July 2008 — Case Studies
Print this article | Email this articleClick here to receive your FREE subscription to T.H.E. Journal
High Schools : Maryland : Buying Power
In addition, digital content is embedded in the social studies coursework developed by Maryland Virtual Learning Opportunities, which offers online classes for high school credit.To date, the project has been instrumental in helping Maryland school districts net significant cost savings—more than $500,000 statewide—freeing up funds to purchase additional resources. One dramatic example of the money the consortium has saved districts is seen in the Baltimore City Public School System. Sheila Grap, the district's manager of library information technology, reports that prior to the project, the district was spending $146,000 a year for one database at the elementary school level. Now BCPSS is able to purchase 20-plus databases for grades preK-12 for one year at an almost identical cost. MDK12 has been most beneficial for high schools, which make the most frequent use of digital content. With the savings generated by the project, districts now have the funds to purchase more online databases for their high school students.
Results from evaluation surveys affirm the positive impact of providing students with greater access to information and resources. Because of the MDK12 Digital Library project, educators can now offer to all Maryland students current, reliable, authoritative information derived from articles found in newspapers, magazines, and journals. No longer will any of these students be regarded as have-nots in the digital divide.
Gail C. Bailey is director of school library media programs for Montgomery County Public Schools. Jayne E. Moore is director of instructional technology and school library media for the Maryland State Department of Education.
Cite this Site
copy text (above) for proper citation
