Arlington ISD Technology Plan

1. Arlington ISD Technology Plan Deann Thompson February 10, 2010 ET8014

2. The National Education Technology Plan (NETP) urges schools to strengthen leadership for technology, to consider innovative budgeting, to support e-learning and virtual schools, to encourage broadband access, to move toward digital content, and to integrate data systems. -Patricia Hinchey

3. District Background The Arlington Independent School District serves over 63,000 students. AISD currently has 50 elementaries, 12 junior highs, six high schools, a pre-kindergarten campus, an immigrant education facility, and four alternative schools.

4. Technology Leadership Partner with the University of Texas at Arlington Provide a Summer Leadership Institute for Administrative staff

5. Technology Expenditures Teaching and Learning Budget: $6,154,966.35 Educator Preparation and Development Budget: $2,039,087.26 Leadership, Administration and Support Budget: $1,557,315.75 Infrastructure for Technology Budget: $38,187,505.58

6. Computer Ratios Computer to Student Ratio: 3 students for every computer Computer to Teacher Ratio: 1 teacher for every computer

7. Current Technology Implementation All classrooms, libraries, and office spaces are connected to local area, wide area and Internet networks All classrooms and libraries have networked teacher and student stations All classrooms and offices have access to management software such as grade book, attendance reporting, and student records All employees have access to email

8. All elementary campuses have two 30-station computer labs In addition to numerous computer labs dedicated to specific courses, all secondary campuses have laptop labs for student use All secondary campuses have a distance learning classroom that allows students and staff to participate in video conferencing activities Instructional software and/or access to fee-based online resources must go through a district wide preview committee before district purchases are approved Current Technology Implementation Continued

9. Technology Projects Increase student use of technology Increase the number of AISD teachers who have successfully completed the Texas Teacher Technology Competencies Certification (TTCC) program Move to a five-year replacement program for classroom workstations Add to an online database of student assessment data with links to online lessons to help teachers where needed Evaluate and expand existing video conferencing systems

10. Continue the use of E-Rate supported networks for internet connections Implementation of new business systems, including Grade Book, Attendance, Human Resource, Finance, and Payroll systems, to support next generation solutions for the district Evaluate new technologies that can streamline administrative functions, provide better availability of data for decision making, and improve learning in Arlington ISD Technology Projects Continued

11. “Teachers have more resources available through technology than ever before, but some have not received sufficient training in the effective use of technology to enhance learning.” -National Education Technology Plan

12. Professional Development Train 3-4 certified teachers at each campus to serve as campus based technology trainers Require trainers to attend update trainings each semester Assist the training team at each school to create an annual campus technology staff development plan Require campus technology trainers, junior high and high school Technology Application teachers to complete the Texas Teacher Technology Competencies Certification (TTCC) program or obtain TA certification Require teachers to attend at least 6 hours of technology staff development each year Require new AISD teachers to attend a technology session at New Teacher Academy Provide ongoing professional development and support to K-12 teachers and all district staff regarding district guidelines, content providers, equipment, scheduling, and funding of videoconferencing events

13. TxVSN Currently have students from 4 high schools enrolled Will be adding students from 4 junior highs this summer

14. Internet Access Number of Campuses with Direct Connection to Internet: 76 Percentage of Campuses with Direct Connection to Internet: 100.00% Number of Classrooms with Direct Connection to Internet: 3724 Percentage of Classrooms with Direct Connection to Internet: 100.00%

15. Technology Infrastructure Move district from an eight-year to a five-year replacement cycle for most equipment Tweak adjustment cycle to meet usage of equipment Provide high speed data access and upgrade network infrastructure components on a rotating basis through all campuses and locations in the district Use an on-line database to submit and track help requests for all systems in the district

16. Recommendations Continue to evaluate Technology Plan on a yearly basis Provide more opportunities for teachers to participate in online learning Begin to expose teachers and students to online content Work with community partners to create computer access for lower income families Develop partnerships between networks Involve students in planning process

17. References Arlington ISD. (2009, December 18). Arlington isd e-plan. Retrieved from https://www.sedl.org/cgi-bin/mysql/eplan/eplan.cgi Hinchey, P. (2006, August). An Analysis of the 2005 national technology plan: better for business than for children. Retrieved from http://epicpolicy.org/files/Brief-Hinchey.pdf U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Technology, Toward A New Golden Age in American Education: How the Internet, the Law and Today’s Students Are Revolutionizing Expectations, Washington, D.C., 2004.