Blog Posting #2 – District Technology Plan

Technology is one of the tools to facilitate the overall goals of the district which are to:

G1: Increase student achievement.
G2: Increase management efficiency.
G3: Improve public support and confidence in schools.
G4: Create a positive district culture.
G5: Provide facilities-to-standard program.

In support of the Texas Long Range Technology Plan, the Houston Independent School District established a 5 year technology plan which includes:

TP-A: Strategic Management and Accountability
TP-B: Learning Support and Planning
TP-C: Unified Student Record
TP-D: Administrative Systems
TP-E: Technology Systems

Major technology initiatives include: timely access to information (district portal), comprehensive student data (Chancery and GradeSpeed), Curriculum and accountability information(AEIS, AYP, and disaggregated assessment data) ; infrastructure to connect stakeholders; helpdesk to answer technical questions and troubleshoot problems; monitor emerging technologies to aid in teaching and learning; data management process; establish standards for technology use; and equitable distribution of technology across campuses.

Professional development opportunities are available through trainings provided by the professional development department and through online trainings. The campuses also provide the opportunity by bringing experts into the campus to train teachers on technology or to send staff to outside training facilities. Sufficient time and resources are made available upon the initiative and discretion of the administrator.

There is a established data, asset management system and helpdesk to monitor use of data in driving instruction and achievement, to provide infrastructure and technology devices, to give technical support to all, and to ensure that the 5 year technology plan is implemented properly.

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