The E – RateThe E – Rate and and

District Technology District Technology PlanPlan

ByBy

Portia AlvaroPortia Alvaro

What is E – Rate?What is E – Rate?

Officially known as The Schools and Officially known as The Schools and Libraries Program of the Universal Libraries Program of the Universal Service Fund Service Fund

A federal program that provides funds to A federal program that provides funds to assist schools and libraries obtain assist schools and libraries obtain affordable telecommunication devices affordable telecommunication devices and internet accessand internet access

What is the first step in What is the first step in order to qualify?order to qualify?

A school, school district, or A school, school district, or library must prepare a library must prepare a technology plan to be technology plan to be considered for E-rate considered for E-rate discountsdiscounts

The Five Essential The Five Essential

Components of a Components of a Technology Technology

PlanPlan

Outlined by Outlined by

Universal Service Administration Universal Service Administration CompanyCompany

No. 1

Clear goals and a realistic strategyfor using telecommunications and informationtechnology

No. 2

A professional development strategy to ensure that staff knows how to use thesenew technologies

No. 3

An assessment of the telecommunication services, hardware, software, and otherservices needed

No. 4 No. 4

A sufficient budget to acquire and support the non-discounted elements of theplan: the hardware, soft-ware, professional development, and other services thatwill be needed to implement the strategy

NO. 5NO. 5

An evaluation process that enables the school or library to monitor progresstoward the specified goals

Houston Independent Houston Independent School District Technology School District Technology

PlanPlan

http://cms7.houstonisd.org/vgn/images/portal/cit_23015118/23482056Executive%20Summary.pdf

5 Goals of the Plan5 Goals of the Plan

Goal 1: Strategic Management andGoal 1: Strategic Management and

Accountability Accountability

Goal 2 : Learning Support and Goal 2 : Learning Support and

PlanningPlanning

Goal 3 : Unified Student RecordGoal 3 : Unified Student Record Goal 4 : Administrative Systems Goal 4 : Administrative Systems Goal 5 : Technology Systems Goal 5 : Technology Systems

The Major InitiativesThe Major Initiatives Timely access to information (district portal) Timely access to information (district portal)

Comprehensive student data (Chancery and Comprehensive student data (Chancery and GradeSpeed GradeSpeed

Curriculum and accountability Curriculum and accountability information(AEIS, AYP, and disaggregated information(AEIS, AYP, and disaggregated assessment data)assessment data)

Infrastructure to connect stakeholders Infrastructure to connect stakeholders

Helpdesk to answer technical questions and Helpdesk to answer technical questions and troubleshoot problems troubleshoot problems

Monitor emerging technologies to aid in Monitor emerging technologies to aid in teaching and learning; data management teaching and learning; data management process process

Establish standards for technology use; Establish standards for technology use;

Equitable distribution of technology across Equitable distribution of technology across campuses campuses

Contains all pertinent information about Contains all pertinent information about the school district including schools, the school district including schools, facilities, important news, events, facilities, important news, events, calendars, and directories.calendars, and directories.

Employees portal to email, training Employees portal to email, training information, forms, curriculum, student information, forms, curriculum, student information, and other servicesinformation, and other services

The next 10 slides is a The next 10 slides is a powerpoint presentation powerpoint presentation done by a student with done by a student with disability. It’s an example of disability. It’s an example of how technology is being how technology is being used in Patterson used in Patterson Elementary ( Houston ISD) Elementary ( Houston ISD) to enhance instruction. to enhance instruction.

As an accommodation for As an accommodation for his weakness in writing, the his weakness in writing, the teacher guided him in doing teacher guided him in doing a powerpoint presentation a powerpoint presentation on his favorite creatures - on his favorite creatures - dinosaursdinosaurs

Welcome to Julius’Welcome to Julius’

Dinosaur LandDinosaur Land

There were many There were many different kinds of different kinds of dinosaursdinosaurs

Some were meat Some were meat eaterseaters

Some were plant eatersSome were plant eaters

Some could fly like the Some could fly like the PterodactylsPterodactyls

Some lived underwaterSome lived underwater

Some lived on landSome lived on land

Dinosaurs laid eggsDinosaurs laid eggs

But….the dinosaurs are But….the dinosaurs are gone!gone!

What happened to the What happened to the dinosaurs?dinosaurs?

All we see are bonesAll we see are bones

We don’t We don’t know.know.

Another example of use of Another example of use of technology at Patterson technology at Patterson ElementaryElementary

Smart Boards are used to Smart Boards are used to enhance teaching and learningenhance teaching and learning

Final thoughts on the role of technology in the world today

There’s a whole new world out there with a whole new set of skills our kids

needto manage.

Will Richardson