Wyoming Public Schools District ID Gladiola SW Wyoming, MI (616)

Transcription

1 Technology Plan Wyoming Public Schools District ID Gladiola SW Wyoming, MI (616) James Nora Start Date: 07/2012 (616) Review Date: 01/2012 Kent ISD PAGE 1 OF 43

2 Executive Summary To give a clear vision and sense of direction to future integration efforts, the district has selected for its technology plan the following goals: 1. Provide a clear vision for technology use and describe required district capacities. 2. Provide professional development that will assist staff with integrating technology into the curriculum and enable staff to use technology to improve student achievement. 3. Make technology widely available and easy to use resulting in a focus on learning / task completion for students and staff. 4. Assist staff members to become more efficient and effective while doing their jobs. 5. Assist students as they learn content subjects supported with technology. 6. Provide students and staff opportunities to learn about technology and its applications. 7. Provide a method of evaluation for the district's technology plan, to include levels of accountability for technology implementation and integration for all Wyoming Public Schools employees. 8. Provide safety and appropriate use training for all District staff and students. The evaluation of these goals will help provide data to measure the district s successful use of technology. Three methods of evaluation will be used: 1. Goal evaluation rubrics 2. Teacher self-evaluation rubrics for key plan elements 3. CEO Forum STaR Chart This plan includes a description of professional development strategies and other types of support for technology use and integration, as well as various requirements and standards of the Michigan Department of Education. PAGE 2 OF 43

3 Table of Contents State and Federal Compliance... 4 Introduction and Purpose... 5 District Demographics - Technology Team Members... 6 Objectives Accomplished and Current Technology Types of Technology Represented Research Conclusions and Beliefs Technology Plan Goals Technology Plan Evaluation Technology Plan Timetable Interoperability Technology Approval Process & Software Approval Process Technology Support and Total Cost of Ownership Technology Integration Professional Development & Timeline Timeline, Cost & Source of Funding for Implementation of Plan Collabrative ProgramsTimeline. 21 Collaborative Programs Supporting Resources Policy Support, Filters and Firewalls Internet Safety curriculum and training..23 Bibliography Appendix I - Software Evaluation...25 Appendix II - Plan Evaluation Rubrics Appendix III - CEO Forum STaR Chart Questions Appendix IV - K-8 Technology Curriculum Appendix V Technology Curriculum Appendix VI- Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) PAGE 3 OF 43

4 Wyoming Public Schools Technology Plan State & Federal Compliance The Wyoming Public Schools Technology Plan for , submitted to meet the requirements of the State of Michigan and the Universal Service Fund Application, contains responses to the following areas: Required Elements Source Page(s) Mission: The introductory section includes the district/school mission statement. 5 Introduction: The introductory section district/school background and demographics 5,6 Vision: A broad vision is articulated for the district/school technology program. 5 Goals: Broad, general district goals are established 11 Specific goals are aligned with state or national technology standards Strategies describe how technology will be used to improve the academic achievement A description is provided on how the district will identify and promote Technology Integration strategies 15 A description on how technology software and electronically delivered learning materials will be integrated A timeline for the technology integration into curricula and instruction is included. 13,17-21 Internet, interactive video, on-line courses for distance learning are identified 13,14,33-42 A description is included on how the educational technology plan will be disseminated to the community. 8 How technology will be used effectively in communicating with parents and promote parent involvement 8 Some parents and other community members are represented with involvement in the technology planning A description of how the technology program will be developed in collaboration with adult literacy services 21 Professional development strategies are in place for ALL staff to improve student learning with technology Provided indication that the professional development offerings should set the groundwork for integration A timeline for the implementation of various types of professional development training is included. 17 Awareness is indicated of state / national standards addressing technology competencies for all educators. 16 The plan describes a variety of resources that are utilized to support the entire technology program. 6,11,13,16,23-24,38,43 Current hardware, software, network infrastructure, telecommunications, etc. in the district is provided Description of the hardware, software, network infrastructure, telecommunications, and other services needed Basic strategies for ensuring the interoperability of equipment are provided The plan includes a description of the technical support that is available within the district. 6 The plan addresses the steps that will be taken to ensure all students and teachers have access to technology 7-11,18-20 Budgets are detailed annually ( , , ) for each year covered by the plan A financial plan for long-term investment and sustainability A general description of the process by which the evaluation will be conducted is included. 2, The evaluation section indicates what measures will be used and how success will be determined An Acceptable Use of Technology Policy (AUP) for the district is included The Acceptable Use Policy recognizes existing federal requirements for privacy and Internet safety The Wyoming Public Schools (hereafter District) certify the following: 1. The District is an eligible entity, a school district, as defined by the federal statute. Under Sections 254 (h)(4) and 254 (h)(5) 2. The telecommunications services requested by the District will be used solely for educational purposes. 3. The telecommunications services obtained by the District under this program will not be sold, resold, or transferred in consideration for money or any other thing of value. 4. If the telecommunications services are acquired as part of an aggregated purchase with other entities, the request will identify all copurchasers, plus the services or portions of services being purchased by the applicant. 5. The District has committed funds from the general funds, grants and sinking funds to pay for the non-discounted" portion of the requested telecommunications services, as well as any necessary hardware, software and training required to use the services effectively. 6. The District has complied with and will continue to comply with all applicable state and local procurement processes. 7. This plan is eligible for approval by the Michigan Department of Education. 8. The Free & Reduced lunch percentage of 71% (District average), which translates to a USF discount of 71% is accurate based on the certified 2001 Michigan Report. The report indicates the percentage of students eligible for the National School Lunch Program. 07/01/12 Date Dr. Thomas Reeder Superintendent PAGE 4 OF 43

5 Introduction and Purpose "To thrive in today s world and tomorrow s work place, America s students must learn how to learn, learn how to think and have a solid understanding of how technology works and what it can do. American schools must, therefore, provide students with the opportunity to combine the best of traditional learning with the unprecedented opportunities technology offers." - School Technology and Readiness Report - The CEO Forum on Education and Technology District Mission Statement Wyoming Public Schools Community empowering lifelong learning. District Technology Vision Wyoming Public Schools believes that technology is a tool to achieve quality in learning, teaching and managing. Its goals are that learners in the Wyoming community will become literate in technology; use appropriate technology to solve problems or accomplish tasks; use technology as tools for communication, managing information and learning; and use technology according to ethical standards. If our students are to live and work successfully in the 21 st century they are going to need skills their parents did not receive in their K-12 education. Both the workplace and the home are more technologically oriented than anyone anticipated a decade ago. This means that as our children go through life, higher demands will be made on their learning skills. Our students will need to understand complex terminology, communicate clearly, make sense out of massive amounts of information and know how to use new problem solving techniques. In the area of technology, Wyoming Public Schools is in the process of moving from responding to its own technology needs and issues toward connecting and aligning with other movements in the technology field at the state and federal levels. The purposes of this technology plan are to provide: 1. A clear vision for the use of technology by students and staff 2. A guide to teachers for integrating technology into their curriculum 3. Measurable goals that support accountability to our district voters PAGE 5 OF 43

6 District Demographics Wyoming Public School District is located in western Michigan in the City of Wyoming, Michigan, the largest suburb of metropolitan Grand Rapids and the 20 th largest city in Michigan. It is a city of well-kept neighborhoods and parks. Recreational and cultural opportunities abound and the community atmosphere emphasizes family values. We are the largest of several districts serving the 65,000 residents of the city of Wyoming. We are part of the Kent Intermediate School District. Our school system addresses the needs of nearly 5,000 children and young adults in K-12, preschool and adult education programs combined. The 2011 student count indicated the Wyoming Public Schools (WPS) serves 4,874 K-12 students. There are approx. 272 teachers and 120 support staff to assist student learning. WPS is considered an urban district in Kent County MI. The fall 2011 Free and Reduced Lunch percentage totaled 71% for the entire WPS K-12 district. WPS includes one ECC, four K-4 elementary, one 5-6 building, one 7-9 building, and one high school building. With support services, community education, and administration, the district encompasses 12 buildings. District Technology Committee Members Name Reeder, Thomas Nora, Jim Goron, Chris Carrasco, Romer Hoekstra, Johanna Sellers, Deb Elliott, Matthew Schneider, Melissa Potter, Karen Blackburn, Jon Debski, Jennifer Role Superintendent Technology Director Network Administrator Computer Support Specialist / Web Master Office Administrator / Communication Specialist Data Training Specialist Computer Support Specialist / Data Management Tech. Liaison / Teacher, Media Center Specialist Tech. Liaison / Teacher, Media Center Specialist Secondary Principal Elementary Principal PAGE 6 OF 43

7 Objectives Accomplished As of the spring of 2010 the district has fulfilled the following objectives defined in the previous Technology Plan for incorporating technology and technology training into the K-12 curriculum: Students will be technologically proficient; they will develop competencies in word processing, multimedia, databases, spreadsheets, accessing the Internet, network, keyboarding and information retrieval and management. These competencies will be demonstrated across the curriculum and in the workplace. Every learner will have access to software during the school day to interact at any time with video, audio, and textual materials to prepare their own presentations, research, and products. Classrooms and learning areas are wired for data and video. Classrooms, learning areas and offices are wired for voice and data transmission for telephone, voice mail, teleconferencing, and computer use. Every building has access to academic, media, and administrative application servers; every building has scanning equipment and digital media devices. Every building has a web site integrated within the District s web site. Every building has a TV/recording equipment, automated circulation system, on-line card catalog, and electronic security system. Every elementary media center has a TV/recording equipment and automated circulation system. Each high school has an on-line learning tech lab for delivery of on-line course offerings. Every employee has access to a workstation for , calendar, word processing, spreadsheets, Internet access, and databases. Students have: Daily access to technology-rich learning environments within and outside their classrooms and in their media centers. Access to computer labs equipped with multi-media computers and Internet access providing increased curricular resources in their classrooms. Access to the worldwide Web for media-based education, linking them to online information sources/data, instructional video, and other media around the world. Access to mobile laptop labs for increased accessibility to the Internet in traditionally non-lab classrooms. Access to wireless Internet connections using district supplied laptop computers. Opportunity for collaborative studies with students in other communities, states, and countries. Availability of on-line advanced placement classes. Opportunities to develop information-processing skills through lessons integrated into their core curriculum subjects. Teachers have: Access to a workstation with printing capability for attendance, progress reporting, curriculum management, lesson planning, administering core curriculum assessments, Internet, ing homes, and on-line services. Access to WWW resources for teaching, research, and learning in each of their own classrooms. The ability to communicate with families and colleagues via and ParentVue portal. The ability to post classroom updates and projects, grades, attendance, and discipline on the WWW for parents and others to view. Access to "immediate" news resources from around the globe. Access to multi-media resources and software applications to better meet the needs of students with differing learning styles and intelligences. Use of motivational impact of technology in almost any subject. PAGE 7 OF 43

8 Administration and School Board have: Improved communications capabilities to keep in touch with teachers, committees, parents, the educational community at large, colleagues in other districts, state and national departments of education, etc. Improved productivity by mandatory use of computers and on-line resources. Access to Internet resources for researching, pricing, and purchasing materials needed by the district. Ability to communicate with government agencies that operate on a "paperless" format. Ability to promote schools, programs, calendars, and activities through the WWW. Ability to publicize district issues and events and invite public participation and on-line discussion. Parents and Community Members have: Improved opportunity to be better informed about what is happening in their child's school and classroom. Improved communication with teachers, administrators, and board members via and district website. On-line information about and discussion of issues surrounding WPS education and schools. On-line student progress reports and attendance records updated daily (ParentVue). On-line access to the current technology plan via the district website. Open board meeting access where the approved tech plan is announced annually. Automated call system to inform of attendance, activities, emergency, and other district information. PAGE 8 OF 43

9 Hardware: Add all mobile technology Current Technology All buildings have mobile computer labs consisting of a minimum of 32 computers located in rolling carts. Each teacher has their own computer and access to printing, the Internet, , district calendar, and the upgraded Student Information Server, which will facilitate record keeping such as student attendance and grade reports. (4) K-4 Elementary Schools: Each building has a stationary computer lab of 32 computers located in the media center. Each classroom has at least two or more computers for student use. (1) 5-6 School: This building has three computer labs of at least 30 computers for use by all students and classrooms. (1) 7-9 School: This building has five computer labs of at least 30 computers for use by all students and classrooms. (1) High School: This building has six computer labs of at least 30 computers for use by all students and classrooms. (1) On-line high school: Two computer labs consisting of 64 computers for use by students enrolled in the program. The district has 28 portable computers for home and office checkout. Mobile Technology: Wyoming Public Schools in an effort to support mobile technologies endorses the following mobile technology devices: Apple ipad, Apple ipod Touch, MAC books, Apple iphone, Android devices (ie;smartphone), Microsoft Windows Netbooks, Google Chrome books, Kindle and Nook E-readers Any device purchased and owned by the district is fully supported for functionality and connectivity. Any device that is purchased or owned by a private individual or group is supported for connectivity only. WPS holds no responsibility for the functionality of any privately owned device or equipment. Connectivity: Infrastructure and Network Electronics: WPS has deployed a data network based on Ethernet topology throughout the district. Each school is connected via a single mode aerial fiber backbone, which provides for transmission of data, voice and video to each building. Data transmission between buildings is at 1GB, and within each school is minimally 100mb. Fiber backbones connect wiring closets within the buildings. Category 5 UTP plenum cable is used to connect from the network electronics to the computers, networked printers etc. Connectivity to the desktop is 100 MB via 3COM and Cisco Ethernet switches and hubs. The network supports a standard TCP/IP protocol so that many devices can easily be connected. WPS has connected PCs, servers and printers on to this network. This network will allow for any other devices supporting TCP/IP to be connected. All buildings are also connected to the data network via Cisco wireless access points. Servers, Network Operating Systems, Applications and Services: Student Information, employee, and finance systems provide teaching, administrative, business, and counseling personnel access to student, financial, and employee data and management. Windows Server Platform is used to manage and monitor network resources, provide file, print services and access to networked applications. We use Gmail as our , calendaring, and document sharing. The district utilizes an Internet Firewall for security from the outside of network. Content filtering services are provided through St. Bernard filtering applications and the enterprise version of Office Trend is used to protect against Computer viruses. PAGE 9 OF 43

10 Content / Software: All computers are equipped with Windows Platform, Mac OS X, Android, or ios Operating Systems. Software will be appropriate to the user s function, and may include in the case of an administrator, Microsoft Office suite, Gmail, Internet Browsers, Publishing software, etc. Elementary, middle, and high schools will have comprehensive instructional software for all content areas. Elementary student selections include versions, Amy s Fun House, Bailey s Book House, Compass Learning, Earobics 1 & 2, Kidspiration, Inspiration, Jump Start 1 st and 4 th grade, Millie s Math House, Number Munchers, Oregon Trail, Sammy Science, School House Rock, Sea School, Thinkin Things, Trudy s Time & Place House, Words Mine, Ultra-Key, Internet Applications, Follett Destiny Library Manager, etc. Secondary school students will select from Internet Browser, Office Professional suite, Data Files, MGI Photosuite, Movie Maker, Adobe CS3 Web Premium Suite, Century 21 Accounting, Real Player, Windows Media Player, Follett Destiny Library Manager, and Discovery Education Video. WPS has a license for Premier Accessibility Suite programs that provide assistive technology support for students and staff members with special needs. Types of Technology Represented Item Description Number of Units Total computer workstations Media Center workstations 128 Laptops 352 Printers 52 Computer Labs (32 workstations per lab) 24 Video production lab 2 Servers 40 Mobile Technology (take home) 400 Infrastructure - hubs, routers, switches, etc.; data drops IP Telephone system District-wide District-wide PAGE 10 OF 43

11 Research Conclusions and Beliefs The Wyoming Public School District believes that the utilization of diverse technologies to enhance the curriculum and the learning process will better prepare our students in becoming skilled, knowledgeable, independent and self-directed learners. Our belief is based on the following: Staff Continuous training and staff development is essential to support effective use of technology. Technology staff supports the infrastructure, the Wide and Local Area Networks, the operating systems, the servers, the equipment, the application software etc. Teaching and Learning Technology should be used to complement the instructional process, but should not be the focus of the curriculum. Technology must be an integral part of the entire curriculum. Teacher leaders who can enhance the effective application/implementation of technology. Technology integrated into the teaching of the common core Technology is a catalyst that may cause some fundamental changes in teaching and learning. The acquisition of basic skills is enhanced through the use of technology. Application Technology should be used to gather, understand, evaluate and manipulate information; assist in problem solving; and create. Technology should be used to improve communication. Students must become technologically literate to help them become productive and employable. Access and Design Technology should be widely distributed for instructional and management uses, with equal access assured for all students and staff. Staff and students must develop skills and confidence in acquiring electronic information and the critical thinking skills needed to handle information. The media center should be the hub of information access. Technology is a tool to enhance learning, but students and teachers are the central focus. Technology Plan Goals The initial technology plans for Wyoming Public Schools focused primarily on the acquisition of hardware and software. As technology has become more available district-wide, there has been steady movement toward the integration of technology across the curriculum and the importance of utilizing technology as a tool to assist student learning and to help staff accomplish job-related tasks. Since that movement has become more apparent, a new set of goals to help focus technology efforts has become necessary. This new plan has been developed with the following goals: 1. Provide a clear vision for technology use and describe required district capacities. 2. Provide technology curriculum that aligns with the State and Federal technology standards 3. Assist students as they learn content subjects supported with technology. 4. Provide students and staff opportunities to learn about technology and its applications. 5. Assist staff members to become more efficient and effective while doing their jobs. 6. Make technology widely available and easy to use resulting in a focus on learning / task completion for students and staff. 7. Provide a method of evaluation for the district's technology plan. PAGE 11 OF 43

12 Technology Plan Evaluation Three types of evaluation support this plan. They include: 1. Goal evaluation rubrics 2. Teacher self-evaluation rubrics for key plan elements 3. CEO Forum STaR Chart Discussions among the Technology Committee and district administrators led to the development of rubrics as the method of goal assessment. Rubrics were developed and/or adapted from several sources for each goal. After review within the district s Curriculum Committee, an additional single page rubric was developed for teachers to use for self-evaluation of elements important to supporting technology integration. These rubrics were based on state and national standards for teacher competency. Both of these sets of rubrics can be found in Appendix II (pages 23-27). The CEO Forum on Education and Technology has produced as assessment called the STaR Chart. This series of questions develops a profile of technology use and capacity within a district. In previous grant cycles, the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) has used the STaR Chart as a basis for sorting grant candidates. Its use in this plan will allow the district to maintain an up-to-date assessment of its progress on indicators important to external groups such as MDE. From their website, the following description of the Forum is found: The CEO Forum on Education and Technology was founded in the fall of 1996 to help ensure that America's schools effectively prepare all students to be contributing citizens and productive workers in the 21 st Century. To meet this objective, the Forum will issue an annual assessment of the nation's progress toward integrating technology into American classrooms. The district will continue to use the questions to provide an ongoing assessment of its progress in building technology capacity and integrating technology. The Technology Committee will review these rubrics annually to ensure they are being met and that they remain aligned with the district s technology goals. The committee will implement new goals when applicable and take the following action when goals are not being met: 1. Each department/group/team that is not meeting the technology goals and rubrics will be required to meet with the technology committee to review each specific area that is not being met. 2. An improvement plan will be developed by each member not meeting the goals in collaboration with the technology committee 3. The building level technology liaison will be given the improvement plan and will be available for individual training and instruction relating to the areas needing improvement. 4. Once every nine weeks the building level technology liaison will provide improvement documentation to the technology committee. 5. Once the building level technology liaison determines that improvement is satisfactory and meets the specific rubric goals the members will then be taken off of the improvement plan and reviewed on the same schedule as the other district staff members. PAGE 12 OF 43

13 Timetable The technology plans from 1990 through 2009 have focused on equipment and software investigation, and then on equipment and software acquisition and deployment. The previous and current plans focus on technology integration, mobile technology solutions, and replacement acquisition. Future plans will include replacement and integration. The table below demonstrates the timeline for these steps. Years Plan Focus Responsible Group(s) Feasibility and design District Technology Committee Equipment acquisition District Technology Committee Technology integration District staff Technology integration District staff Institutionalization and replacement District staff and District Technology Review Committee Technology integration And replacement acquisition Technology integration, mobile technology solutions, and replacement acquisition District staff Technology Review committee District staff Technology Review committee Student, teacher, and staff collaboration. Planning for best practices in technology. Student, staff, technology review committee. Interoperability Wyoming Public Schools assured interoperability through two strategies with several strands. Those strategies are standardization and the technology approval process. Standardization is monitored by a Technology Review Process and occurs in four areas: Hardware - Equipment Connectivity - Network Infrastructure: fiber backbone, cabling, network electronics Content / Software Professional Development and Training. Hardware - Equipment standards were set for desktop, laptop, servers, network electronics, peripherals and other devices. This also helped assure interoperability. PAGE 13 OF 43

14 WPS has deployed a data network based on Ethernet topology delivered over a wired and wireless network throughout the district. The industry standard TCP/IP protocol has been adopted because so many devices can easily be connected. Already WPS has connected PCs, servers, printers and phones on to this network. This network will allow for any other devices supporting TCP/IP to be connected. Network Infrastructure standard for the fiber backbone, cabling, network electronics have been defined and adopted by the district. Microsoft products were selected as the office software standard. This allows an enterprise-wide standardization of software applications, with attendant reduction in support costs. Similarly, Microsoft 2003/2008 servers have been deployed providing file and print services, web page/site hosting, DHCP & Proxy services, Google collaborative services, enterprise based AntiVirus and the hosting of various other services & applications. All workstations run Microsoft Windows operating system. In addition, various software images have been standardized for particular levels, e.g., Elementary computer labs, all media reference machines, etc. Standardized training in MS Office 2007 Professional Suite, help desk responses, has helped create a larger base of knowledgeable employees. By following these standards, interoperability of technology is promoted and technology applications will be successfully used within the Wyoming Public School District. WPS will provide infrastructure, application access, and required licensing to support the continued use of on-line learning programs. These will include, but are not limited to, Michigan Virtual High School, Compass Learning, Scholastic Reading, and E2020. Technology Approval Process A committee made up of administration, faculty, and community members will review and have oversight of the Wyoming Public School System technology infrastructure and application deployment. This group will comprise the Technology Review Team. The primary task of this group is to oversee the development; updating and implementation of district technology standards to assure reduced operating costs, interoperability, and ease of use. There are several positive reasons for the development of standards within the school system. The most important reason is to assure a positive educational and administrative experience when interacting with the school s computer systems. For example, without standards students and staff will not be able to easily exchange word processing documentation or transfer files from one device to another. This issue is generally described as interoperability, or the ability for computer hardware and software to interact in a positive manner for the end customer. Another important reason for the development of standards is economics. Agreed upon standards allow for the lowest cost of ownership. Gartner group, an Information Technology consulting firm, has demonstrated that uncoordinated software and hardware deployments can raise the ownership cost of PC and computer networks by 75%. Given the school system need to hold down the operating expense of technology deployment an enforced standard is critical. Finally, a well-constructed standard will typically maximize the overall customer satisfaction level. This group will specifically recommend for board approval the following standards: a. Technology tools Selection - This standard will attempt to minimize the overhead associated with diverse technology hardware models, manufactures, operating systems and equipment age. The major standard for this hardware will be periodically reviewed and updated by the Committee. b. Software Application Installation This covers the overall design and installation of software on any hardware. The software installation is a critical concept in controlling the cost of ownership typically associated with large PC networks. The approved image will outline training efforts, customer support, and the interaction between student, faculty, administration and the community PAGE 14 OF 43

15 c. Printer/Copier Selection - This standard will attempt to minimize the overhead associated with diverse printer models, manufacturers, drivers and equipment age. The major standard for printer hardware will be periodically reviewed and updated by the Committee. d. Misc. Equipment Selection - This standard will attempt to minimize the overhead associated with diverse misc. equipment models, manufactures, drivers and equipment age. The major standard for misc. hardware (mobile devices, digital devices, projectors etc.) will be periodically reviewed and updated by the Committee. e. Server Software - Server software refers to the underlying operating systems that operate applications software, systems utilities, and file storage. f. Networking - Less well know than most discussions, but very critical in successful deployment are a class of standards know as the network infrastructure. These standards are unlikely to be modified or changed as often as others, currently these standards are: Category 5 Unshielded Twisted Pair cable with Category 5 termination. 10/100/1000 based Ethernet. TCP/IP is the primary protocol Wireless access (Wi-Fi) The Wyoming School district s Board of Education supports these technology standards. These recommendations are designed from a macro economic perspective. Many donations will appear to have value, but in reality they will impact the operational expenditures of the school, resulting in a long-term cost that will be unacceptable. Modification to these standards should be presented to the School Board no more than twice a year. No modifications to these standards should be allowed prior to board approval. This policy authorizes support personnel and administration to restore equipment, software and workstation images to their original approved state when problems occur. In addition, it authorizes administration to refuse implementation of non-compliant equipment and services. Software Selection & Approval Process All software will be selected for purchase based on established review procedures, which have been developed to ensure that software addresses the following WPS goals for technology-integrated education. All future software purchases must be capable of: Network applications Aligning with Federal Common Core Curriculum Aligning with Michigan Educational Assessment Program curriculum Assessing individual student s work Individualizing instruction Yielding understandable parent/teacher reports Enhancing learning in the intended subject area(s) Providing assistance for students with special physical, learning, and/or language needs Network and platform compatibility Selected software vendors must: Provide ongoing support for their product(s) Offer low-cost training and professional development opportunities Have experience with educational environments and documented success in software development that addresses the needs of individual learners See Appendix 4 for Software Approval Form PAGE 15 OF 43

16 Technology Support and Total Cost of Ownership Support for technology comes from operational funds dedicated for that purpose by the Board of Education. Areas of support include: Contracted technical support services Instructional and Technical Support Staff, Tech. Liaisons Funds for supplies and materials Funds for replacement of obsolete equipment USF funds Professional development funds Technology Curriculum and Integration The following technology standards and benchmarks are adapted from the Michigan Department of Education model curriculum for technology. They form the basis for the Wyoming district s technology curriculum. A grade level example from the K-8 curriculum is found in Appendix IV (pages 30-34) and 9-12 curriculums Appendix V (pages 35-38). Content Standard 1: All students will use technology as they learn subject matter and life-long learning skills (e.g., self-directed learner, collaborative worker, effective communicator, quality producer and complex reasoner). Content Standard 2: All students will use technologies to retrieve, organize, manipulate, evaluate and communicate information. Content Standard 3: All students will use critical thinking, creative expression and decision-making skills to apply appropriate technologies to product development. Content Standard 4: All students will apply ethical and legal standards in planning, using, and evaluating technology. Content Standard 5: All students will evaluate the impact of technology on their world, predict other uses of technology and possible effects on society, and make informed decisions. Technology integration will occur in several ways. One is through including a section in each curriculum document for technology. This allows teachers of various subjects to have a reference within the curriculum guide for the use of technology to supplement content instruction. Another method is the inclusion of computer labs in each building. This will allow whole class instruction in technology or content skill development. Laptop cats, ipad s, Netbooks, and other various mobile computing devices. Installation of data projectors and interactive white board technologies, document cameras. Based on the WPS professional development implementation and timelines (pg ) all teachers and administrators will be provided adequate training to ensure seamless integration into all curricular areas. Professional Development The district compiled a technology survey in the spring of The findings of that survey indicated that while some report that they are computer literate, most believe they would benefit more from learning software functions and integrating them into their lessons than from learning how the hardware itself operates. WPS has responded by establishing a "just in time" training plan that will ensure teachers have opportunities to learn new software and hardware functions as they are installed. Along with this the district has also required that staff research best practices in technology delivery and fill out a tech request form identifying the delivery enhancements prior to technology hardware purchases. PAGE 16 OF 43

17 As a part of their employment contracts, all teachers have a required 30 hours per school year for professional development. All teachers are required to learn basic computer operations and software functions. Each will learn to operate Student Management, Employee Information, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, and to access and navigate the Internet/intranet and electronic mail/calendar. The Kent Intermediate School District will provide training to assist teaching staff in basic functions and in integrating technology into the curriculum. ISD Workshops for 2012 include designing web pages, Internet for beginners, and introductory courses on Windows Operating System, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word. Softwarespecific training will be provided by the software vendor and will be mandatory for all elementary teachers. Teachers are expected to develop written plans for incorporating technology into their content-area instructional strategies. The Wyoming Public Schools technology department has designed a summer trainings that are available for any staff member who wished to improve their technology skills. These classes are designed to give instruction on hardware and software that is used throughout the district. The Wyoming Public Schools will provide training and professional development that identifies the national and district core standards that address technology competencies for teachers, administrators, and other educators. This will be incorporated in the previously listed professional development strategies and summer tech camp offerings. Summer Tech Camp Class Offerings: Student, employee and Financial management systems Classroom management Grade Book Mobile learning Strategies Google Application Strategies Interactive board technologies Professional Development Timeline Description Timeline Provider Training of new teachers Synergy, MS Office, Google Apps, Inter/intranet Use, alio, AESOP. July 2012 (annually) District Technology Staff Just in time Training of teachers District Technology Staff Ongoing training of Teachers and Staff to include employee evaluation software Ongoing staff training for mobile computing devices and one-to-one student access Teachers participation in technology professional development Training for Application Software used in Classrooms / Labs / Media Centers / Admin. Training of newly purchased student, Employee, and finance software District Technology Staff District Technology Staff and teaching staff Various Locations In house Staff, K.I.S.D and software vendors as required 2012 (annually as needed) District Technology Staff PAGE 17 OF 43

18 Timeline, Cost & Source of Funding for Implementation of Technology Plan Years: Cost Source Hardware: (deployment is based on availability of funding) Student PC s Middle School x 10 $8,000 General Fund/Activity Fund High School x 20 $16,000 General Fund Elementary x 40 $32,000 General Fund Smart rooms All District x 20 $28,000 General Fund Mobile Devices Staff x 260 $200,000 Title 1 Grant Projectors Ceiling Mount x 10 $6,000 General Fund Servers File/Print Server $50,000 General Fund Licensing upgrade /Support-maintenance Server Licenses for Entire District $40,000 Professional Development: Total Hardware = $348,000 Annual Budget/State Grants Alio, Synergy training $64,000 General Fund Professional Development: $64,000 General Fund Tech Liaisons $6,000 General Fund Professional Development Total: $70,000 Other Technology support expenses:: 1yr. Cost for Contracted Services - includes Equipment maintenance and service. $167,000 Annual Budget PAGE 18 OF 43

19 Years: Cost Source Hardware: (deployment is based on availability of funding) Student PC s Middle School x 10 $8,000 General Fund/Activity Fund High School x 20 $16,000 General Fund Elementary x 40 $32,000 General Fund Smart rooms All District x 20 $28,000 General Fund (All District X150) $210,000 (band approval dependent) Mobile Devices Students x 260 (students X 1600) $200,000 Title 1 Grant $1,200,000 (Bond approval dependant) Servers File/Print Server $25,000 General Fund (File/Print Servers) $150,000 (Bond approval dependant) Licensing upgrade /Support-maintenance Server Licenses for Entire District $40,000 Total Hardware = $348,000 Annual Budget/State Grants Professional Development: Tech Liaisons $6,000 General Fund Professional Development Total: $6,000 Other Technology support expenses:: 1yr. Cost for Contracted Services - includes Equipment maintenance and service. $167,000 Annual Budget PAGE 19 OF 43

20 Years: Cost Source Hardware: (deployment is based on availability of funding) Student PC s Middle School x 10 $8,000 General Fund/Activity Fund High School x 20 $16,000 General Fund Elementary x 40 $32,000 General Fund Smart rooms All District x 20 $28,000 General Fund Mobile Devices Students x 260 $200,000 Title 1 Grant Servers File/Print Server $25,000 General Fund Licensing upgrade /Support-maintenance Server Licenses for Entire District $40,000 Total Hardware = $348,000 Annual Budget/State Grants Professional Development: Tech Liaisons $6,000 General Fund Professional Development Total: $6,000 Other Technology support expenses:: 1yr. Cost for Contracted Services - includes Equipment maintenance and service. $167,000 Annual Budget PAGE 20 OF 43

21 Collaborative Programs Timeline 21 st Century Technology Acquit ion and Implementation Annually KISD Shared Programs (Skill Center, Voc. Education, Career Prep) Annually Vocational (Job Shadowing, Career Tech Ed Advisory Committee) Annually Adult Education (High School Completion, GED, & ESL) Annually Community Programs (Internet safety and awareness) Annually WPS & City of Wyoming In house Staff, KISD CTE Staff & Community In house Staff In house Staff & Board of Education Collaborative Programs The district collaborates on professional development opportunities with Region III of Kent Intermediate School District. This includes alternative high school options and vocational classes. The high school has elective credit classes that train students on multiple areas of technology that users are faced with everyday. It details the proper setup of computers/peripherals and the best practices for using these tools in everyday life. Students gain a working knowledge of web page design, Internet searches and source validation, virus and Spyware issues, , publishing, and detailed use of mobile computing. The class teaches students the skills necessary to produce successful outcomes utilizing technology hardware and software strategies. WPS and the Wyoming City Parks and Recreation Department have collaborated at three elementary sites, one intermediate site, and one middle school to provide outside of school opportunities to students and families throughout the year. The three areas the grant focuses its efforts are the academic, physical, and social development of the child. Staff from both the school and recreation department use their strengths of personnel and resources to provide this program. One of the main goals of this program is to increase technology access and skill development. The grant funding has given WPS and the Wyoming Community the ability to acquire multiple technology items including: mobile laptop carts, video projectors, digital video cameras, desktop computers, wireless networks, and printers. Although a majority of the program occurs at the school site and with specifically targeted students of need, many additional opportunities are provided for additional families of the school and city of Wyoming. KISD shared program: Skill Center, Vocational Classes, and Career Prep Classes Vocational (Job Shadowing, Career Tech Ed Advisory Committee) Work Permits Adult Education: High School Completion Basic Computers, Internet, E2020, English as a Second Language - Rosetta Stone GED Read 180 (probable for 2012) The goal is to demonstrate to those who provided the resources, the voters, that their investment has been worthwhile and of benefit to them and their children. This information will be communicated in the district newsletter (Insight), district web site, and other forms of communication on an annual basis. PAGE 21 OF 43

22 Supporting Resources and Their Coordination The district coordinates various resources through the tech department and department of Grants. Wyoming receives Title I, Title II, Title III, At Risk, WIA and occasional grant resources that are applied to instructional programming needs. The district Administrative Council and District School Improvement team are venues where input is gathered and used to shape programs. We currently maintain a district web site containing district wide information as well as building specific information. We have implemented a web based Parent Vue connection tool which provides parent access to their child s academic information (grades, attendance, discipline, graduation requirements, etc.) Policy Support, Filters and Firewalls In addition to the hardware and software standards mentioned in the technology approval section, Acceptable Use Policies (AUP) have been developed and adopted. The AUP is found in Appendix VI (pages 39-40). This policy clearly states what the students and staff will and will not be allowed to do. Significantly, and voice mail are clearly marked as public, not private, files. The district utilizes a Watchguard Technologies firewall for security from the outside world. Content filtering services are provided by St. Bernard in compliance with the CIPA (Children s Internet Protection Act) policy and the enterprise version of Office Trend is used to eliminate and protect against computer viruses. All student data is confidential and protected from the general public in accordance with CIPA. PAGE 22 OF 43

23 Internet Safety Curriculum On October 10, 2008 the Broadband Data Improvement Act / Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act was signed into law. Wyoming Public Schools K-12 certify that our Internet safety policy includes Internet safety education. Specifically, the mandatory K-12 Internet safety education will include lessons on cyber bullying awareness and response, as well as teaching appropriate online behaviors for students on social networking sites and in chat rooms. The outline below shows an overview of the program and content that will be included in the implementation. Wyoming Public Schools will be combining the Michigan Cyber Safety Initiative Program, NetSmartz Workshop, and the i-safe America Curriculum and reporting tools. 1. Internet safety curriculum o i-safe Cyber Bullying Prevention Package, Social Networking Package and Personal Safety Package cover topics mandated by the new law. The interactive lessons, entertaining and informative videos and multi-media school assemblies are standards-based and age-appropriate for K-12 students. 2. Documentation o Independent third party records from i-safe will indicate which teachers at each district school are teaching the mandatory Internet safety lessons. Each school is encouraged to enroll into the program to receive an E-Rate Internet Safety Education Certificate for their files. 3. End of year audit report o A comprehensive verifiable report backing up the E-Rate Certificate with the E-Rate Certification Implementation Plan, which details school, teacher, Internet safety topic, date, and number of students taught. 4. Assessments o Reliable assessment metrics about your students online attitudes, behaviors and verifiable results from the Internet safety training. 5. Group Presentations o Annual Seminar Overview will include all grade levels and buildings within the Wyoming Public School District. K 4th grade. Using the NetSmartz Workshop materials on the Internet video and a customized curriculum, elementary students learn to keep their personal information safe, stay away from Internet strangers, and to tell trusted adults about anything that makes them uncomfortable. 5 th grade. Through video and interactive curriculum, students understand why it is critical to protect their personal information; why they should never arrange to meet in person someone they first encountered online; how to recognize common techniques predators use to deceive students; and how to avoid and, if necessary, respond to cyber harassment. 6th - 8th grade. In addition to the topics covered in the 5th grade seminar, students are cautioned about revealing personal information on social networking sites and watch compelling videos featuring peer Internet predator and cyber bullying victims. Community Seminar: Provides practical tools including how to: 1) access the Michigan Sex Offender Registry; 2) search and access social networking sites (i.e., MySpace and Facebook); 3) view Internet history logs to determine a child's online activity; 4) turn on safe surfing filters; and 5) obtain reliable information on parental-control software. PAGE 23 OF 43