Did you hear? Arkansas is doing great and poised to do even better.
Yes, Arkansas, the state accustomed to being 49th in many rankings, is 21st in the nation for its broadband Internet connectivity in schools, according to EducationSuperHighway, a California-based nonprofit. And Evan Marshall, the group's chief executive, says Arkansas should rapidly climb in the rankings because of its work in connecting its schools to the world via the Internet.
Arkansas is spending $50 million to connect students to broadband Internet access at double the speed recommended by Federal Communications Commission.
"As a state, we are sending a strong message to businesses and entrepreneurs across the globe that Arkansas is committed to training up a generation of computer-literate young professionals," Gov. Asa Hutchinson said. "Every student in Arkansas deserves access to digital learning opportunities that develop critical skills they will need to compete in today's workforce."
Such access isn't optional in 2015 and beyond. Arkansas is making great strides for 21st century education with its commitment to broadband connectivity in schools. While nothing replaces strong classroom teaching and face-to-face interaction, broadband connectivity is a necessity to support it.
Good job, Arkansas.
Commentary on 11/29/2015