ENVIRONMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Mississippi has made considerable advancements in providing a statewide infrastructure to connect schools to each other through telecommunication resources. Federal and state funds have been used to construct a robust ATM/frame relay backbone that currently connects 100% of Mississippi schools and districts, universities, and community colleges to the Internet. Even as significant strides have been made to build an advanced infrastructure, challenges continue to lie ahead. Issues of support, maintenance, security, and access exist as schools develop plans for future integration of technology. The environment of a school usually reflects its priorities. Technology must become an integral part of the school environment. Emerging technologies are changing the way teachers think about instruction and students learn. Schools must be provided with a
climate and commitment of support to effectively infuse technology in the 21st century.
Goal VII: Accountability – All school districts will utilize an up-to-date reporting and accountability system to make data-driven decisions.
Objective 1: All Mississippi public school districts will provide the Mississippi Department of Education requested information for evaluating the impact of technology.
STRATEGIES PERFORMANCE
INDICATORS TARGETED TIMELINES
7.1.1
Assist all Mississippi school districts in providing specific demographic information to the Mississippi Department of Education.
Mississippi school districts will provide school-level data using the Mississippi School Information System (MSIS) annually.
MDE will provide on-going technical assistance for schools regarding the transfer of information via MSIS.
2003 – 2008
Goal VII: Accountability – All school districts will utilize an up-to-date reporting and accountability system to make data-driven decisions.
Objective 2: All Mississippi public school districts will evaluate technology effectiveness. STRATEGIES PERFORMANCE INDICATORS TARGETED TIMELINES 7.2.1
Evaluate the impact of technology on academic achievement in Mississippi school districts.
All districts will submit technology plans to MDE for approval, which include a plan for program evaluation. Mississippi school districts will establish targeted timelines for educational technology implementation in schools.
Mississippi school districts will provide school-level data regarding technology
implementation and usage through the Mississippi Online Technology
Evaluation (MOTE) annually.
2003 – 2008
2003 – 2008
2003 – 2008
Goal VII: Accountability – All school districts will utilize an up-to-date reporting and accountability system to make data-driven decisions.
Objective 3: All Mississippi public school districts will include educational technology in the fiscal planning process.
STRATEGIES PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
TARGETED TIMELINES 7.3.1
Assist Mississippi school districts in providing
appropriate funding to support technology integration.
MDE will support districts in adopting long-range budgets for technology.
Goal VIII: Telecommunications and Infrastructure – All students, educators, and educational systems will be connected to a statewide telecommunications infrastructure that provides broadband capacity and network connectivity for Internet and other technological resources to every classroom in the state.
Objective 1: Mississippi school districts will have high quality access to technology and telecommunications.
STRATEGIES PERFORMANCE
INDICATORS TARGETED TIMELINES
8.1.1
Design, install, and maintain a technology and telecommunications infrastructure for
communications and services.
MDE will determine growth percentage of districts using MSIS reports.
All local school district networks will convert to ATM.
Local school districts
requiring more bandwidth will convert to DS3.
2003
2003 – 2005
2003 – 2005
8.1.2
Re-evaluate core MDE network design needs and modify as needed.
MDE will re-evaluate core network.
MDE will complete new core design.
MDE will procure equipment and/or services to implement new core design.
MDE will implement new core design.
MDE will begin core network cycle again. 2003 2003 2003 2003 2004 – 2008
Goal VIII: Telecommunications and Infrastructure – All students, educators, and educational systems will be connected to a statewide telecommunications infrastructure that provides broadband capacity and network connectivity for Internet and other technological resources to every classroom in the state.
Objective 2: Expertise and assistance will be provided to school district staff in planning for and using technology.
STRATEGIES PERFORMANCE
INDICATORS TARGETED TIMELINES
8.2.1
Adequately train all staff associated with WAN.
75% of WAN staff will be adequately trained.
2008 8.2.2
Retain and formalize
contractual services for local district support.
Contractual services will provide assistance to districts. MDE will obtain a technology rating on each district from contractual services.
MDE will review technology rating with SCB Project Manager and WAN manager and create plan.
MDE will implement plan. MDE will determine the effectiveness of the plan. MDE will modify contracts to reflect district environment.
2003– 2005 2003 – 2004 2003 – 2004 2003 – 2004 2004 – 2005 2003 – 2008
Goal VIII: Telecommunications and Infrastructure – All students, educators, and educational systems will be connected to a statewide telecommunications infrastructure that provides broadband capacity and network connectivity for Internet and other technological resources to every classroom in the state.
Objective 3: Information regarding WAN will be regularly communicated. STRATEGIES PERFORMANCE INDICATORS TARGETED TIMELINES 8.3.1 Coordinate periodic meetings with district superintendents and technology
coordinators to discuss WAN plans.
MDE will coordinate statewide meeting for all school districts annually. MDE will conduct site visits to evaluate and monitor sites based on needs.
2003 – 2008
2003 – 2008
8.3.2
Maintain an internal listserv and chat room for technology
coordinators.
MDE will set up server. MDE will maintain accurate member list.
2003 - 2004 2003 - 2008 8.3.3
Create and maintain a web page that will provide best practices and global knowledge database of
WAN/LAN deployment,
WAN/LAN projects, and WAN/LAN tips.
MDE will conduct a needs assessment of affiliates associated with the WAN. MDE will maintain web page for technology coordinators with information regarding WAN deployment, projects, and tips.
2003 – 2004
Goal VIII: Telecommunications and Infrastructure – All students, educators, and educational systems will be connected to a statewide telecommunications infrastructure that provides broadband capacity and network connectivity for Internet and other technological resources to every classroom in the state.
Objective 4: Leadership will continue to be provided in the deployment of technology within the State.
STRATEGIES PERFORMANCE
INDICATORS TARGETED TIMELINES
8.4.1
Participate in the comprehensive state technology planning.
MDE will attend and participate in Mississippi Council for Education Technology meetings monthly.
MDE will participate in the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services' (ITS) voice, video, and data customer forums and the state net listserv.
2003 – 2008
2003 – 2008
Goal VIII: Telecommunications and Infrastructure – All students, educators, and educational systems will be connected to a statewide telecommunications infrastructure that provides
broadband capacity and network connectivity for Internet and other technological resources to every classroom in the state.
Objective 5: A safe, secure K-12 infrastructure will be provided in compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA).
STRATEGIES PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
TARGETED TIMELINES 8.5.1
Offer and provide Internet content filtering.
MDE willtest Internet content
filtering.
MDE will provide filtering for all districts desiring the
2003 – 2003
2003 – 2004: Filter desired content at a 75% ratio.
services. 2004 – 2005: Filter desired content at an 85% ratio. 2005 – 2006: Filter desired content at a 90% ratio. 8.5.2
Develop a report on Internet
usage and filtering. MDE will complete testing of Internet reporting.
MDE will compile and distribute Internet reports. MDE will evaluate and disseminate reports to appropriate parties. 2003 – 2004 2003 – 2004 2003 – 2008 8.5.3
Utilize Internet caching to aid in compliance of COPPA and CIPA.
MDE will purchase additional cache engines for regional sites.
MDE will install additional cache engines for regional sites.
2003 – 2008
2003 - 2004
Goal VIII: Telecommunications and Infrastructure – All students, educators, and educational systems will be connected to a statewide telecommunications infrastructure that provides
broadband capacity and network connectivity for Internet and other technological resources to every classroom in the state.
Objective 6: High speed, broadband Internet access for the K-12 network will continue to be provided.
STRATEGIES PERFORMANCE
INDICATORS TIMELINES TARGETED
8.6.1
Monitor bandwidth, bottlenecks, and Internet connectivity speeds.
MDE will pilot the evaluation process of Internet
connectivity speeds.
MDE will implement and maintain evaluation data for
2003 – 2004
Internet connectivity speeds. 8.6.2
Install an application Layer 7 switch to identify services on network.
MDE will research and review an application Layer 7 switch to identify services on
network.
MDE will install application Layer 7 switch.
MDE will compile and evaluate information from the application Layer 7 switch.
2003 – 2004
2003 – 2004 2004 – 2008
8.6.3
Analyze network data from customer network management tool.
MDE will purchase and implement customer network management tool.
MDE will review, analyze, and distribute reports to districts quarterly.
2003 – 2004
2004 – 2008
8.6.4
Collaborate with ITS on outbound network requirements.
MDE will meetwith ITS
annually regarding MDE bandwidth requirements.
2003 – 2008
Goal VIII: Telecommunications and Infrastructure – All students, educators, and educational systems will be connected to a statewide telecommunications infrastructure that provides
broadband capacity and network connectivity for Internet and other technological resources to every classroom in the state.
Objective 7: Infrastructure security (systems and data) will be increased. STRATEGIES PERFORMANCE
INDICATORS
TARGETED TIMELINES 8.7.1
Implement security plan and policies document.
MDE will identify critical hardware, software, data, resources, documents, and supplies.
MDE will create security plan and policy documents for the following:
- Disaster Recovery Plan
- Security Plan
- Security Policies
State Superintendent will approve security plans and policies.
MDE will review/update security policies quarterly.
2003 – 2004
2004
2004 – 2008 8.7.2
Distribute Intrusion Detection System (IDS).
MDE will test and review IDS systems to identify the level of IDS system needed. MDE will purchase adequate IDS system based on test data if needed.
2003
2003
8.7.3
Install virus protection. MDE will review new virus
protection methods.
MDE will make all needed updates for virus protection. MDE will maintain virus protection.
2003 – 2008 2003 – 2008 2003 – 2008
Goal VIII: Telecommunications and Infrastructure – All students, educators, and educational systems will be connected to a statewide telecommunications infrastructure that provides
broadband capacity and network connectivity for Internet and other technological resources to every classroom in the state.
Objective 8: E-mail services will be made available to K-12 network users. STRATEGIES PERFORMANCE
INDICATORS TARGETED TIMELINES
8.8.1
Install equipment to perform desired e-mail services.
MDE will review and procure needed systems to adequately serve the K-12 network. MDE will install equipment. MDE will maintain new e-mail systems.
2003
2003 – 2004 2003 – 2008 8.8.2
Install new virus system for e-mail servers.
MDE will review and procure needed systems to adequately serve the K-12 network. MDE will install and maintain equipment.
2003
2003 – 2008 8.8.3
Provide e-mail filtering. MDE will install e-mail
filtering system.
MDE will maintain e-mail filtering system.
2003 – 2004 2003 – 2008
Goal VIII: Telecommunications and Infrastructure – All students, educators, and educational systems will be connected to a statewide telecommunications infrastructure that provides broadband capacity and network connectivity for Internet and other technological resources to every classroom in the state.
Objective 9: Emerging technologies will be researched on a continual basis. STRATEGIES PERFORMANCE
INDICATORS TIMELINES TARGETED
8.9.1
Identify and research emerging technology for the K-12
environment.
Identify and formalize roles of task force members for the K-12 network.
Task Force will report quarterly on emerging technology areas.
Information from quarterly reports will be distributed to districts.
2003
2003 – 2008
2003 – 2008
8.9.2
Create lab environment to facilitate the testing of emerging technology.
Reorganize spaces used for housing staff and storage. Allocate spare machines that can be used in the technology lab.
Procure equipment, and acquire demo equipment or vendor equipment loans for trial basis.
2003
2003 – 2008
8.9.3
Identify progressive districts to assist in evaluating emerging technologies.
MDE will survey staff and district personnel to form list. Contact individuals from list to gain support and
cooperation.
Facilitate the process of district wide testing of emerging technologies.
2003 2003
2003 – 2004
Goal VIII: Telecommunications and Infrastructure – All students, educators, and educational systems will be connected to a statewide telecommunications infrastructure that provides broadband capacity and network connectivity for Internet and other technological resources to every classroom in the state.
Objective 10: Timely help desk support for districts will be provided. STRATEGIES PERFORMANCE
INDICATORS
TARGETED TIMELINES 8.10.1
Expand help desk to include an online input service for technology coordinators.
MDE will conduct needs assessments of technology coordinators to determine need/desire for services. MDE will establish one help desk for all programs
including, but not limited to, SPS, MSIS, and E-rate. - Develop online work
orders.
- Develop searchable
knowledge database for MDE help desk support and technology
coordinators. MDE will organize technology coordinators meeting to provide directions for use of online service.
2003
2003
