts utilizing these co-ops highlight their positive impact on procurement efficiency and cost savings.

1. The Association of Educational Purchasing Agencies (AEPA)

AEPA is one of the largest group buyers in K-12 education, mentioned by 71% of executives as an increasingly important player. AEPA includes Education Service Agencies (ESAs) from 26 states, solicits bids, and invites vendors to respond. Once AEPA awards a contract, individual districts in member states can purchase from the vendor at the negotiated price. Vendors can register directly on the association’s site. Each member state has one representative on the AEPA board, and member states must participate in 60% of the Request For Purchase (RFP) contract awards to remain active members. In 2022, annual purchases through AEPA exceeded $1 billion. AEPA emphasizes compliance with state purchasing laws and aims to be “nationally bid but locally awarded.”

2. Omnia Partners (formerly National IPA)

Omnia Partners is a leading national cooperative purchasing organization, previously known as National IPA. It offers extensive procurement solutions across public and private sectors, including educational institutions. Omnia Partners combines the purchasing power of its members to achieve significant cost savings and streamline the procurement process. With a vast portfolio of competitively solicited contracts, it provides a wide range of products and services tailored to meet the needs of school districts, improving procurement efficiency and reducing costs.

“Utilizing Omnia Partners cooperative contracts to supply and furnish the new Havre de Grace Middle/High School saved time and money… They also provide a great economy of scale to achieve greater discounts than we could leverage on our own.”

– Sara Rowe, Procurement Agent, Harford County Public Schools, Marylandi

3. Sourcewell

Sourcewell is a service cooperative that assists government, education, and nonprofit entities with cooperative purchasing. By leveraging its members’ collective purchasing power, Sourcewell offers a wide array of nationally solicited contracts to secure competitive pricing and terms. It simplifies the procurement process for school districts by providing access to pre-negotiated contracts for various products and services, from office supplies to large-scale infrastructure projects. Sourcewell’s commitment to transparency and compliance with procurement standards guarantees that school districts benefit from both cost savings and quality products.

4. BuyBoard

BuyBoard was formed by the National School Boards Association and several state school board associations to streamline the buying process for schools and other public entities. It is governed by an 11-member board representing members from schools, cities, and counties. Members of BuyBoard include over 4,600 entities in Texas and 600 national entities. Texas members receive an annual rebate based on participation. BuyBoard uses a multiple award schedule with over 1,100 vendor contracts and annual sales of $860 million.

“BuyBoard allows local educational agencies to save resources and money by consolidating a nearly limitless supply of goods and services under one roof and offering discounts through group purchasing power. Every time a California school district uses BuyBoard, they will achieve time and cost efficiencies that can be redirected toward student support and services.” – California School Boards Association (CSBA) CEO & Executive Director Vernon M. Billyi

5. The Cooperative Purchasing Network (TCPN)

Originating from the Region 4 service agency in Houston, Texas, TCPN is one of the largest co-ops in the country, with over $1.1 billion in sales. This co-op competitively solicits proposals and awards contracts through multiple award schedules in over 68 contract categories. TCPN partners with regional cooperatives under revenue share agreements, increasing their reach and purchasing power across various regions.

6. E&I Cooperative Services

This member-owned, not-for-profit sourcing cooperative provides expertise, solutions, and services to the educational community and related institutions. Established in 1934, E&I had nearly $3 billion in aggregate member spending in 2017. Members can access a diverse portfolio of competitively awarded contracts, electronic procurement solutions, and consulting services. Leveraging the knowledge and expertise of more than 4,500 member institutions, E&I helps members reduce costs and optimize supply chain efficiencies. The cooperative’s member-driven competitive solicitation process meets generally accepted procurement standards nationwide.

“I was looking for a cooperative that could be a one-stop-shop and E&I delivers. As our sole partner in business, the relationship continues to grow and prosper. We are so thankful to be a part of this large network” – Hotchkiss School, Lakeville, Connecticutii

How Cooperative Purchasing Agencies Help Procurement Professionals

Co-ops play a crucial role in simplifying the procurement process for school districts. By handling vendor negotiations and contract management, Co-ops reduce the administrative load on procurement professionals. This allows them to focus on strategic planning and improving procurement practices. Co-ops offer training and resources to boost the skills of procurement staff, ensuring they stay updated on best practices and regulatory requirements.

Steps to Implement Cooperative Purchasing in School Districts

For school districts looking to implement cooperative purchasing, the first step is to evaluate their current procurement practices. Researching and selecting the right CPA is crucial, followed by integrating CPA resources into the procurement workflow. Continuous monitoring and evaluation will help districts measure the impact and make necessary adjustments.

Procurement officers can follow these steps to implement cooperative purchasing:

1. Evaluate Current Procurement Practices:

Conduct a comprehensive review of existing procurement methods, identifying areas where cost savings and efficiency improvements are needed.

2. Research Cooperative Purchasing Agencies (Co-ops):

Investigate different Co-ops and their offerings by assessing their reputation, compliance with state laws, and contract options. Consider case studies or testimonials from other school districts to inform your decision.

3. Select the Right CPA:

Compare the services, product ranges, and fee structures of various Co-ops, choosing one that best aligns with the district’s specific needs and goals.

4. Integrate CPA Resources into the Procurement Workflow:

Register the school district with the selected CPA, train procurement staff on using CPA tools and resources, and update procurement policies and procedures to include CPA options.

5. Negotiate and Award Contracts:

Work with the CPA to solicit bids and award contracts, ensuring all contracts comply with local and state procurement regulations.

6. Monitor and Evaluate Performance:

Continuously track the cost savings and efficiency gains achieved through cooperative purchasing, gather stakeholder feedback to identify any issues or areas for improvement, and adjust strategies and processes based on the findings.

7. Maintain Communication with the CPA:

Regularly communicate with the CPA to stay updated on new contracts and opportunities and participate in CPA meetings and events to share experiences and learn best practices.

Co-ops are game changers in the procurement landscape for school districts. They offer substantial cost savings, streamlined operations, and access to a broad spectrum of pre-vetted suppliers. Leveraging Co-ops is a strategic move that maximizes resources and enhances procurement efficiency. By assessing current practices and selecting the right Co-ops, school districts can seamlessly integrate these resources into their workflow, leading to significant improvements in cost management and operational effectiveness. Harnessing the power of Co-ops not only optimizes procurement processes but also allows school districts to allocate their resources more effectively, ultimately enhancing educational outcomes.

Endnotes:
i https://www.omniapartners.com/industries/k-12-education
ii https://www.eandi.org/

The Illinois Learning Technology Purchase Program (ILTPP) partners with the Association of Educational Purchasing Agencies (AEPA) to provide K-12 schools exclusive access to high-quality, cost-effective educational technology solutions. This collaboration ensures that districts across Illinois benefit from streamlined purchasing processes and competitive pricing.

Mackin Announces Acquisition of Booksource, A National Book Provider for Classroom Libraries

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BURNSVILLE, MN, October 10, 2024 – Mackin, a leading provider of PK-12 print and digital titles, high-quality maker educational products, and classroom curriculum materials, is pleased to announce it has acquired Booksource, a leading provider of books for classroom libraries and school curriculum.

The two industry leaders reached this agreement after long and careful deliberation. The decision to sell the 50-year-old company to the highly regarded Mackin made sense for the owners of Booksource, as the two companies have built their businesses on a shared philosophy of being a well-respected, single-source solution for the evolving needs of educators and librarians around the world. Together, the two companies have nearly 100 years of combined service in this field.

“Handing the reins of our St. Louis operations to another family-owned business and industry leader like Mackin was an easy decision based on their continuing success and the stellar reputation they have in the education market,” said Neil Jaffe, owner of Booksource. “It’s a win-win-win decision for our customers, our employees and the Jaffe family that we are proud to have made.”

“For many decades, Booksource and Mackin have grown steadily and are widely seen as the most trusted suppliers of educational resources for schools across the map. To carry the torch that Booksource and the Jaffe family have created, is an honor for Mackin and the Heise family as we continue to serve K-12 educators worldwide.”

About Mackin

For 40 years, Mackin has provided library and classroom materials for grades PK-12. Known the world over for exemplary service and a stringent attention to detail, Mackin has access to more than 18,000 publishers and a selection of over 4.2 million print and digital titles. MackinVIA, the free, state-of-the-art digital content management system, offers millions of digital titles including eBooks, audiobooks, read-alongs, databases, and videos. To date, this highly sought-after digital content management system has been awarded 24 distinctive national honors including multiple Best of Show Awards from ISTE, several Awards of Excellence by Tech & Learning, and Product of the Year and multiple Platinum Awards from Modern Library Awards. Today, MackinVIA can be found in thousands of schools and accessed by more than 9 million students around the world. In close partnership with the educational community, Mackin Classroom offers a variety of customization options and unique curriculum solutions for educators to address their specific and evolving needs. The makerspace division, MackinMaker, provides one of the largest selections of maker products for all grade levels. Mackin recently expanded their offerings creating MackinVision, a robust, forward-thinking library management system that goes beyond expectations to include a whole school’s total resources.

Contact your dedicated Account Manager:

Mesa Heise
Director of Bids & Contracts
800-245-9540
bids@mackin.com
mesa@mackin.com

Learn More About Mackin Educational Resources

Illinois Joins CoSN’s Trusted Learning Environment (TLE) State Partnership Program for Student Data Privacy

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Washington, D.C. (October 15, 2024) – The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) today announced that the Illinois Learning Technology Center (LTC), a program of the Illinois State Board of Education, has partnered with CoSN on a program to improve student data privacy practices in their school districts. By joining the CoSN Trusted Learning Environment (TLE) State Partnership Program, Illinois is helping to ensure that K-12 education institutions across the states are equipped with the necessary tools, training, and guidance to build and improve their school districts’ student data privacy programs.

LTC joins the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and the South Carolina Department of Education in partnering with CoSN on this important work.

By subscribing to the TLE Partnership Program, LTC will be providing free TLE Seal applications to all districts in their state.  In addition, the TLE State Partnership Program makes available exclusive data privacy benchmarking reports that provide aggregate measures of the state’s district privacy programs compared with aggregate measures from TLE Seal recipients across 25 specific privacy practices, as well as CoSN’s student data privacy resources designed to support areas of growth for the districts in protecting the privacy of more than 1.85 million students. The CoSN TLE Seal is a national distinction awarded to school districts demonstrating a tangible commitment to protecting student data privacy through modern, rigorous policies and practices.

“Protecting student privacy is a top priority in Illinois. By joining CoSN’s Trusted Learning Environment State Partnership Program — a program backed by one of the leaders in the K-12 technology space — we can enhance our understanding of district privacy needs and offer stronger support,” said Tim McIlvain, Executive Director of the Learning Technology Center. “We’re excited to provide 851 districts with access to CoSN’s expert guidance and resources, which will strengthen privacy protections for all Illinois students.”

CoSN’s TLE State Partnership Program provides state education agencies with:

  • Exclusive state data privacy benchmarking reports that provide aggregated measures of district student data privacy practices as compared with those of current TLE Seal recipients.
  • Resources to support improvements across common areas of challenge for the states’ districts and updated benchmarking reports to measure improvements.
  • Unlimited free applications for the TLE Seal for districts in the state.

Additional supports can include student data privacy training and seats in CoSN’s Certified Education Technology Leader (CETL®) preparation and exam.

“With the increasing complexity of today’s technological environment, protecting student data privacy is imperative. We are delighted to welcome the Learning Technology Center of Illinois to the CoSN TLE State Partnership Program, and to providing Illinois districts with vital tools, training, and resources to help better protect their student information and foster a culture committed to enhancing privacy practices,” said Keith Krueger, CEO of the CoSN.

The CoSN TLE Seal Program requires school systems to implement high standards for protecting student data privacy across five core practice areas: Leadership, Business, Data Security, Professional Development and the Classroom.

As the only privacy framework designed specifically for K-12 school districts, earning the CoSN TLE Seal requires that districts have taken measurable steps to implement, maintain, and improve organization-wide student data privacy practices. All TLE Seal recipients are required to demonstrate that improvement through a reapplication process every two years.

For further details on CoSN’s TLE State Partnership Program, visit https://www.cosn.org/tools-resources/tlepartner/.

About CoSN
CoSN, the world-class professional association for K-12 EdTech leaders, stands at the forefront of education innovation. We are driven by a mission to equip current and aspiring K-12 education technology leaders, their teams, and school districts with the community, knowledge, and professional development they need to cultivate engaging learning environments. Our vision is rooted in a future where every learner reaches their unique potential, guided by our community. CoSN represents over 13 million students and continues to grow as a powerful and influential voice in K-12 education. For more information, visit www.cosn.org/

About the CoSN Trusted Learning Environment State Partnership Program
The CoSN Trusted Learning Environment (TLE) State Partnership Program is designed to measure and improve district student data privacy practices across all districts in the state. Through survey-based benchmarking, CoSN is able to aggregate district privacy performance across the 25 requirements of the CoSN Trusted Learning Environment Seal Program. CoSN provides comparisons of these results to the aggregated results of TLE Seal recipients. CoSN then provides each state with resources that are ready-made for its districts, providing guidance to improve the top three areas of weakness. The process is repeated on a cycle to continuously build up privacy practices across all districts. States are also provided with free TLE applications for all districts, providing the opportunity for districts to gain additional, customized feedback on their privacy programs and earn recognition for their efforts. For more information, visit CoSN.org/TLEpartner.

About the Learning Technology Center
The Learning Technology Center (LTC) is a state-wide organization dedicated to supporting schools and districts in Illinois with technology integration, professional development, and digital learning initiatives. Through innovative programs, expert guidance, and collaborative partnerships, the LTC empowers educators and administrators to leverage technology for improved teaching and learning outcomes. With a focus on areas such as artificial intelligence, digital citizenship, cybersecurity, and infrastructure, the LTC is committed to helping schools navigate the evolving landscape of educational technology. Learn more at ltcillinois.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Makenzie Carlin, mcarlin@fratelli.com

ISTELive 24: How to Build Connectivity in Rural Communities

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An Illinois school district turns to local business and state funding to bridge the digital divide.

Written by Taashi Rowe the managing editor for EdTech: Focus on K-12 magazine.

Funding school technology continues to be a concern for many K–12 school leaders. And in Illinois, where there are many small, rural school districts that have minimal or nonexistent technology budgets, this need is even more pronounced.

In an ISTELive 24 session, Justin Morgan, technology director for Trico Community Unit School District 176,  and Melinda Fiscus, director of government affairs for the Learning Technology Center of Illinois, shared their multipronged approach for obtaining connectivity funding.

Located in southern Illinois, Trico Community School District 176 has faced several challenges. First, the district is located near a national forest, which prohibits building or drilling, making it difficult to install high-speed internet. Second, the 875-student district is in a high-poverty community in the middle of cornfields and coal mines. Third, the district doesn’t have much local industry. And the fourth issue is that the district is spread over a large area and serves students from six different towns.

Additionally, for many years Morgan served as a one-person tech department, managing an annual technology budget of $85,000. He now has a technology aide.

Even so, Fiscus, who works for the state’s education service agency for technology, said that due to the enthusiastic support of Superintendent Larry Lovel, the district is “one of my less fortunate but more advanced districts. They were always thinking about the importance of educational technology.”

Laying the Foundation for Technology in Schools

Though the district’s technology budget is small, Morgan said that it is still good for the area.

Still, “out of that budget, we have to maintain the website, student information system, disaster recovery backup, cybersecurity, district internet access and network equipment,” he noted.

WATCH: See how a Wi-Fi 6 upgrade helps students build technology skills.

Fiscus, who works with districts across the state, says that the Trico budget is not unusual. “Most districts in Illinois are operating on a similar budget or no budget,” she said. “For most schools, E-Rate is their technology budget.”

E-Rate is a federal program that can offset up to 90 percent of the cost of internet service and equipment for schools. Morgan used E-Rate funding to build the school’s internet infrastructure.

Prior to the pandemic, he planned ahead for a one-to-one device program and updated the school’s network. He repurposed old devices. He collaborated with teachers to address essential technology applications.

Read More

Do you have more questions or need help with connectivity and E-Rate? Contact our LTC Director of Government Affairs today.

Mindy Fiscus
Learning Technology Center of Illinois (LTC)
Director of Government Affairs
mfiscus@ltcillinois.org
Schedule a Meeting

How Schools Can Increase Their Chances of Winning Federal Cybersecurity Funding

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By Amy Passow Amy Passow is a business development manager for K–12 at CDW•G.

In the grand scheme of things, $200 million over the course of three years to address cybersecurity in K–12 doesn’t seem like much. However, that is what the Federal Communications Commission will offer as part of its Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program.

That said, this is a step up from what the FCC already provides through its E-rate program, whose cybersecurity coverage includes only basic firewalls and support services to configure them. The FCC admitted as much when they announced the program in November by noting in the Federal Register, “It is clear that the E-Rate program alone cannot fully address the K–12 schools’ and libraries’ cyber concerns and protect their broadband networks and data from cyber threats and attacks.”

This new program is a response to years of lobbying from K–12 groups for more federal funding to help stem the tide of cyberattacks facing K–12 schools. Additional funding through this program would help the FCC determine whether they should permanently fund advanced firewall services.

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, in a statement describing the pilot program, said “ultimately, we want to learn from this effort, identify how to get the balance right and provide our federal, state and local government partners with actionable data about the most effective and coordinated way to address this growing problem.”

Read More

Deledao ActiveInsights™ Awarded “Research-Based Design for Instructional Learning Products” Product Certification

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Deledao ActiveInsights™ — an industry-leading edtech solution powered by proprietary real-time AI technologies such as InstantAI™ — has earned the Research-Based Design for Instructional Learning Products: Product Certification from Digital Promise.

This Product Certification serves as a reliable indicator for district and school leaders, educators, and families looking for EdTech products grounded in confirmed learning research. Deledao provided evidence to Digital Promise, affirming a connection between research on how students learn and the product’s design. Furthermore, Deledao demonstrated its dedication to ensuring its clarity and accessibility of its research foundation to the public.

“We firmly believe that a research-driven approach is crucial in crafting tools exceeding the needs of educators and learners,” said Shuang Ji, CEO at Deledao. “Receiving this recognition is a tremendous honor for Deledao. It highlights our commitment to incorporating the latest educational research insights into our products.” 

“This certification validates our efforts, guiding district and school leaders, educators, and families toward EdTech products based on proven learning principles,” added Davide Giannotti, Director of Marketing at Deledao. “We take pride in advancing educational technology to positively impact every student’s learning journey.” 

“Educators and researchers continue to uncover important insights about how people learn,” said Christina Luke Luna, Chief Learning Officer, Pathways and Credentials at Digital Promise. “Digital Promise’s Research-Based Design Product Certification recognizes the EdTech products that incorporate research about learning into their design and development. Congratulations to Deledao ActiveInsights™ for demonstrating that research informs product design!” 

“More than 8,000 products are used in K-12 schools, and fewer than 1 percent have earned this recognition,” said Rachel Schechter, Ph.D., Learning Experience Design (LXD) Research, who helped advise Deledao in preparing the application. “The research-based design certification is a meaningful foundation for any company looking to build their ESSA-aligned evidence.” 

Dr. Schechter led the LXD expert review panel to rigorously evaluate and endorse Deledao for meeting the educational impact criteria of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The LXD expert review panel recognizes an ESSA Level IV designation of “Demonstrates a Rationale” for Deledao ActiveInsights™.  

 
ESSA Level 4 Evidence Logo
 

ESSA Level IV standards are based on a product’s research-based design and theory of change to enhance learning outcomes. The certification from Digital Promise is aligned with the ESSA Level IV designation. 

Through Product Certifications, consumers can narrow their options as they select products based on research about learning before trying it out in their classrooms. Digital Promise launched the Research-Based Design Product Certification in February 2020 and has certified over 100 products to date. 

The Research-Based Design Product Certification uses a competency-based learning framework developed in consultation with Digital Promise’s Learner Variability Project advisory board, expert researchers in the Learning Sciences field, and nearly 50 educators across the United States. Further detail about its development can be found in Digital Promise’s reports, Designing Edtech that Matters for Learning: Research-Based Design Product Certifications (2020) and An Overlooked Indicator of Edtech Quality: The Use of Learning Sciences Research (2022). 

The U.S. Department of Education’s recently published 2024 National Educational Technology Plan (NETP) calls for a crucial change: schools must prioritize educational technology decisions backed by solid research and proven to improve student learning. Deledao proudly aligns with this vision.

Further, the Research-Based Design for Instructional Learning Products certification from Digital Promise validates Deledao’s commitment to developing effective tools grounded in rigorous research, directly mirroring the NETP’s core principles.

By prioritizing research and evidence-based design, Deledao is helping schools unlock the true potential of technology to empower educators with the proven tools they need to ensure all students can succeed in today’s digital learning environments. 

– – –

About Deledao 

In 2017, a group of Silicon Valley veterans observed the changing educational landscape with the proliferation of digital devices in schools, prompting the recognition of a new challenge: digital distractions. CEO Shuang Ji, co-inventor of the proxy filtering technology, recognized the inadequacy of legacy technologies (created in the 90s) in safeguarding children online. This realization led to the birth of Deledao, with its first product, a real-time AI-based web filter, launched in 2019. Since then, Deledao has expanded its product offerings to include solutions for student safety and classroom management, catering to the evolving needs of K-12 education. Today, Deledao’s impact extends globally, supporting educational institutions in the United States, Canada, Europe, New Zealand, and Australia. Learn more and request a demo here. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest. 

About Digital Promise 

Digital Promise is a nonprofit organization that builds powerful networks and takes on grand challenges by working at the intersection of researchers, entrepreneurs, and educators. Our vision is that all people, at every stage of their lives, have access to learning experiences that help them acquire the knowledge and skills they need to thrive and continuously learn in an ever-changing world. For more information, visit the Digital Promise website and follow @digitalpromise for updates. 

About LXD Research 

Learning Experience Design Research is an independent evaluation and research firm within Charles River Media Inc. focusing on educational programs. We specialize in research communication, efficacy study validation, and the design and execution of ESSA-aligned research studies. Visit www.LXDResearch.com. 

CENTEGIX®, Leading K-12 Safety Provider, Introduces New Platform

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ATLANTA – October 19, 2023 – CENTEGIX, the industry leader and largest wearable safety technology provider for K-12 education, announces the launch of its CENTEGIX Safety Platform™. The cloud-based, integrated solution initiates the fastest response time to safety incidents campus-wide.

The CENTEGIX Safety Platform™ unites powerful market-leading solutions including:

The design of the Safety Platform is grounded in CENTEGIX’s experience supporting school districts with rapid incident response for hundreds of thousands of everyday and extreme emergencies.

“Time is the single most critical factor in an emergency, because every second matters,” said Brent Cobb, CEO of CENTEGIX. “Districts spend years preparing for and working to prevent emergencies. When an incident happens, it’s the time that it takes to respond that matters the most. With our CENTEGIX Safety Platform, we’ve taken linear phases of response and compressed them to happen all at once, so that help can arrive as quickly as possible.”

CENTEGIX built the Safety Platform specifically to reduce response time during an incident:

Identification Time: CrisisAlert provides the ability for all staff to quickly, easily, and discreetly indicate that there is an emergency. With CrisisAlert, all staff are empowered to identify incidents by simply pushing the button on their CrisisAlert badge. CrisisAlert is always available and works anywhere on campus because it operates on a private, managed network and does not depend on Wi-Fi or cellular, which have coverage gaps.

Notification Time: For a campus-wide alert, CrisisAlert accelerates emergency communication to everyone onsite through full audio and visual notifications, directing all to follow safety protocols and directly alerting local 911 emergency resources, also with precise location information. With Emergency Response Integrations, the Safety Platform automates notification steps to reduce human error and delays with manual hand-off steps.

Response Time: Onsite response teams immediately receive the CrisisAlert alert notification with a Safety Blueprint map showing who needs help and precisely where they are located. The Safety Blueprint map also displays where safety and security assets are available to eliminate time spent searching for these resources. Local 911 takes action to neutralize the situation.

“Using the CENTEGIX Safety Platform has helped us strengthen our culture of safety and improve response times for everyday and extreme emergencies. Staff appreciate having a CrisisAlert badge so they are empowered to improve safety in their schools. Our Response teams value Safety Blueprint for the precise location of incidents notified by CrisisAlert and the ability to see the location of safety assets,” said Chris Farkas, Deputy Superintendent of Operations, Hillsborough County Public Schools (FL), the 7th largest district in the U.S.

About CENTEGIX 

CENTEGIX is the industry leader of wearable safety technology for K-12 education with over 600,000 badges in use. The cloud-based CENTEGIX Safety Platform™ initiates the fastest response time for emergencies campus-wide. Leaders in over 11,500 locations nationwide trust CENTEGIX’s innovative safety solutions to empower and protect people. To learn more about CENTEGIX, visit www.centegix.com

Contact your dedicated Account Manager:

Matt Young
RVP Midwest
586-713-7513
myoung@centegix.com

Cybersecurity best practices for K-12 schools

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John Solomon
VP, ChromeOS and Education

Earlier this year, we joined private sector and government cybersecurity leaders at the White House for the “Back to School Safely: Cybersecurity for K-12 Schools” event. There, we shared a K-12 Cybersecurity Guidebook that includes best practices to help school IT administrators prepare to return to school safely.

For Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we’re sharing a few highlights from the guide — now available in more than 30 languages — plus other helpful resources. Admins can also sign up for our Safer Digital Learning event on October 25, where we’ll demo more of the guide’s security features and best practices to keep schools safe from cybersecurity threats.

The importance of cybersecurity tools for schools

Educational institutions are top targets for cyberattacks, with bad actors looking to exploit schools for their own profit. Forty-six percent of schools which have yet to be targeted believe they’ll eventually be attacked.

We’re committed to helping schools keep data secure and digital learning environments safe. Our education products, like Google Workspace for Education and Chromebooks, can improve schools’ cybersecurity and make it easy to implement the recommendations in our guidebook.

With Google Workspace for Education, admins can get a complete view into security with notifications, alerts and actions in the alert center. They can also manage access to tools with two-factor authentication, single sign-on and password management, set their own data rules and policies with data loss prevention.

Meanwhile, Chromebooks are highly secure, scalable and easy to use thanks to their built-in security features. In fact, there has never been a reported ransomware attack on any business, school or consumer ChromeOS device. And they help protect schools from evolving threats with 10 years of automatic software updates.

READ MORE

Chromebooks will get 10 years of automatic updates

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Prajakta Gudadhe
Senior Director of Engineering, ChromeOS
Ashwini Varma
Senior Director of Engineering, ChromeOS

When Chromebooks debuted in 2012, their affordable price tags helped make personal computing more accessible. That also made them a great fit for the education world, providing schools with secure, simple and manageable devices while helping them save on their budgets. In fact, Chromebooks are the number one device used in K-12 education globally, according to Futuresource. Plus, they’re a sustainable choice, with recycled materials that reduce their environmental impact and repair programs that help them last longer.

Today, we’re announcing new ways to keep your Chromebooks up and running even longer. All Chromebook platforms will get regular automatic updates for 10 years — more than any other operating system commits to today. We’re also working with partners to build Chromebooks with more post-consumer recycled materials (PCR), and rolling out new, power-efficient features and quicker processes to repair them. And at the end of their usefulness, we continue to help schools, businesses and everyday users find the right recycling option.

Let’s take a closer look at what’s coming, and how we consider the entire lifecycle of a Chromebook — from manufacturing all the way to recycling.

10 years of automatic updates

Security is our number one priority. Chromebooks get automatic updates every four weeks that make your laptop more secure and help it last longer. And starting next year, we’re extending those automatic updates so your Chromebook gets enhanced security, stability and features for 10 years after the platform was released.

A platform is a series of components that are designed to work together — something a manufacturer selects for any given Chromebook. To ensure compatibility with our updates, we work with all the component manufacturers within a platform (for things like the processor and Wi-Fi) to develop and test the software on every single Chromebook.

Starting in 2024, if you have Chromebooks that were released from 2021 onwards, you’ll automatically get 10 years of updates. For Chromebooks released before 2021 and already in use, users and IT admins will have the option to extend automatic updates to 10 years from the platform’s release (after they receive their last automatic update).1

Even if a Chromebook no longer receives automatic updates, it still comes with strong, built-in security features. With Verified Boot, for example, your Chromebook does a self-check every time it starts up. If it detects that the system has been tampered with or corrupted in any way, it will typically repair itself, reverting back to its original state.

You can find more information about the extended updates in our Help Center, Admin console or in Settings.

Newsela Acquires Formative, Bringing Together Best in Classroom Content and Assessment

Posted on | by Hope

New York, NY – Newsela, the leading K-12 instructional content platform, announced today that it has acquired Formative, the leading real-time instruction and assessment platform. This acquisition brings together two beloved classroom products to provide a comprehensive instructional solution that engages students and accelerates learning.

“Newsela has led the transition away from static classroom instructional materials to become the digital platform of choice for teachers seeking to accelerate student growth with accessible, real-world content and scaffolding activities that support all learners,” said Pep Carrera, Chief Executive Officer at Newsela. “Combining Newsela’s best-in-class, accessible content with Formative’s data-rich assessment activities will give students and teachers the complete, meaningful learning experience they want, while providing the deep insights that teachers and administrators need to effectively impact student outcomes.”

Craig Jones and Kevin McFarland founded Formative as graduate students at UCLA in 2013. Today, Formative is used by educators and administrators globally and has a presence in the majority of U.S. school districts. In the past year alone, more than four million students have engaged with the platform.

“All teachers know the importance of being responsive to their students, but that individual attention requires a lot of time and resources. As a teacher, I saw greater improvements when I had the time to provide daily formative assessments, targeted intervention, and quicker feedback loops. Formative was created to apply this approach at scale, so teachers can do it better, faster, and take swift action with real-time data,” said Craig Jones, Co-Founder and CEO of Formative. “Our goal was to give teachers the most effective tool for assessment and analysis. Now, the most effective assessment tool can be used with the best content.”

As school districts look for the best pathways to improve student outcomes following the disruption of the pandemic, the role of formative assessments in concert with authentic, engaging content could not be more critical in the effort to accelerate learning. Teachers will soon be able to apply Formative’s powerful technology to Newsela’s 15,000+ content library to gauge learning immediately, provide even more powerful scaffolds and support while course-correcting in real time to meet academic goals throughout the year.

“We’ve learned that schools can have the best assessments and the best content, but that won’t matter if teachers don’t have the resources to make actionable changes based on data. Formative’s success to date has been giving teachers real-time data that helps make informed decisions,” said Kevin McFarland, Co-Founder and COO of Formative. “Now, with Newsela, teachers will have all the resources—the best content and the best assessments—to help students achieve their goals.”’

The partnership between Newsela and Formative is effective immediately. Customers who have any questions can contact Newsela or Formative, respectively.

 

Contact your dedicated Account Manager:

General inquiries: iltpp@newsela.com

New Newsela Schools or Districts
Jenny Pearl
Illinois Partnerships
847-691-1019
Jenny.Pearl@newsela.com

Current Newsela Partners
Nicky Dunlap
Illinois Partnerships
773-495-0703
Nicky.Dunlap@newsela.com

Learn More About Newsela