Senator Robert Plymale

CHARLESTON, WV – Senate Education Chairman Robert H. Plymale (D-Wayne) announced today that the Senate Education Committee passed Senate Bill 103 which addresses the ten elements of high quality digital learning. The committee passed this bill out with the recommendation it do pass on Thursday, January 19, 2012.

Former Governors Jeb Bush of Florida and Bob Wise of West Virginia created the Digital Learning Council to help prepare students for college. The goal of this program is to prepare more than fifty million students with required skills to succeed in college and careers in the greatest economic challenge of our era. Technology has transformed the way we live and, therefore, the way we learn. Colleges have become computer oriented, yet our K-12 school system relies on the same instructional methods being used fifty years ago.

According to the Digital Learning Council’s 2010 report, “Digital Now!,” one-third of fourth graders and one-quarter of eighth graders are functionally illiterate and nearly one-third of students fail to earn a high school diploma. Moreover, among the top thirty industrialized countries the United States is ranked twenty-first in science. Senator Plymale believes that incorporating digital learning modules into our education curricula will help bridge this achievement gap.

The bill is based on the ten elements of high quality digital learning which was developed by the Digital Learning Council. Some of these principles include universal student access to technology, competency-based advancement and high quality digital content, as well as providing skilled instructors.

According to Senator Plymale, “The world of technology is changing at an ever-increasing rate. I strongly believe that digital learning is a critical component in preparing our youth to successfully navigate this new world. West Virginia’s students will need these skills to be prepared for tomorrow’s workplace.”

Hameed Farook, Herndon Intern for the Senate Education Committee stated: “I wholeheartedly agree that we need to improve our school system in this respect. Digital learning will provide students instruction through technology which will benefit our future.”


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