The Issue Is…

Instructional Technology has lacked funding and support to implement Technology Applications appropriately in grades K-8--as represented by C&I Scope-n-Sequence integration, providing technology resources, allocating staff units—and now IS REQUIRED TO report on whether students graduating 8th grade have met the State’s expectations for Technology Literacy. It is up to the District to determine how that will be decided. Documentation must be provided.

It is significant because:

1. Data is required, auditable, must have supporting documentation and failure to provide it may negatively impact future funding per the Texas Education Agency and No Child Left Behind.
2. Since December, 2006, eighth graders have had to meet Technology Applications:TEKS graduation requirements.
3. Assessments may show that the District is not sufficiently prepared to assess students in grades K-8 in the area of Technology Applications.
4. Most teachers (over 52%) are at a Level 0 or 2 of technology implementation, and campuses are at entry/developing level of technology per the Texas STaR Chart.
5. Eighth graders will certainly do poorly on any assessment that is done due to poor preparation.

Ideal outcome:

• Notify all campuses and Assess all eighth graders this school year using one of the options outlined below:

Choice	Description	Cost	Perceived Quality
Option 1	Learning.com assessment	$14,000	High
Option 2	TechConnect TA:TEKS Electronic Textbook	Free	Medium
Option 3	Moodle-ize Another District’s Assessment	Free	Low

• Require all instructional staff—teachers, administrators, librarians—to complete 50 hours of online professional learning aligned to ISTE National Education Technology Standards (NETS) and 20 hours of face to face workshops—in preparation to integrate Technology Applications:TEKS to meet expectations by October, 2008.
• Refine the Curriculum & Instruction Scope and Sequence to reflect integration of Technology Applications:TEKS in the core content area.
• Update every Middle School computer lab so that it is running the latest OS (e.g. Windows XP), has a digital projector, and other necessary peripherals (e.g. digital camera, scanner) and software needed to meet needs.
• Fully fund and staff at every campus, a Grade 6 or 7 Technology Applications Teacher.

Relevant Background Information

• The District has a 41% activation rate on its Technology Applications:TEKS Electronic Textbooks for grades K-8. Actual usage is not measured but, in all likelihood, lags far behind.
• Only a few middle schools still have full-time Technology Applications:TEKS teachers and the labs to support them.
• Other NCLB Requirements that must be reported between September, 2008 and November, 2008:
  • Unduplicated number of computers available to students for instruction by Internet access type
    • Minimum requirements will be provided for machines that should be included in the report.
    • Internet access type refers to whether the computers are dial-up, high speed, or no connection to the Internet).
  • Unduplicated number of school personnel achieving acceptable performance on standards-based performance profiles of technology user skills as defined by the State by staff categories. This includes administrators, teachers and librarians. (tracked by STaR Chart currently) and administrators (new assessment being developed for them).

What Instructional Technology (IT) has done up to this point:

Now

• Crafted a Weekly Memo for Principals
• Investigated the various options for 8th Grade Assessment

The Help IT wants from the Group is:

• Tell me which option you want to select.
• Communicate that option to associate area superintendents, superintendents and principals with a high level of urgency.
• Obtain support to implement and achieve the ideal outcome above.
• Grant permission to send out this weekly memo to all campus principals.