Technology Requirements Timeline

From Paper Tests to 100% Digital Learning (1997-2025)

The Technology Revolution

In just 28 years, Moses Lake schools went from:

1997: Paper-pencil tests, computer labs optional
2025: Chromebooks mandatory, all homework online, computer testing required

This transformation happened DURING demographic shift from white majority to Hispanic majority—creating perfect storm for ELL students in poor families.

The Three-Phase Evolution

Phase	Years	Technology Status	Student Impact
Paper Era	1997-2014	WASL/MSP tests on paper, computer labs for enrichment	Technology optional, no home internet needed for success
Transition Era	2015-2019	Smarter Balanced requires computers, LMS spreading, devices limited	Sudden requirement shift, students without access disadvantaged
Digital Era	2020-2025	1:1 Chromebooks, 100% online homework, remote learning capable	Devices universal but 19% lack home internet—gap persists

Critical Milestones Timeline

1998 - The Homework Gap Begins

Teachers start assigning internet research projects

Moses Lake: ~55% white, 40% Hispanic

Home internet adoption: ~30% nationally
Students without internet: Use libraries, fall behind
First signs of digital divide in education
The 26-year homework gap starts here

1999-2014 - Gradual Creep

K-20 Network provides school internet, homework moves online incrementally

1999: K-20 Network connects all WA districts (T1 lines, 1.5 Mbps)
2002-03: NoaNet Ethernet pilot upgrades Moses Lake/Ephrata to 10 Mbps
2010: Moses Lake crosses to Hispanic majority (52%)
Small rural districts still waiting for fiber infrastructure
More homework requires internet but still "optional"

Spring 2015 - THE REVOLUTION

Smarter Balanced testing makes computers MANDATORY

Moses Lake: 58-60% Hispanic

Paper tests END - MSP discontinued
Computer testing BEGINS - Smarter Balanced Assessment
All students grades 3-8 and 10 MUST test on computers
Districts scramble to buy hundreds of devices
Testing infrastructure crisis (not enough computers/bandwidth)
Computers go from "nice to have" to "REQUIRED" overnight

2014-2018 - Learning Management Systems Spread

Google Classroom becomes standard, ALL homework moves online

August 2014: Google Classroom launches (free for schools)
2015-2017: Rapid adoption in Moses Lake and large districts
Moses Lake becomes "Google District" - all students/staff get Google accounts
ALL assignments posted on Google Classroom
Digital submission becomes expected
Students without home internet severely disadvantaged

2019-20 - 1:1 Chromebook Programs

Moses Lake implements universal device program

Fall 2019: All Moses Lake students grades 5-12 get Chromebooks
4,700 Chromebooks deployed (~$1.4 million initial cost)
Take-home privileges: Students keep devices
GoGuardian filtering, iBoss security
BUT: ~20% of families still lack home internet
Device alone doesn't solve homework gap

March 2020 - COVID Exposes Everything

100% remote learning reveals the digital divide

Schools close March 2020
Moses Lake has devices ready (advantage of 2019 deployment)
But 20% of students have no home internet
Emergency hotspot distribution (limited, data caps)
Students fall off grid for weeks/months
Chromebook shortage nationwide (couldn't buy more)
Achievement gaps explode - may be permanent

November 2024 - Infrastructure Finally Complete

Grant County PUD finishes 24-year fiber project

100% of Grant County has fiber available
Last five miles completed (Nov 2024)
Soap Lake, Warden, rural areas finally connected
But availability ≠ adoption
19% of Moses Lake still don't subscribe
Economic barrier: $50-80/month unaffordable

2025 - The Gap Persists

26 years after homework gap began, it still exists

100% of students have Chromebooks ✓
100% of county has fiber available ✓
19% STILL lack home internet ✗
Google Classroom mandatory ✗
All homework requires internet ✗
Same inequality that started in 1998 continues in 2025

The Testing Infrastructure Story

Before 2015: Paper Testing (WASL/MSP)

Technology needed: Zero

#2 pencils and paper answer sheets
Tests shipped in boxes, scored in Olympia
Computer labs used for learning, not testing
No digital divide impact on state testing

Spring 2015: Smarter Balanced Revolution

Technology needed: Massive infrastructure

Computer for every tested student (grades 3-8, 10)
High-speed internet (100+ students testing simultaneously)
Headphones (listening portions)
Working keyboards (students type essays)
Battery life for 2-3 hour tests
WiFi coverage throughout buildings
IT staff to troubleshoot during testing
Large districts adapted in 1-2 years, small districts struggled for 5+ years

The Testing Inequality by District Size

District Type	2015 Response	2020 Status	Timeline Gap
Large (Moses Lake, Ephrata)	Already had fiber (10-100 Mbps), bought Chromebook carts, trained staff	Full 1:1 programs, mature infrastructure, COVID-ready	Adapted in 1-2 years
Small (Soap Lake, Warden)	Limited computers, slow internet, testing took 3 months	Still catching up, emergency COVID purchases, students without devices for months	5-10 year lag behind large districts

Learning Management Systems (LMS)

What Changed With LMS

Before LMS (Pre-2014)	After LMS (2015-2025)
Assignments on paper or school website	ALL assignments on Google Classroom
Email attachments for digital work	Digital submission required
Gradebook via Skyward only	Real-time grades visible to parents
Home internet helpful but not required	Home internet ESSENTIAL for success

Moses Lake's LMS: Google Workspace

"Moses Lake School District is proud to be a Google district"

All students/staff get Google accounts
Tools: Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Classroom
Chromebooks integrate seamlessly
Teachers post all assignments on Google Classroom
Parents monitor via Google Classroom observer accounts
Requires home internet to participate fully

1:1 Device Programs

Moses Lake's Program (2019-20)

Launch: Fall 2019 school year
Coverage: All students grades 5-12 (4,700 Chromebooks)
Take-home: Students keep devices, use at home
Cost: ~$1.4M initial, ~$500K annual (replacements, repairs, management)
Insurance: Optional $20/year family coverage
Management: GoGuardian monitoring, iBoss filtering

Why 1:1 Doesn't Solve the Problem

Student has Chromebook ✓

Student does NOT have home internet ✗

Result: Can't do homework, can't access assignments, falls behind

2024 Reality:

100% of Moses Lake students have Chromebooks
19% lack home broadband
Devices without connectivity = expensive paperweights

The Economic Burden

What Moses Lake Pays Annually (Estimates)

Category	Annual Cost
Device replacement (25% of 4,700 @ $300)	$350,000
Device management software	$50,000
Filtering/monitoring (GoGuardian, iBoss)	$20,000
Repairs (15% failure rate)	$100,000
TOTAL TECHNOLOGY BURDEN	~$500,000+/year

Funding sources: Local technology levies (property tax), state per-pupil funding, federal grants (E-Rate, CARES Act). Without federal help, small districts couldn't afford this.

Key Findings

Finding #1: The 2015 Revolution

Spring 2015 Smarter Balanced mandate changed everything overnight. Computers went from optional enrichment to absolutely required for state testing. Districts unprepared faced years of catch-up.

Finding #2: Large vs. Small District Gap

Moses Lake adapted to computer testing in 1-2 years (2015-2017). Soap Lake struggled until 2024—waiting for fiber infrastructure. Same county, 10-year technology gap.

Finding #3: LMS Made Homework Gap Worse

Pre-2014: Internet homework disadvantaged but manageable. Post-2014: Google Classroom made home internet essential. Students without access fell further behind every year.

Finding #4: Devices ≠ Access

2024: Every student has Chromebook. 19% still lack home internet. We solved device problem, not access problem. Homework gap persists after 26 years.

Finding #5: COVID Exposed Pre-Existing Failure

Students who "fell off grid" in March 2020 were already falling behind—we just weren't looking. System was broken before COVID; remote learning made it visible.