1. Develop strategies for funding.
Developing funding avenues continues to be a challenge for today’s educational institutions. There are many opportunities and twice as many pursuing those opportunities. Available possibilities for funding include:
- State and Federal programs
- Local bond issues
- Strong support from the community or local businesses in the community
- Grant programs such as federal, state and private funding opportunities
- State technology initiatives,
- Negotiating with providers of hardware, software, and on-line services for preferential rates for elementary and secondary schools (Ed.gov, 1997)
2. Develop strategies for management plans
Organizing and developing strategies for management plans is not an easy task. Our district has streamlined that process by utilizing TEAMS, Eduphoria and CSCOPE for managing student attendance, grades, performance levels and standardized curriculum for all campuses.
TEAMS allows teachers to track student attendance and manage grades. Parents are even able to obtain logon credentials to keep track of their child’s grades and attendance.
Eduphoria allows teachers to see how their students performed on standardized tests so they can plan classroom activities that all students can comprehend. Administrators can also use Eduphoria to track teacher performance as they complete evaluations.
CSCOPE has insured that all campuses utilize the same curriculum so equitable learning is possible across the board. This was done in an effort to make sure all students were learning the same content so if a student transferred schools they would not be off track. Two areas that need to be addressed is uniformity in school and teacher websites and technology available to students with disabilities. Although we have a lot of technology all students may not have equitable access to it (University of Washington, 2012).
3. Describe the required procedures for the proposed strategies.
The procedures for the proposed strategies are:
CSCOPE
1. Introduce CSCOPE to all administrators and teachers.
2. Train all teachers and administrators on how to access CSCOPE curriculum.
3. Designate staff to oversee implementation of CSCOPE curriculum.
4. Provide ongoing training to staff.
TEAMS
1. Provide training to all district staff and parents on how to use TEAMS.
2. Designate staff to oversee implementation and use of TEAMS.
Eduphoria
1. Provide training to all staff regarding the use of Eduphoria
Assistive Technology
1. Survey the Special Education Department at every school to gauge what type of assistive technology is needed.
2. Secure funding to purchase needed assistive technology.
School/Teacher Web Pages
1. Decide on a uniform format for designing teacher web pages.
2. Provide teacher training on how to create a class website.
3. Provide web design support to teachers throughout the year.
References:
Ed.gov., (1997). Funding Strategies for the Technology Plan. Retrieved March 9, 2012, from: http://www2.ed.gov/pubs/techinvest/chap3.html
University of Washington (2012). Access to Technology: An online Tutorial. Retrieved March 11, 2012, from: http://www.washington.edu/doit/Brochures/Technology/aeit.html
Rita,
ReplyDeleteI am interested to follow as you build your posting this week. With the same justification of supporting students who move, our district is moving towards "lockstep" presentation of materials--sometimes with the requirement of showing the same powerpoint and reading the same content from an index card on the same day. While I understand supporting teachers who may have had less rigor and equalizing the educational outcome for students make for excellent sounding quality control, these students are people not widgets. I am so concerned that school is becoming a factory and the humanity is being trained out. Where in all this data does art, curiosity and individuality of expression come to play? Why are experienced teachers letting this happen to our classrooms and our students?
It feels like school districts are voluntarily giving up the "independent" in ISD just to get funding. Curiosity is a crucial to future success, both in school and on the job.
Association for Psychological Science (2011, October 27). Curiosity is critical to academic performance. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 18, 2012, from http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2011/10/111027150211.htm
Rita,
ReplyDeleteOne of your funding strategies is to utilize grant programs. TEA has a page that is dedicated to Grant resources. You can find on there “information about all grants, including program descriptions, eligibility requirements, deadline dates, and funding amounts” (TEA, 2012). Knowing all of this is in one location is nice to make the job of locating grants a little easier.
Cara
Reference:
TEA Grant Resources (2012). TEA Grant Resources. Retrieved from http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=2147487920&menu_id=951
Where in all this data does art, curiosity and individuality of expression come to play? What data are you referencing? First of all, prior to CSCOPE, when a student transferred schools in my district there was not guarantee that material taught was equitable to what the student had been learning. In most cases the transfer student would be just plain lost. With CSCOPE each elementary, middle and high school uses the same content. How teachers present the content is up to them this ensures uniformity in what is taught. So when "Johnny" leaves school A for school B he has not missed any lesson content.
ReplyDeleteWhy are experienced teachers letting this happen to our classrooms and our students?
Who has given classroom teachers control of anything? The only thing I can control is myself, and that is a full time job. What teacher has control of Superintendents, School Boards, Governors, Mayors or Presidents? When you find one please let me know. As far as I see some teachers don't even have a job. How is that for control?
I am glad that I am not the only person frustrated with a lack of "boots on the ground" leadership. It makes me crazy when the teacher across the hall (who makes 8,000 more per year than I do) just decides she wants to show a Tyler Perry movie rather than teach. CRAZY I tell you! I feel that much of the shift in education toward standardized curriculum has been a "knee jerk" reaction to these poor examples.
DeleteI am really glad to hear at your school the "how" is open for the teachers. I like to learn from a teacher who is excited about the lesson and the topic. I just am not seeing that in courses where students complete notes from powerpoints.
Cara, I agree with you. We have a lot to do as teachers or Instructional Technology Personnel. Finding grants is easier in one location.
ReplyDeleteRita,
ReplyDeleteI was glad to see that you include such attention to Assistive Technology. I fear that sometimes our special needs students get left behind in the technology band wagon.
Education World has some excellent resources in this area ranging from articles to software applications. I believe that their resources will benefit not just the Special Education teacher but the General Ed teacher as well.
Education World: Assistive Technology . (n.d.). Education World: The Educator's Best Friend. Retrieved March 21, 2012, from http://www.educationworld.com/special_ed/assistive/index.shtml#academics
Rita,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on providing training to all staff regarding the use of Eduphoria. At my school the teachers talk about Eduphoria having a feature where the Resource teachers can view regular teachers lesson plans so they can stay up-to-date on what is being taught in the classroom. But no one have an idea as to how it works. Therefore training is needed for all staff at my campus also.
Donzella
You both bring up a point that I feel has merit: purchasing software does not automatically mean increased efficiency. I have had the same challenges with how eduphoria was introduced.
DeleteWhen you use the help feature, there are lots of printable handouts and even screencast videos.
Here was a link that may be helpful:
http://www.schoolobjects.com/sotrain/topicview.aspx?tid=1ee37c26-66d1-431b-b06b-557262a93fd0