Nebraska Department of Education Homepage

About Future Ready Nebraska

HISTORY

The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) adopted the Future Ready framework as the structure for organizing and communicating the Future Ready Nebraska (FRN) plan in 2017. The Future Ready framework was developed by the Alliance for Excellent Education, a Washington, DC-based national policy and advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring that all students, particularly those who are traditionally underserved, graduate from high school ready for success in college, work, and citizenship. The research-based framework is based on a vision oriented, pedagogy driven and children focused approach.

The Nebraska State Board of Education developed the 2017 – 2026 Strategic Vision and Direction for Nebraska education. A portion of that vision addresses digital learning and digital access in Nebraska. To assist in the implementation of the Strategic Vision, the Nebraska Department of Education reached out to leaders, education advocates, and experts in Nebraska to develop the Future Ready Nebraska Council (FRNC). Members of this council represent strategic partner groups and are committed to use their expertise and knowledge to shape and communicate the vision, strategic objectives, and actions intended to transform the digital education and education systems of Nebraska schools.

A primary goal of the FRNC is to develop Nebraska’s statewide Digital Learning and Ed. Tech. Plan which also aligned with the National Ed. Tech. Plan (NETP). Using the council’s expertise, and feedback gathered from stakeholders throughout Nebraska the first state plan was written and shared publicly in the spring of 2018. In the summer of 2018, the council formally approved the final draft of the plan and presented its plan to the Nebraska State Board of Education in June 2018. The finalized version of the 2018 Digital Learning and Ed Tech Plan was shared digitally through this Future Ready Nebraska website and could also be downloaded as a PDF using this  2018FutureReadyPlan link. The FRNC met quarterly throughout each year during the 3-year term of the plan and worked to meet the goals of that plan. A new plan was being developed when the COVID-19 pandemic occurred, and the National Ed Tech Plan (NETP) was placed on hold. At that time, work on the new state plan was also placed on hold.

PRESENT

With the expected release of a new National Ed. Tech. Plan (NETP) in January 2024, the Future Ready Nebraska Council will reconvene their regular meeting cadence. The FRNC will begin the process of engaging state education stakeholders and create a second Future Ready Nebraska Digital Learning and Ed. Tech. Plan which has been on hold since 2020. Although, the state plan had been placed on hold, many new initiatives were started in 2020 as part of the COVID-19 pandemic response. Nebraska ESSER, GEER, and Innovation funds were allocated in many ways to fulfill digital learning and ed. tech. needs across Nebraska caused by the pandemic. Part of the work in writing the new state plan will include being intentional in tying the pandemic work that was completed and is currently in place across the state.

Below is a summary of the Future Ready Nebraska work that has been completed from Fall of 2017 through Summer of 2023.

Future Ready Nebraska work summary:

  • Spring/Summer 2017 – FRNC is created and creates vision & purpose statements, FRN logo developed, Future Ready Presentation at Administrator Days
  • Early Fall 2017 – State Board of Education votes to approve Digital Education Position Statement 
  • Late Fall 2017 – FRNC sets goals, priorities & recommendations,  Digital Learning & Ed Tech Plan survey administered, Draft NE Digital Learning and Ed Tech plan developed
  • Winter 2017/18 – Further edits of Digital Learning & Ed Tech plan using data collected and stakeholder group feedback to finalize the plan, FR District Technology Profiles collected
  • Spring 2018 –  First draft of Digital Learning Plan (link above) is published and shared, Presentations of plan details begin, Implementation of the plans action steps begins.
  • Summer 2018 – Final draft is a approved, implementation of action steps continues, Digital version of the plan is created for the website and presentation to the Nebraska State Board of Education is shared.
  • Fall 2018 – Nebraska OER Commons Hub is released, Training begins with Nebraska Physical Education Teachers, Information and training on copyright begins
  • Winter 2018/19 – Planning for Future Ready Conference begins, Nebraska joins the Student Data Privacy Consortium with A4L, Future Ready Librarians share Rule 10 Proposed changes
  • Spring 2019 – OER Toolkit released, Continued preparation for FR Conference, FR District Technology Profiles collected
  • Summer 2019 – OER training and curation and creation work completed with Blended Learning Teachers and ESU staff, FR Conf. online only and additional summer sessions added
  • Fall 2019 – NEP page includes Technology Profile Data, 2nd year of Future Ready District Technology Profile data collection, OER training to CTE teachers, EIN for APL network started
  • Winter 2019/20 – EIN for APL cohort 1 begins, Articulate 360 training, OER training & work with Social Studies teachers, FR Council starts new state digital learning & ed. tech. plan
  • Spring 2020 – COVID – 19 school closures, FR Council places state plan on hold, Remote Learning resources shared online and in OER hub, EIN for APL cohort 2 sign-ups
  • Summer 2020 – Canvas Consortium begins, OER Remote Learning plans completed, Hierarchy of Digital Needs created, FR Conference moved to online only (all pandemic response)
  • Fall 2020 – FR Conference reviewed, ESSER and GEER planning and proposals, FR Council still holding on state plan, National Plan also on hold, Canvas Consortium training & staff
  • Winter 2020/21 – 2nd round of Canvas implementations start, Canvas Catalog site launched, Vivayic helping with APL training and content creation work, FR Conf. moved to online
  • Spring 2021 – Rule 10 opens for changes, Virtual Canvas Leadership events added, Cohort 3 for EIN for APL sign-ups, NVIS undergoes updates
  • Summer 2021 – Rule 10 changes shared, Canvas trust agreements added, GEER funds used for K – 12 device deployment project, EIN for APL courses going onto Canvas Catalog
  • Fall 2021 – Revisions to FR District technology profile, GEER II funds to Dept. of Labor, EIN for APL cohort 3 training, EIN for APL Canvas resources project started with Vivayic help
  • Winter 2021/22 – ESU OER project announced for SS, Canvas Spring Implementation sign ups, , OER Commons site updated, FR District Tech Profile opens
  • Spring 2022 –  GEER II robotics project started, Canvas grows to 80,000 seats, Engage Career Readiness course for Canvas available
  • Summer 2022 – World Language OER work, Social Studies OER work, FR Conference is hybrid event
  • Fall 2022 – End of ESSER I funds and projects (Proof Point, EduRoam and other), GEER Robots delivered,
  • Winter 2022/23 – FR District Technology profile opens, Canvas Catalog PD site grows and new courses added, Innovation grant proposal submitted
  • Summer 2023 – World Language OER work, Social Studies OER work, Canvas Computer Science course created, AI presentation at Admin Days, FR Conference is hybrid, Canvas Consortium moves to ESUCC
Updated August 11, 2023 10:05am