Stimulus NEWS and TRENDS
June 4, 2009
Money Matters
It's not all good news when it comes to the Feds and EdTech. The Obama Administration has proposed a cut—from $269 million to $100 million—to the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) program as part of its 2010 budget proposal.
The four main organizations devoted to EdTech in schools—the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), International Society for Technology Education (ISTE), Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), and State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA)— released the following joint statement:
"During the past several months, the Obama Administration has outlined a vision of educational innovation and improvement to enable our nation's children to compete in the global economy. But today’s budget proposal falls far short of the targeted investments needed to ensure all students have the modernized classrooms and technology-rich instruction needed to achieve this vision.
“The Obama Administration has highlighted the nation’s need to advance rigorous college- and career-ready standards and high-quality assessments; P-20 data systems that foster continuous improvement; reforms that enhance teacher effectiveness; and effective interventions that improve student performance and increase classroom engagement. This CANNOT be done without leadership and expertise in technology.
"With the historic level of funding provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, it appeared that the Administration was prepared to invest significantly in educational technology, viewing it as an engine of change to modernize our education system. Instead, this cut stalls momentum, ignores demonstrated results and undermines the progress being made in our nation’s classrooms through effective uses of technology to engage students, improve teacher quality and individualize instruction for all kids.”
DETAILS, DETAILS
Guidelines from the Department of Education are getting more specific. The following examples refer to how they expect data systems to be intergrated into schools:
At the heart of improving schools and school districts are systems to gather and analyze data and provide feedback to educators, students, families, and the community in order to improve student and teacher performance continuously. Examples of investments in data systems and effective use of data include efforts to:
Develop or enhance existing data systems to provide teachers access to (1) student data in such areas as attendance, grades, course schedules, and disability or English language learner status, and (2) data that show academic performance and growth, how those compare to statewide averages for similar students and schools, and whether students are on track to meet standards and graduate from high school.
Train principals, teachers, guidance counselors, and other staff to use data to identify the specific help students need to succeed, to adjust classroom instruction to better address student strengths and weaknesses, and to target professional development and other resources on student and teacher needs.
Track the number and percentage of students by school who graduate high school and go on to complete at least one year’s worth of college credit. Use the information to strengthen high school programs and increase the percentage of students going on to college.
Link districts’ multiple data systems (including student, financial, and personnel) and use resulting information for analyses and reports that enable community, district, and school leaders to better understand the educational and cost effectiveness of district programs and strategies and allocate resources accordingly.
Launch an easy-to-use online Individualized Education Program (IEP) system for students with disabilities that is aligned with state academic standards and can be used by educators to create content- rich IEPs that are aligned with the general education curriculum.
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