NC Classes On-Line. North Carolina: Accessibility

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1 NC Classes On-Line Title of Nomination: On-Line Classes Project/System Manager: Sharon Hayes Title: Project Director Agency: Office of Information Technology Services Department: Address: 2728 Capital Boulevard City: Raleigh State: NC Zip: Phone: Fax: CATEGORY: Accessibility Person Nominating (if different): Wynn Smith Title: Section Chief, Department of Public Instruction Address: 301 N. Wilmington St. City: Raleigh State: NC Zip: Phone: Fax: Executive Summary Based on student input and requests, the state of North Carolina used its enterprise approach to e-government to enable e-learning for primary education in the state. The state Office of Information Technology Services and the state Department of Public Instruction worked together to develop templates and training to offer teachers the ability to develop and maintain their own unique Web sites. Because it was developed with the enterprise approach, this initiative allows teachers this capability more easily and cheaply than it could be possible if they were working on this initiative individually, while at the same time allowing them to personalize their Web sites and make them unique. Of critical importance is that the templates were designed to ensure that teachers could make their sites accessible to all students in North Carolina. The templates are designed to be consistent with accessibility standards. This project provides schools at a local level with the ability to develop Web sites not only quickly and easily but at no cost. However, its significance from an accessibility standpoint should not be overlooked and cannot be overstated. In spite of the complexities associated with accessibility requirements, teachers can have confidence that by following the template (and not creating complex graphics) they can be assured that all of their students will have equal access to the Web site and the information that they choose to distribute in this manner. The project was developed as part of the Your Service initiative which is now completely funded by the state s e-procurement self-funding model. Therefore, it was developed at no 07/17/2015 i

2 additional cost to the state or to local entities. In a time of budgetary crisis, the ability to move forward with this type of initiative and to ensure that it is done correctly from the perspective of meeting accessibility standards and not thrown together is significant. 07/17/2015 ii

3 Description of project, including length of time in operation North Carolina: Accessibility The Your Service and Department of Public Instruction (DPI) local school outreach plan focuses on enabling teachers to easily build classroom web sites. NC Classes Online is made possible through a collaboration among the Department of Public Instruction, Your Service of the Office of Information Technology Services (ITS), and Yahoo!. NC Classes On-Line is an initiative to encourage North Carolina teachers to develop their own classroom web page. North Carolina teachers can develop their classroom web site in 13 easy steps using a standard template. This template and the resulting teacher s web pages that are built can be accessed through the State s Your Service portal at The template is compliant with accessibility standards, thus ensuring that teachers are able to easily meet these requirements without spending additional time, effort, or money. NC Classes Online grew out of a conversation via video conference between former Governor James B. Hunt and students during the State Fair in October During this conversation, ideas were traded among the Governor and students at four North Carolina high schools utilizing the North Carolina Information Highway. One of the topics they discussed was the state s new Web site, Your Service ( Students asked how they could have a Web site for their classes so they could get vital information that pertains to them. They wanted to be able to look up homework assignments, schedules, lunch menus, and events. Also and most importantly, they wanted it to reflect their school and their own class personality and spirit. The state took this idea to heart. The Your Service Project Office, part of ITS in the Governor s Office, and the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) developed a plan for NC Classes Online. The Your Service Team, comprised of ITS, Accenture, and Yahoo! personnel, is making this initiative a reality. Over 700 teachers in Asheboro, Asheville, Brunswick, Edgecombe, Macon, Moore, Pamlico, and Washington Schools are participating in the pilot of NC Classes Online that began in February Teachers attend training to learn how to develop and maintain classroom Web sites and during the training develop live, usable classroom Web sites. Both students and parents will then be able to access this information. These classroom Web sites can be updated and modified easily. Assuming the pilot continues to go well, this program will be made available to every school in North Carolina. is an example of a Web site designed by a teacher in Pamlico County, North Carolina that provides students with access to information about their class and their homework assignments as reflected in the screen shots below. 07/17/2015 1

4 Significance to the improvement of the operation of government This project is significant to the operation of government as it easily improves communications among students, parents, and teachers. 1. It provides an on-line/electronic avenue for public school teachers to exchange information with students and parents what is compliant with accessibility standards thus ensuring it is truly available to all students across the state 07/17/2015 2

5 2. The page building template and the resulting completed classroom web pages are accessible to those with disabilities who may be using assistive technologies to navigate the web. This furthers the State s effort to provide equal services and information to all people. 3. It demonstrates the state s continued focus on e-government opportunities that are responsive to citizen demands and that improve the communication lines between people and government. State benefits realized by service recipients, taxpayers, agency or state The benefits of the project are primarily in the area of increased communication at a low cost. It also offers an opportunity to increase familiarity with the Internet for students, parents and teachers in a non-threatening manner. 1. It is a direct response to students request for a web site for their classes to have access to vital information that pertains to them (e.g. homework assignments, schedules, lunch menus, etc.), thus students benefit from having a need met and the state benefits by demonstrably responding to a citizen request. 2. Children and parents alike gain an on-line/electronic avenue for communication with teachers. 3. Parents gain access to classroom activities on the web. This makes it easier to keep up with their child s education. 4. Participating teachers gain skills and familiarity with the Internet, recognized by receipt of a technology credit towards their licensing renewal for most pilot sites. 5. A standard template enables teachers to develop a web site giving maximum benefit to students and parents in a minimal amount of time. Return on investment, short-term/long-term payback The ROI in this project is in the savings individual schools accrue through using the enterprise approach and not having to separately develop their own web pages and being able to do this in a manner that is accessible to all students. 1. An existing vendor relationship between the State of North Carolina, Accenture, and Yahoo! was leveraged to provide this service at no cost to the State. 2. Immediate value was realized by teachers in the pilot program and will continue as NC Classes Online is made available to all teachers across North Carolina, utilizing a common, scalable technical infrastructure. 3. Students, including those with disabilities, teachers and parents have a new learning and teaching tool. 07/17/2015 3