As announced at a TEA Update by Karen Kahan and Ann Mason, the state has funded online databases for all Texas public schools and public charter schools. Thanks to Rider 88, $2,500,000 from the Technology Allotment will be used each year of the biennium to fund the new K-12 Databases program. The partnership among TEA, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC), and ESC-20 will provide a quality online research and information resource service to Texas public schools.

The K-12 Databases program includes the EBSCO reference package of 36 databases (formerly known as K-12 TexShare) and, as of December 1, 2007, Encyclopedia Britannica.

This long awaited opportunity has ensured 24/7 access for all Texas students, educators, and students’ immediate families to quality online resources, which help enrich the curriculum while addressing content area TEKS, Technology Applications TEKS and information literacy skills. The involvement of all ESCs will be crucial to the success of this program and the viability of extending this important type of funding in years to come.

Additional add-on packages are available for purchase.

Updated by JMcDaniel on 11/30/07