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SETDA Names 2023 State Achievement Award Recipients

November 9, 2023 (Washington, D.C.) — SETDA, the principal membership association of U.S. state and territorial educational technology leaders, announced the recipients of the State Achievement Award to recognize outstanding initiatives from SETDA state and affiliate members and their teams that address meaningful challenges in teaching and learning.

These awards were presented during the 2023 SETDA Leadership Summit and Ed Forum this week, celebrate the impact of these programs and projects, offering frameworks for other leaders to effect positive change in their states. 

The SETDA State Achievement Awards program has five categories that align with SETDA’s priorities: Digital Content, Digital Learning, Equity of Access, Interoperability, and Professional Learning. This year’s awards were sponsored by ClassLink. Here are the recipients of the 2023 SETDA State Achievement Awards:

• The Digital Content category was awarded to Illinois’ Instructional Technology Coaching Program, which uses an innovative cost-sharing model to allow multiple districts in a similar geographic area to share the costs of an instructional technology coach. Each district develops its own plan while enjoying consistent coaching that helps educators improve teaching practices and effectively integrate technology. The program allows small- and medium-sized school districts to access the benefits of coaching without adding staff or committing to a full-time employee.

• The Digital Learning category was awarded to the Nevada Course Access Partnership (NV-CAP). NV-CAP was created to bridge the gap in course options in rural communities. Any Nevada educator, including long-term substitutes, can access and use a course or its materials for free through the statewide learning management system, ensuring that all of the state’s educators have access to synchronous and asynchronous digital learning materials.

• The Equity of Access category was awarded to Massachusetts: Building & Strengthening Equitable EdTech Systems. This resource, developed in collaboration with the Learning Accelerator, builds off Massachusetts’ previous work by offering support in developing and strengthening systems for edtech selection, implementation, and evaluation to ensure that edtech is effectively chosen, powerfully implemented, and properly evaluated for effectiveness across the state.

• The Interoperability category was awarded to Indiana GPS (Graduates Prepared to Succeed), a one-stop portal that displays economic information and data of importance to K-12 students and families, including school, district, and state achievement. The level of detail allows for personalized intervention for students as well as data for school and district improvement.

• The Professional Learning category was awarded to Indiana Learning Lab, which was established in August 2016 with 6,000 users to support teachers with the abrupt shift to remote learning during the pandemic. Today, the Learning Lab, which has almost 45,000 users, is a platform that hosts resources, frameworks, research, collaboration, professional development, and a new Parent and Family Support Hub. 

“ClassLink is proud to support SETDA’s State Achievement awards, honoring innovative initiatives driving change in education. We believe in the power of these programs to inspire and lead the way for state leaders nationwide,” said Rachel Van Aken, Vice President of Government Affairs and Strategic Accounts for ClassLink.

“SETDA’s State Achievement Awards serve as a beacon, celebrating the pioneering use of technology to enrich teaching and learning, bolster student engagement, and amplify educational outcomes,” said Julia Fallon, Executive Director of SETDA. “These accolades not only honor innovation but also serve as a catalyst for inspiring others to embrace and cultivate similar educational technology solutions. By spotlighting these achievements, SETDA encourages a ripple effect, fostering a landscape of transformative edtech solutions that have the power to elevate and revolutionize the K-12 educational experience nationwide.”

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About SETDA
Founded in 2001, SETDA is the principal association representing U.S. state and territorial educational technology and digital learning leaders. Through a broad array of programs and advocacy, SETDA builds member capacity and engages partners to empower the education community in leveraging technology for learning, teaching, and school operations.