Getting wired. Despite support, Idaho Education Network still seeks funding

Before the Legislature could even consider funding a $50 million statewide broadband network to serve local schools last year, the Idaho Department of Administration was drawing up a business plan and soliciting companies to participate.

The Idaho Education Network http://www2.state.id.us/itrmc/council/minutes/2008/20080423_ITRMC_meeting_docs/H0543_Idaho-Education-Network.pdf is designed to go beyond existing online courses, such as the Idaho Digital Learning Academy, to deliver a broader range of courses to newly wired Idaho classrooms. In outlining IEN, officials often tout the possibility that youths in even the most remote Idaho schools would have access to an unusual range of courses – everything from instruction in Mandarin Chinese to an increase in dual enrollment for college credit and help meeting No Child Left Behind mandates.

By Jared S. Hopkins
Times-News writer

Full Story: http://www.magicvalley.com/articles/2009/01/25/news/local_state/153579.txt