Consultants from CT&T told state lawmakers in the Joint Committee on Education Wednesday it may not be necessary to make legal changes to allow public schools to access internet through the Arkansas Research and Educational Optical Network, or ARE-ON, which is currently used by public universities.
Act 1280 of 2013 requires all public schools to provide digital learning opportunities and the creation of an infrastructure to support them. CT&T found currently 65 percent of the state’s public schools are in compliance with federal goals for connectivity. Eighty-six schools in the state are not compliant.
They said the schools may continue to rely on private internet providers. Republican House Speaker-designate Jeremy Gilliam says this would mean legal changes to restrictions in Act 1050 from 2011 to allow public schools to utilize ARE-ON would be unnecessary.
"For the time being, you know, I think most of the members that have had a chance to look at the study and hear the presentation, from what I've just heard following the meeting, there doesn't seem to be an appetite to pursue that option any longer," he said.
Gilliam said upcoming hurdles towards getting more schools on-line have to do with better management.
"A lot of this will really come from the Governor, from whoever is really going to be in charge of DIS [Department of Information Services]. A lot of this was management issues, as far as corrective actions that could be taken."
CT&T's report recommends the appointment of a technical project coordinator and the cancelation of excessive connections to districts through the existing Arkansas Public School Computer Network.
