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Philadelphia’s Digital Literacy Alliance Announces Grant Recipients
The Digital Literacy Alliance (DLA), a coalition of digital inclusion partners working to overcome the digital divide in Philadelphia, announced its Fall 2024 grant cycle recipients. DLA said this latest cycle focuses on innovative community engagement practices that address digital inclusion through resident volunteers, peer leadership, and/or community ambassador models. 
Recent News
  1. Georgia State Finds Online Learning Platform Successful for COVID Recovery
    New research from Georgia State University’s Georgia Policy Labs (GPL) found that when recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, schools that used the online-learning platform i-Ready experienced greater standardized test score growth in math and reading than students who did not use the platform.
  2. Rhode Island Schools Adopting PDNS Cyber Tool
    All K-12 public schools in Rhode Island will begin using by the end of the current school year a new cybersecurity tool that will better protect their schools’ data and systems, according to a press release from the White House.
  3. North Carolina A&T Turns to Chatbot to Support Student Success
    North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University has implemented a chatbot to capture the student voice via text message, identify potential issues students may be facing, and provide guidance and support resources where needed.
  1. Zscaler: Encrypted Threats Surge to 87 Percent of All Cyber Threats
    More than 87 percent of all cyber threats took place over encrypted networks this year, a new Zscaler ThreatLabz report finds. The solution, the cybersecurity company says, lies in adopting zero trust security architectures.
  2. Maryland Maryland Launches App for Businesses to Accept Mobile IDs
    The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) has launched the Mobile ID Check by MD, a free app that provides a secure and convenient way for businesses to accept mobile driver's licenses and identification cards for in-person age verification.
  3. New Jersey to Share AI Training Materials With Other States
    New Jersey, in partnership with U.S. Digital Response (USDR), has launched a set of AI training materials available to other states.
  4. HHS Putting People First in Human-Centered Design for Tribal Grants
    Top Federal officials are calling for a “human-centered” approach to technology solutions and Federal grant funding, saying that techno-digital solutions aren’t always enough and that officials must consider other needs in the process.
  1. Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration Touts Success of Online Services
    The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) touted a new milestone for its online services platform – more than 2 million Marylanders have registered their myMVA online services accounts. The myMVA online services provides customers with real time access to driver and vehicle information.
  2. San Diego Developing Broadband Master Plan
    The city of San Diego has started work to develop a Broadband Master Plan with the ultimate goal of addressing internet access and digital equity across the city.
  3. New Mexico Rolls Out Digital Driver’s Licenses, State IDs
    New Mexico residents can now add their driver's license or state ID cards to their Apple and Google Wallets. The move, according to the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division (MVD), will allow residents to seamlessly and securely add and present their IDs using their mobile device for certain purposes in the state and nationwide.
  4. Georgia Dept. of Transportation Selects Broadband Partner
    The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has selected Plenary Broadband Infrastructure (PBI) as the Operations, Maintenance and Commercialization (OMC) partner for the department’s upcoming broadband project.
  5. Dept. of Ed. Rolls Out Finalized Online FAFSA Form
    Following successful beta testing, the Department of Education has officially released the 2025–26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
  6. University of Arizona CIO Announces Retirement
    University of Arizona Chief Information Officer (CIO) Barry Brummund announced that he will retire effective Jan. 17, 2025.
  7. ONCD Unveils new Toolkit to Strengthen Cyber Workforce
    National Cyber Director Harry Coker announced a new toolkit to help build and strengthen cybersecurity ecosystems during an event at Hinds Community College in Mississippi.
  8. Dept. of Ed. Urges School Leaders to Adopt Cellphone Policies
    The Department of Education is urging states, districts, and schools to adopt policies addressing the use of student personal devices in schools, and it issued new guidance to aid government and school leaders in developing their new policies.
  9. Kansas Upgrades Unemployment Insurance Online System
    The Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) has completed a massive upgrade to its online system for accessing unemployment insurance (UI) benefits.
  10. Pennsylvania Distributing 9,000 Laptops to Community Institutions
    The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) will distribute more than 9,100 laptops to community institutions across the commonwealth to support residents who do not have access to digital technology.