Partnership, $1 Million Donation Launch Florida Center for Digital Learning

A partnership between the Helios Education Foundation and SRI International has launched a Center for Digital Learning in St. Petersburg, FL, with $1 million as the seed.

The initial donation by Helios will hire staff, develop a pipeline of prospects and projects, and build awareness of the work with hopes of eventual additional project funding coming from the federal government, the state of Florida, foundations, and other funders.

The center will actively create digital learning projects focused on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), while also evaluating digital learning models, supporting Florida-based demonstration projects and research, and improving methods of student collaboration and assessment, according to a Helios release.

"We want to learn more about how digital learning can improve student success. That's why we're excited about this partnership," said Helios Education Foundation President and CEO Paul Luna, in a release. "This new Center will provide insights into effective, efficient, and measurable methods of using digital learning in the classroom."

The two companies have worked together in the past, partnering with the University of South Florida St. Petersburg and Pinellas County schools on the SunBay digital math program in 2009. That program trained 30 teachers in 10 schools and touched more than 2,500 students in Pinellas County, FL, according to a release.

Previous education partners of SRI International include the Miami-Dade School District, Florida Virtual High Schools, the Lastinger Center for Learning at the University of Florida, and the University of Miami.

About the Author

Kevin Hudson is a freelance journalist based in Portland, Oregon. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Two figures, one male and one female, stand beside a transparent digital interface displaying AI symbols like neural networks, code, and a shield, against a clean blue gradient background.

    Microsoft-IDC Report Makes Business Case for Responsible AI

    A report commissioned by Microsoft and published last month by research firm IDC notes that 91% of organizations use AI tech and expect more than a 24% improvement in customer experience, business resilience, sustainability, and operational efficiency due to AI in 2024.

  • group of educators working on computer

    Improve Teacher-Student Satisfaction by Removing Procurement Obstacles

    Intuitive tools help teachers gain flexibility and control over purchases, and more time back for doing what they love.

  • abstract geometric pattern of glowing interconnected triangles, hexagons, and circles in blue, gold, and white, spread across a dark navy-to-black gradient background

    OpenAI Introduces 'Operator' AI for Performing Web Tasks

    OpenAI has announced "Operator," an AI agent designed to perform web-based tasks autonomously using its own browser. Currently available as a research preview for Pro users in the United States, the tool aims to automate everyday activities such as filling out forms, ordering groceries, and even creating memes.

  • horizontal stack of U.S. dollar bills breaking in half

    ED Abruptly Cancels ESSER Funding Extensions

    The Department of Education has moved to close the door on COVID relief funding for schools, declaring that "extending deadlines for COVID-related grants, which are in fact taxpayer funds, years after the COVID pandemic ended is not consistent with the Department’s priorities and thus not a worthwhile exercise of its discretion."