Technology & Digital Learning — Missouri K-12 Education Reference

Table of Contents

1. 1:1 Device Programs
2. Learning Management Systems (LMS)
3. Digital Citizenship
4. AI in Education
5. Virtual & Blended Learning
6. CIPA Compliance & Internet Filtering
7. Student Data Privacy
8. Cybersecurity
9. Assistive Technology
10. E-Rate & Technology Funding
11. Infrastructure & Connectivity
12. Professional Development for Technology
13. SB 68 — Electronic Communication Device Ban

1. 1:1 Device Programs

Implementation Models

Device Options

• Chromebooks (most common in Missouri — low cost, easy management, Google Workspace integration)
• iPads (common in elementary, special education, fine arts)
• Windows laptops (common in CTE, STEM, secondary)
• Desktop labs (legacy; still used for specialized software, CTE, testing)

Program Considerations

• Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) — required; signed by student and parent
• Device insurance/repair programs
• Internet access at home (equity concern — hotspot lending, community Wi-Fi partnerships)
• Content filtering on take-home devices (CIPA requires filtering on school-owned devices used off-campus)
• Digital equity: ensure all students have equal access regardless of income, geography, or disability
• Refresh cycle: plan for device replacement every 3-5 years
• Asset management and tracking

2. Learning Management Systems (LMS)

Common LMS Platforms in Missouri Schools

LMS Best Practices

• Consistent use across the district (reduces family confusion)
• Parent/guardian access (view assignments, grades, communications)
• Accessibility compliance (WCAG 2.1 standards for students with disabilities)
• Integration with Student Information System (SIS) for grade passback
• Regular training for teachers on effective LMS use
• Content organization standards (consistent naming, structure, due dates)

3. Digital Citizenship

ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) Standards

Missouri has adopted ISTE Standards for Students as a framework:

1. Empowered Learner
2. Digital Citizen
3. Knowledge Constructor
4. Innovative Designer
5. Computational Thinker
6. Creative Communicator
7. Global Collaborator

Digital Citizenship Curriculum Topics

Common Digital Citizenship Programs

• Common Sense Education (most widely used free curriculum)
• Google Be Internet Awesome (elementary)
• NetSmartz (National Center for Missing & Exploited Children)
• CyberPatriot (competition-based cybersecurity education)

4. AI in Education

→ AI in education is covered in depth in references/ai-in-education/INDEX.md (canonical source). Route there for: DESE AI guidance, AI for teaching, AI for learning/reinforcement, AI for communication, AI policy development, academic integrity, AI data privacy, AI equity, AI literacy K-12, AI tools, AI career readiness, and SB 68 interaction.

Quick context for this file: AI tools used in schools are subject to the same CIPA filtering, FERPA/COPPA data privacy, and technology procurement requirements as all other educational technology. AI-specific concerns (academic integrity, prompt engineering, AI-resistant assessment design) are addressed in the AI reference files.

5. Virtual & Blended Learning

See references/alternative-education.md for MOCAP details.

Blended Learning Models

Virtual Learning Best Practices

• Synchronous + asynchronous balance (live interaction matters)
• Regular check-ins and progress monitoring
• Accessible content (captions, alt text, screen reader compatibility)
• Student engagement strategies (discussion boards, collaborative projects, formative assessment)
• Technical support for students and families
• Attendance and participation policies adapted for virtual context

6. CIPA Compliance & Internet Filtering

Children's Internet Protection Act (47 U.S.C. §254)

Required for schools receiving E-Rate funding:

Requirements

1. Internet filtering — technology protection measure that blocks visual depictions that are:

• Obscene
• Child pornography
• Harmful to minors (for student-accessible devices)

1. Internet safety policy — board-adopted policy addressing:

• Access by minors to inappropriate matter
• Safety and security of minors when using email, chat, and other electronic communications
• Unauthorized access, including hacking
• Unauthorized disclosure of personal information regarding minors
• Measures restricting minors' access to harmful materials

1. Public hearing — at least one public hearing before adopting the internet safety policy
2. Education — educating minors about appropriate online behavior, cyberbullying awareness, and interaction on social networking sites

Filtering Implementation

• Enterprise-level content filtering (e.g., GoGuardian, Lightspeed, Securly, Cisco Umbrella)
• Filtering must apply to school network AND school-owned devices used off-campus
• Authorized adults (teachers, administrators) may request unblocking of specific sites for educational purposes
• Over-filtering (blocking legitimate educational content) is a common concern; regular filter review recommended

7. Student Data Privacy

FERPA (20 U.S.C. §1232g)

See references/students.md for FERPA overview. Technology-specific applications:

Key Technology Privacy Requirements

Technology Vendor Vetting

Before adopting any educational technology tool:

1. Review privacy policy and terms of service
2. Determine what student data is collected, how it's used, stored, and shared
3. Ensure FERPA compliance and get appropriate agreements signed
4. Check for COPPA compliance (for tools used by students under 13)
5. Verify data encryption (in transit and at rest)
6. Confirm data deletion procedures when contract ends
7. Review for accessibility compliance (Section 508 / WCAG 2.1)

Student Data Governance

Districts should establish a data governance framework:

• Data governance committee (IT, administration, legal, teaching)
• Data classification system (public, internal, confidential, restricted)
• Role-based access controls (who can see what data)
• Data retention and destruction schedules
• Staff training on data privacy and security
• Incident response plan for data breaches

8. Cybersecurity

Threats to School Districts

• Ransomware attacks (increasingly targeting school districts)
• Phishing (email and social engineering attacks on staff)
• Data breaches (student and employee records)
• Unauthorized access (hacking of school systems)
• DDoS attacks (disrupting online learning and operations)

Cybersecurity Best Practices

• Multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all staff accounts
• Regular security awareness training for staff
• Endpoint protection (antivirus, device management)
• Network segmentation (separate student, staff, IoT, and guest networks)
• Regular patching and software updates
• Data backup strategy (3-2-1 rule: 3 copies, 2 media, 1 offsite)
• Incident response plan
• Cyber insurance
• Vulnerability assessments and penetration testing
• FCC Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program (when available)

9. Assistive Technology

See references/specialists.md for AT overview. Technology-specific details:

Software-Based AT Common in Missouri Schools

Accessibility Standards

• WCAG 2.1 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) — applies to all digital content used in instruction
• Section 508 (federal) — federal technology must be accessible; often used as benchmark for school technology procurement
• VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) — request from vendors before purchasing educational technology

10. E-Rate & Technology Funding

See references/funding-programs.md for detailed E-Rate information.

Additional Technology Funding Sources

11. Infrastructure & Connectivity

Bandwidth Recommendations

• FCC goal: 1 Mbps per student (external internet)
• 10 Gbps internal network backbone per school (for modern learning environments)
• Sufficient Wi-Fi density for 1:1 + IoT devices

Network Architecture

• Wired backbone (fiber to each building, Cat6a+ to access points)
• Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) or newer access points
• Network management and monitoring tools
• Content delivery optimization (caching, CDN)
• Guest network isolation
• IoT network segmentation (HVAC, security cameras, etc.)

Rural Broadband Challenges

See references/rural-education.md for detailed rural connectivity information.

12. Professional Development for Technology

ISTE Standards for Educators

1. Learner — continually improving through technology-enabled professional learning
2. Leader — seeking leadership opportunities for technology integration
3. Citizen — modeling responsible digital citizenship
4. Collaborator — using technology to collaborate with colleagues and students
5. Designer — designing authentic, learner-driven activities enhanced by technology
6. Facilitator — facilitating student learning with technology
7. Analyst — using data and technology to improve instruction

PD Models for Technology

• Coaching and mentoring (technology integration coaches)
• Just-in-time training (micro-learning, video tutorials, help desk)
• Professional learning communities (PLCs) focused on technology
• Conference attendance (METC — Missouri Educational Technology Conference, ISTE Conference)
• Graduate coursework in educational technology
• Vendor-provided training (during tool adoption)
• Student-led training (student tech teams teaching staff)

13. SB 68 — Electronic Communication Device Ban

Missouri Senate Bill 68 (Signed July 9, 2025)

Governor Kehoe signed SB 68 enacting a statewide ban on electronic communication devices in Missouri public and charter schools beginning with the 2025-26 academic year.

Key Provisions

• Personal electronic communication devices (phones, smartwatches with communication capability) restricted during the school day
• Districts must adopt policies implementing the ban
• Specific implementation details (collection, storage, exceptions, enforcement) are determined by local board policy

Implementation Considerations

Interaction with Other Policies

• AI policy: SB 68 simplifies AI governance by channeling student technology access through managed school devices
• 1:1 programs: school-issued devices become the sole student access point during school hours
• BYOD programs: effectively suspended during school day (may still apply before/after school)
• Digital citizenship: reinforces boundaries; curriculum should address healthy device habits
• Special education: IEP teams must consider whether device access is a necessary accommodation; if yes, must be documented in IEP

→ For AI-specific implications of SB 68: see references/ai-in-education/ai-policy-governance.md §9