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California IT: Legacy of Failure and a Call for Reform
The book, Technology vs. Government: The Irresistible Force Meets the Immovable Object, was written and edited by Lloyd Levine, and co-published with contributions from eight other chapter authors including myself. Levine is a former member of the California State Legislature, and Senior Policy Fellow at the University of California. Levine’s tome is being called both a solid guidepost and a stark warning for government policy and administrative leaders at all levels of the public sector – especially for those leaders and their private sector IT vendor partners who have faced the wrath of public reprobation for their too-frequent shortcomings.
Recent News
  1. CoSN, STEDA Release Free Procurement Tools
    The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) and the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) have released the K-12 Community Vendor Assessment Tool Lite-V4.1 (K-12CVAT), a questionnaire framework specifically designed for K-12 schools, districts, and education service districts to measure vendor risk.
  2. Tech Hubs Program Requests $2 Billion in Phase 2 Proposals
    The Department of Commerce’s (DoC) Economic Development Administration (EDA) made public today the details of the 31 technology hubs’ proposals for the second phase of the new Tech Hubs program – revealing a collective request of $2 billion in funding for a total of 182 projects.
  3. Task Force Urges BU ‘Critically Embrace’ AI Tech
    Boston University (BU) recently released its AI Task Force Report, which includes a push for the university to “critically embrace” artificial intelligence (AI) technologies across campus.
  1. Montana Using Tech to Offer Personalized Professional Development Plans for Teachers
    The Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) is partnering with ImpactED, a global technology firm, to develop personalized professional development plans for K-8 teachers.
  2. Kansas Investing $8M in Digital Opportunities
    Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly announced that the state’s Digital Equity (DE) Plan has been approved by the Federal government, clearing the way for the state to receive $8.2 million in Federal funding to improve high-speed internet connectivity and increase digital opportunities across the state.
  3. Maryland Launches Website for Bridge Collapse Response
    Following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore last month, the state of Maryland began what is sure to be a lengthy recovery process. To help aid in that process, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has launched a new website that will serve as a central hub for Marylanders in search of Federal, state, and local resources and programs related to the bridge collapse.
  4. N.Y. Overhauling Outdated DMV Tech to Improve CX
    The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is preparing to undertake a multi-year project to replace and modernize its outdated technology systems. The DMV said the project will provide its customers with more efficient, secure, and convenient services, and will enable the agency to implement future technology advancements more efficiently.
  1. DoJ: SLGs Must Ensure Web and Mobile App Access for People with Disabilities
  2. CISA, FBI, ODNI Issue Guidance on Securing Election Infrastructure
    The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), FBI, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) issued guidance on Wednesday that details how to protect election infrastructure from foreign malign influence operations.
  3. Philadelphia Mayor Names New CIO
    Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker has tapped Melissa Scott to become the city’s new chief information officer (CIO). Scott will also lead the city’s Office of Innovation and Technology.
  4. Lawmakers Debut Water Systems Cybersecurity Bill
    Following fresh warnings from the Federal government that foreign hackers are targeting U.S. water systems for possible cyberattacks, two House members this week introduced legislation that would focus greater government attention on that threat.
  5. Vanderbilt Cyber Chief Elevated to CIO
    Vanderbilt University has looked in-house for its next chief information officer (CIO) and has tapped Shane Callahan for the role.
  6. Civil Rights, Education Orgs Push for School AI Surveillance Curbs
    The No Tech Criminalization in Education Coalition (NOTICE) and more than 40 other civil rights and education organizations sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) last month calling for a ban on Federal funding for school surveillance systems that rely on algorithms and other artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled technology for predictive policing and other harmful practices.
  7. College System of Tennessee Launches Employment Data Dashboard
    The College System of Tennessee has launched a new interactive online data dashboard with the goal of helping its community and technical colleges learn more about graduates’ post-college employment and earnings.
  8. New Mexico Unveils ARPA, BIL Funding Dashboard
    New Mexico has launched a new Federal funding dashboard that allows users to track and analyze statewide and community projects and services funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).
  9. DoL Pitches UI Transformation Plan, Sends Congress Funding Beg
    The Labor Department (DoL) went public with its latest plans to modernize unemployment insurance (UI) programs that it operates with state government partners, and requested that Congress do its part by funding the plan.
  10. California Releases GenAI Procurement Guidelines
    Following California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Executive Order on Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) signed in 2023, the California Government Operations Agency has released procurement guidelines and a new toolkit for state agencies and departments as they consider and procure GenAI technology for state operations.