Microsoft and the Open Data Institute (ODI) launched the Education Open Data Challenge to explore the relationship between broadband access and K-12 (ages 5-18) education outcomes. The Education Open Data Challenge encourages teams to assess the state of the global digital divide in K-12 education, identify potential impacts on learning outcomes, and propose innovative cost-efficient solutions to bridge the digital divide with special focus on:

• The steps governments, education providers, businesses, or society can take to help students gain equal access to education in areas affected by a lack of digital infrastructure;
• How education system leaders can most effectively improve digital access to enable equal learning for all students; and
• How to develop the skills needed to make online learning tools and platforms inclusive and effective to students from disadvantaged communities.

The winning team will be invited to elect a non-profit organisation of their choice to receive a ¡ê50,000 award, with the runners-up electing non-profit organisations of their choice to receive ¡ê30,000 and ¡ê20,000 awards.