Dive Brief:

• Worried that Washington students are leaving K-12 without adequate tech skills —​ including proficiency with Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, and Excel —​ state Superintendent Randy Dorn is suggesting a bill that requires schools to report to his office with evidence of how they're making digital literacy happen.
• According to The Olympian, the legislature has already prioritized tech literacy, but Dorn is concerned that there is currently no way to hold schools accountable.
• Another bill that is currently being discussed, which also aims to build tech literacy, is one that allows students to count computer science courses toward their foreign language requirement.

Dive Insight:

While students may be well-equipped with the ins and outs of Facebook and Twitter, ensuring that they know how to make a Powerpoint presentation and then present it confidently is a whole other story. Luckily, they will most likely pick up on the tech skills faster, since so much of their life is already drenched in digital. However, Washington's plan sounds like a wise one for states wanting to make sure there is some depth in the tech instruction occurring in schools. According to The Olympian, schools can report to Dorn's office that they are teaching tech in a variety of ways, including assessments, end-of-year projects, or computer-centered class time.