Our History
More Than A Decade of Excellence
The Centers for Quality Teaching and Learning was founded more than a decade ago in the wake of a successful volunteer-driven school wiring project. In the years since, the scope and impact of our programs have grown dramatically.
The organization was born as ExplorNet in the mid-1990s, when company founders organized the North Carolina NetDay event. With help from businesses and school technology staff and administrators, they organized one of the most successful school wiring projects in the nation, saving the state hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Legislators asked what more could be done to prepare North Carolina's classrooms for the 21st Century, and a partnership was born. With funding from the General Assembly and guidance from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, a non-profit called ExplorNet was founded and began its work with programs that taught computer engineering skills to students. Through the program, students gained valuable skills while hundreds of donated computers found homes in school classrooms across the state.
Federal funding took that program into other states, and it was recognized with a Smithsonian Laureate designation. Soon after, ExplorNet began developing other programs that would promote the intelligent, strategic use of technology alongside research-based teaching strategies.
Today ExplorNet is known as The Centers for Quality Teaching and Learning, but the mission of creating an environment where teachers can reach every student, every day remains the focus of our efforts.