GoOpen National Network

As the former partner with the U.S. Department of Education’s federal #GoOpen initiative from 2018-2021, ISKME took the helm in 2022 to transition the network to a community-led model of leadership and governance and the only national affiliation dedicated to K-12 open education. ISKME, together with Foresight Law + Policy, CAST, and a steering committee of OER leaders, set goals for leveraging a collaborative community coalition to create a renewed national K-12 open education network. Now known as the #GoOpen National Network, ISKME created and maintains a centralized hub on OER Commons for sharing resources, webinar announcements, and updates about OER strategies and implementations, and about topics such as professional learning, accessibility, AI policy and practice, cultural responsiveness, and other related issues.

In early 2023, the network piloted a high profile policy action to advocate for connecting OER to Digital Equity plans by states applying for federal funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (“IIJA”, P.L. 117-58). A policy letter, guidance, and toolkit were created to support educational leaders in advocating for OER as a solution for consideration by state leads of Digital Equity plans looking to leverage the expansion of access to broadband, connectivity, and related offerings in their states. As part of its policy actions, network leads informed network members about state-level Digital Equity planning and public comment opportunities in their states. In addition, the Network conducted to the policy action to reach Congress (Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions) as it was attending to the reauthorization of the Education Sciences Reform Act (ESRA), including the Educational Technical Assistance Act and the National Assessment of Education Progress Authorization Act. ESRA reauthorization can provide an important opportunity to recognize the pivotal role open educational resources (OER) can and should play in promoting and supporting student success.

In 2024, with renewed support from the Hewlett Foundation, ISKME will continue to support the #GoOpen National Network to connect OER to other national agendas in the education landscape, from digital equity to dual enrollment to deeper learning and accessibility, we see our role as a network facilitator and connector as key to creating impact through knowledge sharing across states, districts, and regions.