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2013-2015 Technology Plan Guidance
Most local education agencies (LEAs) currently have an approved 2012 Technology Bridge Plan on file with the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) that covers the period of July 1, 2011 – June 30, 2012. School districts and charter schools who wish to remain eligible for federal technology funding, such as the federal E-rate discount program, federal technology grant initiatives, and state telecommunications access aid, must develop their next technology plan to cover July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2015. Completion of this 2013-2015 technology plan and submission to MDE for approval will maintain the LEA’s eligibility for state and federal programs for 2013-2015.
Plan Development
Technology planning should be an integral part of the strategic planning process of LEAs; therefore, MDE has compiled resources to assist with the technology planning process rather than prescribing a specific process.
Plan Requirements
The following requirements are imposed by the federal E-rate program and must be met for technology plans submitted for E-rate program eligibility:
1. The plan must establish clear goals and a realistic strategy for using telecommunications and information technology to improve education services.
2. The plan must include a professional development strategy to ensure that staff know how to use these new technologies to improve education services.
3. The plan must also include an assessment of the telecommunication services, hardware, software, and other services that will be needed to improve education or library services.
4. The plan must include an evaluation process that enables the school or library to monitor progress toward the specified goals and make mid-course corrections in response to new developments and opportunities as they arise.
5. School districts and charter schools receiving E-rate discounts on Internet access must be in compliance with The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). CIPA requires a school district to have an Internet Safety/Acceptable Use Policy in place that has had at least one public hearing.
6. School districts and charter schools receiving E-rate discounts on Internet access must filter Internet access in order to prevent students from accessing material that may be pornographic or otherwise harmful to them.
7. Plans need to include any E-rate eligible services for which a school district is seeking E-rate discounts.
8. The plan must be written and have a date of creation that pre-dates any E-rate Form 470s filed for services for the specific E-rate program year. The technology plan must also cover the entire E-rate program year.
Read more about the E-rate program (http://www.usac.org).
Plan Submission and Review
The 2013-15 Technology Plan may be submitted at any time before June 30, 2015. For LEAs filing for E-rate in funding year 2012 (July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013) remember that the technology plan must be written before any Form 470s are filed. Form 470’s can be filed by LEAs any time after July 1 for the following program year.
MDE will review and approve 2013-2015 Technology Plans as they are received. Approval letters will be sent to LEAs as soon as they are approved.
To view approved technology plans and approval letters, please visit the Data Center: Data Reports and Analytics: School Technology Plans and Approval Letters.
The 2013-15 Technology Plan template that follows will be reviewed to determine if the LEA has made a good faith effort to address the essential components required for E-rate program eligibility. The LEA may be contacted for specific clarifications, as needed.
Please type information directly into the template, as indicated.
LEAs should post their full 2013-2015 plan to their website and provide a link to the full plan in the appropriate space in the template. Submit the cover sheet and template in PDF or Word (not a scan) by e-mail to: [email protected].
Technology Plan Cover Sheet2013-2015 (July 1, 2013 – June 30, 2015)
Organization Information
District/Agency/School (legal name): West Side Summit
District Number: 4212
Technology Plan Status
The District/Agency/School has an approved 2012 technology bridge plan:
☐ Yes☐ No
2013-2015 Technology Plan Date of Creation: 4/9/13
Identified Official with Authority
Name: Matthew Bannon
Title: Director
Address: 497 Humboldt Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55107
Phone: 651-200-4543
E-mail: [email protected]
Technology Contact
Name: Sarah Stodola
Title: Operations Manager
Address: 497 Humboldt Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55107
Phone: 651-200-4543
E-mail: [email protected]
2013-15 Technology Plan Template
Instructions: Add your responses by typing into the document below.
Technology Needs Assessment. Describe the processes(s) used to determine the technology needs for the LEA for 2013-2015 and briefly summarize the needs that have been determined. Make sure to include any technology needs that will be supported through E-rate discounts, such as telephone, telecommunications access, Internet, and other E-rate eligible services:
As a new charter school, technology needs were identified prior the authorizer approval process by the founding Board of Directors and start-up coordinator and matched to the planned instructional program. Implementing a “blended learning” curricular program, in which 25% of student learning time is spent on web-based adaptive learning curricula, required detailed up front planning around multiple technology needs. The school plans to have a 1:1 laptop program in order to provide every student access to the internet. Laptop options were heavily researched, from purchasing to leasing from multiple vendors. The school chose to utilize the Minnesota Computers for Schools program and purchase refurbished laptops, as it was the most cost effective plan. Teachers will have access to technology in the classroom to provide easy access to web-content to support instruction and assessment. Each classroom will be supplied with a document camera, LCD projector, and laptop. Given the high level of network traffic generated by 192 students (year 1 enrollment) on web-based programs all at the same time, the school will require at least a 100Mbps internet connection (supported through E-rate) and multiple high-capacity wireless access points (supported through E-rate). The school’s leased building has some technology infrastructure in place, such as Ethernet and phone cables run throughout the building to most rooms, but will require extension and upgrading to best meet the needs of the program and support basic school operations. Upgrades include a server to host school information and testing programs (E-rate), new data switches to support the internal network (E-rate), and installation of new phone lines and a phone system to provide reliable communication to every room (E-rate). Ongoing IT support and planning during the school year will also be required to keep the computers, network, and other technology in working order (E-rate). Further technology needs include operating system software, firewalls and web filtering (E-rate), uninterrupted power supply, staff computers, Microsoft Office licenses, web hosting (E-rate), parent portals, and web-based tools (PowerSchool, Kickboard, i-Ready, ST Math, Dreambox Learning).
A future technology needs assessment will be completed by the technology advisory team. The team will ensure the process of integrating technology into the school is educationally sound and financially prudent. On the whole, technology at the school will assist in: assessing student learning growth through computer-based assessments; fostering teacher effectiveness in curriculum planning, research and communications; enabling students to effectively utilize technological tools to support learning; improve operational communication between administration, staff, and the community; and effectively engage families in their students’ learning.
Goals and Strategies. List the specific goals and strategies for 2013-2015 that address how your LEA will use technology to deliver education and assist with school administration:
The school’s primary goal is to provide every student an individualized education that closes the achievement gap and prepares them for college. The school model is focused on providing students access to rigorous instruction and content at their level and technology is a means to get there. By providing students access to web-based curricula that individualizes instruction and is highly effective at teaching and moving students toward mastery in foundational reading and math skills, the school is able to close academic gaps for all students quickly. Individualized paths through content means that students are working in their exact zone of proximal development every day, which gives teachers data to extend individualization throughout the school day and generate rapid learning and growth for every student.
Holistic vision for technology at the school:
1. Integrating technology into the curriculum where appropriate
2. Strengthening the assessment of student learning and the timely analysis of assessment results through web and other electronic-based assessment instruments
3. Maximizing the learning of students and teachers through the use of technology
4. Engaging and strengthening the school community through enhanced communication capabilities such as e-mail, the server, website and other electronic means
5. Maximize parent/guardian involvement and provide real time parent/guardian access to student information
6. Ensure effective reporting to State and Federal governments.
To realize this vision, the school will pursue these specific goals and strategies:
1. Students will spend 25% of the school day on adaptive, web-based curricula, engaged in individualized learning. The school will support this goal by providing a 1:1 laptop program and multiple research-based curricula so every student is able to meet this goal. Further, the school will establish and protect a daily schedule that allows students uninterrupted time on the computers.
2. Students will achieve at least 1.25 years of academic growth and math and reading annually. The school will support this goal by providing students access to individualized curricula daily and providing teachers access to well-organized and reliable student data on student learning to pinpoint student needs and accelerate learning. Once the school year is underway, the school will monitor student “time on task” in each program and set appropriate “time on task” goals that maximize the time students spend on computer.
3. The school’s network will achieve a 99% uptime average so student learning and staff work remains uninterrupted. The school will support this goal by purchasing high quality servers and network infrastructure and contracting with a speedy and reliable technology support company that proactively addresses technology needs. Should it become necessary, the school will expand internet access speeds by purchasing more bandwidth.
4. Encourage and provide training once a year to teachers to incorporate the use of technology into staff development, lesson planning and the curriculum.
5. Incorporate the web-based adaptive curriculum such as i-Ready and Dreambox as ongoing academic learning and assessment tools to measure the growth of students in math and reading.
6. Train students and teachers to effectively and appropriately use the internet as a information-gathering tool for literacy, mathematics and research in Science and Social Studies
7. Foster parent involvement and communication, including the extensive use of phone, e-mail, website and parent portal.
8. Gather and analyze data using quarterly interim assessments and data dashboards to drive targeted instruction based on student needs.
9. Expand physical technology infrastructure to support new and ongoing systems (cabling, hubs, etc)
Professional Development Plan. Describe the professional development strategies you have in place for 2013-2015 to ensure LEA staff are prepared to use the technology infrastructure, software programs, and online resources provided:
The goal of all staff professional development at the school is to increase teacher effectiveness, leading to greater student outcomes. The school’s founding school staff will begin working in July 2013 and spend five weeks working as a team to prepare for the school year. Extensive classroom technology, web curriculum, and phone system professional development sessions are planned for this time period to ensure all staff understand and are proficient in these systems. During the school year, staff will participate in monthly professional development days. Web-based curriculum providers will provide further development to the staff over the course of the year to support teachers and build their capacity to use these programs to their fullest extent. Our web-based curricula and Student Information System will be utilized to keep track of detailed student data and teachers will receive professional development to use these programs for student data analysis and planning. Each summer, new staff will be trained in our web-based curricula, classroom technology, data-analysis systems, and phone system.
Evaluation. Explain the evaluation process for your technology plan for 2013-2015, including timeline, roles and responsibilities, and information gathered to assess how the technology plan goals and strategies are being met:
The school will form a technology advisory team comprised of administration, teachers, and parents to evaluate the use of technology in the school on a semi-annual basis, with meetings occurring in November and May. The November meeting provides a school-year check to evaluate progress thus far and adjust course as the committee sees fit. The May meeting provides the opportunity to evaluate yearlong technology goals and plan for the upcoming school year. The technology advisory team will meet regularly to perform their duties, which include: conducting needs assessments, ensuring the integration of technology into academics, communicating with parents and community, assessing progress toward meeting technology goals (collecting data), and evaluating progress toward goals.
Each representative will bring valuable information and perspective to the committee. Administration will supply the team with the cost of the current technology implemented, anticipated technology needs, and the results of staff/student/parent surveys on technology. Teachers will supply the team with data on student growth and achievement, student “time on task” measures, assessments of computer curricula effectiveness, and new web programs or technology tools needed to support student learning and effective teaching. Parents will supply the team with a holistic view of technology in the school, from the way their child responds to and utilizes technology, to the impact they see technology having on their child’s learning. A survey will be given annually to measure staff’s effectiveness or their knowledge and use of the technology as well as how they used technology in their classrooms.
The data and findings compiled by the team will be presented to parents and staff. The team will report to the school board on at least an annual basis. This report will contain specific recommendations for improvement in all areas of technology.
Optional Links. Provide links to district strategic planning documents, survey instruments, policies, or other resources that were used to provide data and help prepare the technology plan:
Enter text here; document will expand to fit.
Link to Current Technology Plan. Provide the link on the LEA website where the technology plan will be posted and updated throughout the planning period: www.westsidesummit.org/about
Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA)
This LEA has an Internet Safety/Acceptable Use Policy in place.
☐ Yes
If yes, please provide a link to access the policy at the LEA website: Click here to enter text.
This school district deploys an Internet filter to protect minors from material that is pornographic or otherwise harmful to them.
☐ Yes
Submit the cover sheet and template in PDF or Word (not a scan) by e-mail to: [email protected].
