Benchmark 1

Commitment to a Clear Vision & Implementation Strategies

DOE Benchmark

Taunton's 2007 Status

Proposed Direction

Progress
2008-09

A. Clear Goals

Progress will be updated in June of each year.

The district's technology plan contains a clearly stated and reasonable set of goals and implementation strategies that align with the district-wide school improvement plan. The district is committed to achieving its vision by the end of the school year 2010-2011.

The technology plan in the past strived to support both the district's goals and the DOE's benchmarks. To support both the District and the State Benchmarks, a cross-referencing or check needs to be conducted, and gaps need to be highlighted.

• The District Technology plan will develop a system to cross-reference the Technology Plan goals to support both the District's goals and the DOE Benchmarks.At the same time the goals will be "doable".

In process

B. Technology Team

The district has a technology team with representatives from a variety of stakeholder groups, including school committee members, administrators, and teachers. The technology team has the support of the district leadership team.

The District has multiple technology groups.

1. District technology team: consists of Tech Dept staff, Middle School IT specialists, and elementary lab paraprofessionals. These people are necessary for front line implementation of teh technology plan. They meet every other month.
2. Working technology Team: consists of the 4 Middle School IT Specialists, we meet once a month to work on the Tech Plan, curriculum planning, policy development and , professional professional development planning.
3. Technology Plan Advisory Group: provides input into the technology plan progress and oversee that plan is keeping on track. Results are then implemented by the Working technology team. Need to meet at least 4 times a year.
4. Administration: the Technology Director reports on Technology plan to Administration.

The District will continue with the same with the below recommendations:

1. District Technology Team: Keep as is, replacing people as needed. Keep a notebook with sign-ins and minutes.

2. Working Technology Team: Keep as is.

3. Technology Plan Advisory Group:

• Meet consistently 4 times a year.
• Must make at least 3 meetings a year to participate.
• Keep a notebook with sign-ins a minutes.
• Invite Admin to attend
• Invite School Committee member to attend

4. Administration:

• Often just report to admin. Invite admin to attend.

Link to District Technology Team

Working Technology Team

Link to Advisory Group

We have not met consistently this year. Recommend that we meet one time prior to end of year to go over next year's recommendations and then get back on a schedule as outlined by the Technology Plan for 2008-2009.

Administration:

Report directly to Dr. Steven Leonard, Asst. Supt. for Curriculum & Instruction

C. Needs Assessment

1. The district assesses the technology products and services that will be needed to improve teaching and learning.

1. Currently create surveys and focus groups to evaluate products or give feed back on current products. 2. Technology Director belongs to regional technology group which provides comparison information 3. On large ticket items, gathers information on at least 3 products for comparison.

• Continue practice.

1. Assessments are gathered through student outcomes and through surveys

2. Technology Director attends local and regional technology meetings.

3. Follow all laws for procurement which includes gathering information on more than 1 product.

2. The technology plan includes an assessment of the services and products that are currently being used and that the district plans to acquire.

1. Currently creates surveys and focus groups to evaluate products or give feed back on current products.

• Continue practice and expand to all services and products.

1. Laptop carts: conduct year end survey on teacher/students perception of use and ways to improve usage.

D. CIPA Compliance

The district has a CIPA-compliant Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) regarding Internet and network use. The policy is updated as needed to help ensure safe and ethical use of resources by teachers and students.

The district currently has an Acceptable Use Policy in place. It is getting old and needs to be updated and re-introduced to district.

• Create an Acceptable Use Policy committee including elementary lab and library staff, and high school department chair and IT Specialists.
• Create a timeline.
• Professional development (video) by high school students (Steve Jacques)

To be done School Year 2009-2010

E. Budget

The district has a budget for its local technology plan with line items for technology in its operational budget.

1. The budget includes staffing, infrastructure, hardware, software, professional development, support, and contracted services (including telephone services).
   
2. The district leverages the use of federal, state, and private resources.
   
3. For districts that plan to apply for E-rate reimbursement, the technology plan specifies how the district will pay for the non-discounted portion of their costs for the services procured through E-rate.
   

1. The district directly currently submits a budget to support the technology plan to the Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance which includes infrastructure, hardware and software. Central office manages staffing, professional development, and contracted services including telephone services. Pending on budget finances, the director is then given a final budget for the year from which to work with.
2. The District uses federal, state, and private resources
3. The District pays for all non-discounted portions of our costs for services procured through E-rate.

• Local Budget: Post and update proposed and real budget to technology plan.Request staffing/professional development and services budgets from Central Office to include into Technology Plan
• District will continue to use federal, state, and private resources.
• The District will continue to pay for all non-discounted portaions of our costs for services procured through E-rate.

Budget has been drafted and given to Business Manager.

Request for staff have been submitted. (Spring 2009, hired 2 network adminsitrators to replace vacant positions).

DESE grants have been posted and will be applied for.

E-Rate discounts have been applied for and non-discounted portions will be paid by District.

E. Evaluation

1. The district evaluates the effectiveness of technology resources toward attainment of educational goals on a regular basis.
2. The district's technology plan includes an evaluation process that enables it to monitor its progress in achieving its goals and to make mid-course corrections in response to new developments and opportunities as they arise.

1. The district evaluates many of the instructional software systems in place through teacher surveys, and the comparison students' formative assessment to students' summative data (MCAS) using tools such as TestWiz. There is not a formal evaluation process for all
2. There is no formal evaluation process for monitoring the progress of the technology plan goals.

• Ongoing evaluation of instructional technology systems: pre/midyear/and post.
• Develop a an evaluation system to monitor the progress of the technology plan. Report to the Technolgoy Advisory Board with updates to the Administration.

End of year surveys and reports to be conducted on content software and resources (Waterford, Successmaker, Study Island, MyAccess)

TechnologyEvaluation system to be developed.