DOE Benchmark

Taunton's 2007 Status

Proposed Direction

Progress
2008-09

A. Clear Goals

Progress will be updated in June of each year.

A. 85% Staff & 45 Hours

At the end of three years, at least 85% of district staff will have participated in 45 hours of high-quality professional development that includes technology skills and the integration of technology into instruction.  

• Based on the 07-08 Technology Plan report to DESE it is estimated that 49 % received formal technology professional development.
• The District currently provides content application specific professional development as proposed by the technology department, curriculum department heads in collaboration with principals.
• Teachers are also encouraged to take graduate level courses which target technology use as a component as well as include universal design and assistive technology.
• Workshops that are approved by the Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction are posted to the Distrct's website. Teachers are given PDP's and payment according to contract.

Based on TSAT results, the District will offer professional development addressing staff needs.

Teachers report that 49% received formal technology pd. However, much content area pd includes technology and may not be counted. Need more accurate measure.

Progress will be updated in June of each year.

2. For Teaching and Learning - At least 85% of teachers use technology appropriately with students every day to improve student learning of the curriculum. Activities include some of the following: research, multimedia, simulations, data interpretation, communications, and collaboration

Areas of Student Use:

• Internet Research
• Word Processing
• Graphs & Charts
• Publications
• Presentations
• Web Page Design
• My Access
• Waterford
• Plato
• SuccessMaker
• e-Harcourt
• Study Island
  
  
  

Continue use in current areas in order to increase skill level and student proficiency Upgrade applications when appropriate.

Progress will be updated in June of each year.

B. Technology Literacy

1. At least 85% of eighth gradestudents show proficiency in all the Massachusetts Recommended PreK-12 Instructional Technology Standards for grade 8.

The Technology Specialists estimate that upon leaving the 8th grade 85% of all students will have received a passing grade in their technology classes.

Develop a rubric for the end of grades 4 and 8 accessing
student achievement with a goal of 90% proficiency.

Progress will be updated in June of each year.

2. 100% of teachers are working to meet the proficiency level in technology, and by the school year 2010-2011, 60% of teachers will have reached the proficiency level as defined by the Massachusetts Technology Self-Assessment Tool (TSAT).

The TPS district will measure teacher proficiency by administering the TSAT (or equal) in June 2009

To improve proficiencies in teachers' use of technology the plan must address:

• Using curriculum driven technology
• Appropriate technologies for task (upgrade the older technologies)
• Professional development (this area will be addressed in the Professionalk Development section.

Administer the TSAT in June 2009 and again as needed

Progress will be updated in June of each year.

C. Staffing

1. The district has a district-level technology director/coordinator.

The district has a full-time district-level technology director.

The district will continue to employ a full-time district-level technology director.

Progress will be updated in June of each year.

2. The district provides one FTE instructional technology teacher per 60-120 instructional staff.

The district provides one FTE instructional technology teacher at each of the four middle schools. This equals approximately 1 FTE IT teacher to 150 instructional staff. To provide additional support each elementary school has either full-time or part time FTE lab assistant.

Lab assistants are not teachers but they do provide technology lab support., The District staff meeting for technology will continue to provide training and support for both IT teachers and assistants enabling them to provide optimum support to instructional staff.
Consider the addition of an Integration Specialist to assist at the elementary level.

Progress will be updated in June of each year.

3. The district has staff dedicated to data management and assessment

TPS currently employs 2.5 FTE's dedicated to data entry/ management . Assessments are currently analyzed by principals and department heads.

A data administrator is needed to analyze and oversee all assessments for the TPS. This will provide a better overall picture of the district rather than schools or departments as is the current practice.

Progress will be updated in June of each year.