EDUC 5375 Week 5 Blog

       My plan does not include internet access, but access to the Internet is at the core of every technological integration plan. Broadband internet access impacts all Americans in any community. Economic growth, educational advancements, and social and communal interactions would be stifled without internet access. In today's society, it is crucial that people have access to reliable internet, and if they do not have access in their own homes, they can access the internet within their community. 

    In my community, Royse City, access to the internet is not an issue. There are many communicable places, such as coffee shops and restaurants, that offer internet access to community members. The school district also ensures that all students have access to the internet, even when not at school. During the 2020 school year, the district installed Wi-Fi on school buses and set up internet hubs at police stations and fire stations around the city for students to use. \

    The biggest internet issue plaguing schools and the community is the internet infrastructure. With the increase in population and student growth, access to the internet is currently slow or limited. Companies are struggling to meet the demands of the growing community and the schools. 

    The ISTE (2020) guidance document details key financial considerations for districts regarding technology funding. One crucial point that stood out to me was that districts can only spend 15% of Title IV-A funds to purchase devices or software; most money must be used for professional development. This is important information for my technology integration plan, as it provides teachers and staff with adequate professional learning to effectively utilize technology and conquer the digital design divide. If my proposal has a means of funding from Title IV-A, I would think that my district would be more likely to be willing to implement my technology integration plan. Using Title IV-A funds, like Wyoming in the guidance document, would also provide my technology integration plan with buy-in. Such a strong focus on using funds to support teacher professional development and pedagogy in a sustainable way for years to come would help our teachers develop technology-enhanced instructional practices that transform learning rather than simply digitizing traditional methods. By creating a community of ISTE-certified educators within our district, we could establish an internal support system where these teacher leaders mentor colleagues and spread effective practices authentically throughout our schools, maximizing the impact of our initial investment and addressing the digital design divide. And when our teacher has a strong foundation in technology, students' learning outcomes are greatly influenced. 

Such a strong focus on developing teachers' digital competency is also displayed in Crossland et al. (2018) as it relates to the overall increase in students' learning outcomes. This article discusses the implications of including the Universal Design for Learning principles and how they can increase student achievement. The authors recommend that teachers receive adequate training to integrate technology into their daily instruction and emphasize that incorporating access and learning is not just a school priority but a communal responsibility. 

    My school already has a large technology curriculum and staff development budgets. I would like to propose some of that budget be allocated to my specific technology integration plan and include more specifically tailored technology development and technology integration instructional coaches. Title IV-A is a good option since the primary focus is on professional development, which aligns with my technology integration plan vision and goals. 

My district, Royse City Independent School District, has a technology budget of $2,044,118, which equates to $202 per student. This is a significant increase since 2020, when the budget was $934,230. My school has a separate curriculum and staff development budget that amounts to $4,811,866. I am unsure what category of technology professional development is included. I do know, however, that I have attended a minimal amount of technology professional developments for the budgets to be that robust. 

References 

International Society for Technology in Education. (2020). Using ESSA to fund edtech: Getting the most out of Title IV-A. https://www.iste.org

Crossland, A., Gray, T., and Reynold, J. (2018). ESSA and digital learning: Closing the digital accessibility gap. American Institute for Research. (Attached in Introduction for Week 5)