Bryan County School System

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Bryan County School System

Pembroke, Georgia

Three-Year Technology Plan

July 1, 2012 - June 30, 2015

Superintendent

Dr. Paul Brooksher

Director of Technology

Lori Warren

(912) 851-4000

[email protected]

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Table of Contents

I. Vision for Technology Use ... 2

II. Current Reality ... 3

Data Sources ... 3

Instructional Technology Use ... 4

Elementary Schools ... 4

Middle Schools ... 6

High Schools ... 7

Instructional Gap Analysis ... 8

Administrative Technology Use ... 9

Administrative Gap Analysis ... 10

Parent/Community Uses of Technology ... 11

Parent/Community Gap Analysis... 11

Goals, Benchmarks and Strategies ... 12-22 III. Communication and Marketing ... 23

IV. Professional Development ... 25

V. 8th Grade Technology Literacy ... 27

VI. Appendices Appendix A- ... 28-38 Acceptable Use Policy/Procedure Use of Electronic Communication Systems Internet Use Policy Internet Use Agreement Authorization Form Internet Safety Policy CIPA Documentation Electronic Communications Between Employees and Students CyberBullying Internal Tech Policies Email Retention and Disposal Procedures Supervision and Monitoring Appendix B- Committee Members………..…...39

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I. Vision for Technology Use

The mission of the Bryan County School System staff is to continually strive to enhance student learning through the integration of new and emerging technologies with curricular objectives as defined by the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards and the School Keys to Quality. Central to student academic achievement is the effective integration of technology through timely support, continuously improving infrastructure, and innovative training.

The vision for Bryan County Schools is to educate students through incessant learning and infusion of technology within the total curriculum to be prepared, knowledgeable adults, ready and adaptable to continuous change of real world technology in the 21st Century. Technology permits students to develop essential higher order thinking skills in a life-long learning model of education. Bryan County Schools will help students gather, manipulate, and present data using technology as the medium to help students become problem solvers and critical thinkers in our ever-changing global community. It is imperative that education remains relevant to the age in which we live. The school system will support technology professional development, updated technology equipment, and technology instructional materials in order to enhance instructional goals. Technology, if used as a visual medium, can captivate and hold students' interest, and thus can improve academic achievement. The vision of the Bryan County School System for technology use includes the desire to implement the following vision statements that will impact or improve our school system:

 Provide 21st Century standardized equipment and resources in all academic classrooms.

 Continue to maintain, and support the network infrastructure to assure access for all employees and students to enhance their knowledge and technology proficiencies.

 Provide technology resource teachers and technology professional development at all schools to help support teacher integration of technology with the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards.  Engage in continuous evaluation of instructional practices and technology integration to monitor student

and teacher technology literacy in accordance with National Educational Technology Literacy standards.  Use technology, possibly through the school websites to provide an avenue of communication to

encourage a stronger link between the school system and parents, students, business members and the community.

 Provide the community current, web-based information of overall student requirements, performance, and achievement.

 Provide administrative personnel web-based software that will allow easy data collection and distribution to school personnel.

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information such as grades and attendance.

 Maintain a centralized website designed to give easy access to individual and school system information, system requirements, performance, and achievement.

 Provide equal opportunities and assistive technologies to students with special needs.  Provide software to track students for Response to Intervention (RTI) purposes

 Provide and maintain a data driven warehouse that will track achievement data and have an analysis tool The integration of technology into the curriculum as an instructional tool provides the emphasis for this technology plan. As the district works toward providing students with an integrated curriculum relevant to their needs, technology becomes an essential component in instruction. Believing that, uniform technology integration standards will be implemented across all grade levels of the Bryan County School System to ensure that students progress from beginning levels to more sophisticated levels of technology use by the end of their school careers. Teachers will integrate technology on a daily basis with an increased focus on student uses of technology to promote higher order thinking skills and performance based assessments. Teachers will ensure that students have met the grade appropriate benchmarks through the utilization of available technologies.

Technology is used in all schools to enhance classroom instruction and meet the needs of all learners and learning styles. Teachers utilize technology to deliver instructional content. In the future, we hope to see more student uses of technology. As the focus moves from teacher centered to student centered technology uses, we envision more hands-on, real world technology applications. Students will use interactive devices such as whiteboards, instant student response systems, scientific probes, laptops, tablets, and calculators to conduct experiments, present information, manage data, and demonstrate understanding of higher level concepts.

II. CURRENT REALITY

Data Sources

According to the 2011-2012 technology survey sent to the Georgia Department of Education, Bryan County has 2,645 total desktops and 11 mobile labs for student use connected to the Internet. There are 19 tablets for administrative use, which connect to the Internet. The operating system on the computers is Windows 7 and Windows XP. The Bryan County School District utilizes the following data sources to collect valuable data for informed technology-planning decisions.

 Annual budget for technology which identifies:

Technology related purchases, training, and support expenditures

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 Annual school technology inventory including software and hardware

 Annual 8th grade computer literacy assessment to evaluate literacy of computer technology

 School surveys done yearly by technology resource teachers in each school to determine the amount of technology professional development needed

 Periodic teacher webpage update and check for accurate and current information

 Data taken from school system based assessments (benchmarks throughout the school year)

Instructional Technology Use

The Bryan County School System is the only school district in the United States which is totally bisected by a military installation. The northern area of the county, including Pembroke, Ellabell, and the surrounding communities, is served by four schools - Lanier Primary School (K-2), Bryan County Elementary School (3-5), Bryan County Middle School (6-8), and Bryan County High School (9-12). The district's central office is also located in the northern end of the county.

The Richmond Hill community is located in the southern end of the county. It is served by five schools - Richmond Hill Primary School (K-l), Richmond Hill Elementary School (2-3), George Washington Carver Elementary School (4-5), Richmond Hill Middle School (6-8), and Richmond Hill High School (9-12). The division of the system by Ft. Stewart means the system must duplicate expensive services such as, transportation (two repair facilities), psychological services, and others. This unique geographic make-up of the district necessitates the maintenance of a robust high-speed Wide Area Network (WAN).

Each school has a certified full time technology resource teacher who assists the teachers and students with training and use of new hardware and software and testing programs. These resource teachers assist the classroom teachers by modeling the effective use of the technology resources in the lab or in their classroom and help them incorporate technology into the daily curriculum. All technology resource teachers have correlated the National Educational Technology Standards and Georgia Performance Standards into their school's grade levels and have shown their teachers how to design and create materials which will help their students understand, master concepts, and succeed in school. They also help administer and disseminate info from district assessments.

Elementary Schools

All elementary or primary schools in Bryan County, except for George Washington Carver, Bryan County

Elementary and Richmond Hill Elementary have one computer lab. George Washington Carver has three computer labs and one wireless lab, Bryan County Elementary School has two computer labs, and Richmond Hill Elementary

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has four computer labs. Most classrooms are equipped with televisions and video streaming service is available in all classrooms. All elementary schools have 100% of their classrooms equipped with high speed Internet

connections. All have interactive whiteboards and/or wireless slates, a LCD or DLP projector, a teacher computer, audio enhancement devices, and at least two student computers. Each elementary school also has digital cameras, digital microscopes, document cameras, student response systems, and video cameras. Richmond Hill Elementary School has flip cameras that they use as well. In addition to the stationary labs in these schools, Carver Elementary School has a mobile lab for classroom teachers to check out and use with student as well as eBook devices for student use. Instructional software varies from school to school based upon student need. Lanier Primary School has a Smart Table. These materials are used in the lab environment for whole group instruction or are networked in the classroom and are used individually. Interdepartmental software varies and is based on curriculum need and funding.

The following software programs are available, but are not limited to:  Harcourt Math

 Orchard

 Lexia Primary/Early Reading  Accelerated Reader

 Accelerated Math

 MacMillian/McGraw-Hill Literature/English Series  Smart Start English

 Reading Blaster  Graph Club  Star Math  Star Reading  Kid Pix

 Story Book Weaver  Kidspiration/Inspiration  Jumpstart Typing  Print Shop

 Steck Vaughn Reading  Cornerstone Language  Scholastic Keys  Timeliner  Mathosaurus  Smart Notebook/Interwrite/Mimeo  Study Dog PK-2  A to Zap  Enchanted Learning  Movie Maker  ExamView  Turning Point  Microsoft Office  CPS  PhotoStory  United Streaming

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 Subscription Based Websites:

Brain Pop Enchanted Learning Sampson’s Classroom EdHelper IXL Education City First in Math ComicLife MobiMath Study Island StarFall More FlipBoom-Allstar GRASP Pearson Inform

Middle Schools

Bryan County Middle School has three stationary computer labs, two instructional and one vocational. They also share three wireless labs with Bryan County High School. Bryan County Middle School also utilizes digital microscopes and scientific probeware in math and science classrooms. Richmond Hill Middle School has two stationary computer labs, both are instructional. They have four wireless labs. Each middle school classroom is equipped with televisions and video streaming service is available. All middle schools have 100% of their classrooms equipped with high speed Internet connections. All classrooms have interactive whiteboards and/or wireless slates, an LCD or DLP projector, document cameras, audio enhancement devices, a teacher computer, and at least two student computers. Some have digital microscopes, EBook readers, and flip cameras. Most academic teachers in each school have a student response system (Turning Point).

The following software programs are available, but are not limited to:  Orchard

 Compass Learning  Galileo

 ExamView Pro

 Accelerated Reader  Print Shop EEV  Inspiration

 InterWrite Software  Turning Point Software  Microsoft Products  Mavis Beacon  Math Blasters  PhotoStory  Movie Maker  United Streaming  STAR Math  STAR Reading

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 Study Island

 Timeliner  Tinkerplots

 Geometer’s Sketchpad

 Subscription Based Websites: BrainPOP Ed Helper Study Island Sonday Pearson Inform GRASP MAP

High Schools

Bryan County High School has five stationary computer labs, one instructional and four vocational. Richmond Hill High School has nine stationary computer labs, four instructional and five vocational. They also have two

instructional tablet labs for mathematics. All educational classrooms have 100% of their classrooms equipped with high speed Internet connections and video streaming service is available. All regular education classrooms have interactive whiteboards and/or wireless slates, a projector, and a teacher computer. In addition to the stationary labs, Bryan County High shares three mobile labs with Bryan County Middle School while Richmond Hill High has three for classroom teachers to use. Instructional software varies from school to school based upon student need. These materials are used in the lab environment for whole group instruction or are networked in the classroom and are used individually. Interdepartmental software varies and is based on curriculum need and funding.

The following software programs are available, but are not limited to:  Accelerated Math  Inspiration  Orchard  ComicLife  InterWrite  Turning Point/CPS  Microsoft Office  Exam View Pro  MicroType

 Microsoft PhotoStory

 ULEAD

 Galileo

 United Streaming  USA Test Prep  Google SketchUp  Movie Maker

 West Point Bridge Builder  Maple Math

 A+ Credit Recovery  Failure Free Reading

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 Subscription Based Websites:

Mobi Math GRASP SONDAY Virtual School Compass Testing Quia

Instructional Gap Analysis

As revealed by the 2011-201 Annual District Technology Inventory Survey, the student to computer ratio is 2.95 students per each Internet connected computer. This data includes mobile lab computers in rolling carts that are available for classroom checkout. These mobile labs are available in one of the elementary schools and in both of the middle and high schools Our use of single network student logins in the middle and high schools has created some hesitance in checking out regular mobile labs for a few of these schools. This is due to students not logging out properly on one machine causing connectivity issues when trying to log on to another machine. These issues cause some teachers to be reluctant to use the laptops, but they are currently being addressed by purchasing new batteries for the mobile labs, new computer laptops, and student and teacher training with network logins.

The current reality of instructional technology uses in the Bryan County classrooms is that elementary and middle schools are 95% outfitted with 21st century classroom tools including computers, projectors, classroom response systems, interactive whiteboards, or wireless slates. Another 21st century classroom tool needed to complete these classrooms would be an audio enhancement component. The high schools are 80% outfitted with some 21st century classroom tools. Most classrooms in the high school have projectors and wireless slates, most classrooms are equipped with the student response systems and some of our classrooms have audio enhancement systems in place. All schools are working on equipping each classroom with Elmo document cameras. Also the uses of ipads in all classrooms are being considered for future implementation beginning with our high and middle schools.

Closing the achievement gap between our regular education and special education students remains a top priority of the Bryan County Schools. We have made great strides in accomplishing this goal and seek to continue these gains in the next three years. The district utilizes curriculum mapping (vertical and horizontal), diagnostic software, disaggregated data, differentiated instruction, and inclusion to address our gap in achievement and to help utilize technology integration in the classroom more effectively. The strategies were developed in a collaboration of

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special education and regular education teachers and were designed to address specific academic targets and

maintain equitable technology access. One way to track students who are struggling in school but have not been identified with special learning disabilities is through the RTI (Response to Intervention) process. “Response to Intervention” refers to a process that emphasizes how well students respond to changes in instruction. Monitoring and measuring student progress in response to the instruction and interventions can be kept in the SEMS Tracker component of our special education management software.

Administrative Technology Use

Administrative applications are installed and supported at the district level. These applications are available to all schools and include student information management, food services, personnel information, employee attendance and applications, district finances, and purchasing. All teachers and administrators access web‐based data through a high speed data connection. Schools connect through a 1G fiber backbone that delivers 100 Mbps to the desktop.

School personnel are provided web‐based e‐mail accounts to promote better communication between the schools, staff, and parents. Power School is Bryan County’s student information system which is a web based student information system to manage student data. This information is housed on two servers and a load balancer at the central office. Student data is entered by student information systems (SIS) operators at the individual school sites and because Power School is SIF compliant, information may be easily transferred to all other programs within our system. Currently, information is transferred from Power School to our Special Education Management Software

(SEMS) special education program daily.

Teachers use the Power Teacher grade book which is a component of Power School. They may access their grade books anytime and anywhere there is network access. Student demographics and schedules are populated in the grade books as part of the web based total integration SIS.

Special education teachers use the web-based Special Education Management Software (SEMS). This software is

designed to manage data on special education students and electronically generate and document required paperwork such as Individual Education Plans.

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All principals and assistant principals were issued an iPad 2 for administrative use in teacher evaluations, student data retrieval and student security access in case of an emergency. Many administrators are collecting school-wide data through the use of focus walks on these handheld devices. Schools are able to collect data directly through web-based forms, as well as analyze and store data. Using a variety of reports, including cross-tabulations and

comparisons allow administrators to make informed decisions on the appropriate professional development opportunities for teachers and staff.

Administrative Gap Analysis

The Bryan County School System has updated many administrative desktops, servers, and software programs including our student information software which was updated in 2009. RHHS, RHMS and BCMS servers were purchased in 2010, BCHS was purchased in 2011and our elementary school servers were purchased in May of 2008. Because of our county makeup, we do a full backup of each side of the county on the opposite side and the data is overwritten every 20 days. A full backup tape is pulled once a month and is stored in a fireproof vault. Our financial management and human resource program, Munis is now hosted and storage is in multiple locations and backups are stored offsite.

Bryan County purchased Microsoft Exchange 2007 and currently uses the journaling component to take

a snap shot of all emails for thirty days. After the thirty days the emails are erased and the process begins again. We also use our Microsoft Exchange to limit the size of everyone’s mail box to 250 MB. In the future this

archiving of emails may have to increase using Microsoft Exchange 2007 or archival email software may have to be purchased.

Other components of Microsoft Exchange could be utilized more efficiently by administrators and teachers. Currently one high school utilizes the calendar component effectively, but other schools within the system do not use all the components as they should. More training in this area would provide administrators and teachers a better understanding of all available features. Our student information system, Power School has a built in bulletin which can be sent automatically to parents and teachers by the administration. At this time we are not utilizing this component of Power School. More training on the use of this bulletin will be given to administrators so communication between them and teachers could be more effective.

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Parent/Community Uses of Technology

Bryan County Schools utilize e‐mail, teacher and school websites, and newsletters to promote better communication between schools, staff, parents and community members. Parents have the opportunity to stay abreast of student performance through Power School, our new student information system. This program allows parents access to automatic updates being sent to them daily, weekly, monthly or updates sent to them immediately at the time the parent connects to the program. Now students and parents are able to track progress through the parent portal portion of Power School and through a Power School iPhone or Android app. By using any computer or smart phone with Internet access, students and parents have the opportunity to view scores on their child’s last quiz taken, view overall progress and see which assignments are coming due. Parents may also sign up for the Notify Me service through our school and district websites. Information can be sent out via email or text message to parents in case of emergency or an urgent message. Some, but not all schools also have a school messenger service which calls the student’s home to relay overall messages from the schools.

Parent/Community Gap Analysis

Although websites are in place at the system, school, and classroom level, communication continues to be limited due to the fact that the classroom websites are not always kept current. Most schools have directives that WebPages must be updated every week. Some schools, but not all schools in Bryan County, have an automated phone system in place that contacts the student’s home phone when they are absent, tardy, or for other school related messages. We are still continuing to look at different programs to be county wide which would allow us to automate phone messages, but at this time have not committed to one program. Another gap in Bryan County would be that some families may still not have Internet access at their homes. This lack of access could cause a disadvantage for some studentswhen assigned projects are required by the teachers who require computer access or the internet in our school system. We are fortunate to have two county public libraries where students and parents may go if they need to access the Internet.

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Goals, Benchmarks and Strategies

Access to Technology

Goal 1: To maintain and support the network infrastructure in order to provide all students and

staff in the Bryan County School System access to current and emerging technologies.

Strategies:

Benchmark

Evaluation

Method

Funding Source/

Estimated

Amount

Person Responsible

To increase

access to

current and

emerging

technologies

in order to

enhance

instruction.

There will be a

10%

increase in

upgrading of

current

technologies.

There will be a

10% increase in

new or updated

tablets in each

school.

Conduct an

annual spring

technology

equipment

inventory each

year.

Assess teacher

use of the

various

technologies

each year.

8

th

Grade

Literacy Test

Local

Technology

Funds

$300,000.00

School Allotted

Title 1

Director of Technology

Technology Resource

Teachers, Principals

To provide

LAN/WAN

and wireless

access for all

technology

applications.

All schools will

have high speed

access to online

resources through

the use of BOE

owned fiber and

leased fiber lines

and some wireless

access.

Wireless

equipment will be

installed as

funding becomes

available.

Annual

technology

inventory

Local

Technology

Funds

$300,000.00

Director of Technology

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Access to Technology

Goal 1 Continued: To maintain and support the network infrastructure in order to provide all

students and staff in the Bryan County School System access to current and emerging

technologies.

Strategies:

Benchmark

Evaluation

Method

Funding Source/

Estimated

Amount

Person Responsible

E-rate

applications

will be filed to

apply for

reimbursement

of partial rates

for leased

lines, web

hosting, and

the district’s

phone system

payment.

E-rate applications

will be filed

annually for any

eligible services.

Annual budget

Local

Technology

Funds

$300,000.00

Director of Technology,

Superintendent

To provide

appropriate

assistive

technology as

stated in the

Individual

Educational

Plan (IEP) of

the special

needs

students.

100% of students

with special needs

will be provided

with assistive

technology as

stated in the IEPs.

An inventory

of hardware

and software

will be

conducted

annually by the

special

education

department

Collect

baseline and

comparative

data of

assistive

technology or

emerging

technology use

with special

needs students.

Cost would be

determined by

need of

individual

students and IEP

requirements.

Director of Special

Education,

Director of Technology,

Principals

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Access to Technology

Goal 1 Continued: To maintain and support the network infrastructure in order to provide all

students and staff in the Bryan County School System access to current and emerging

technologies.

Strategies:

Benchmark

Evaluation

Method

Funding Source/

Estimated

Amount

Person Responsible

Increase the

number of

wireless tablet

labs in the

district for all

schools based

on need.

Increase the

number of

standalone

labs to the

Primary and

Middle

schools

Analyze the

student/computer

ratio at each

school and

purchase

additional mobile

labs or tablet labs

based on need.

Purchase

Orders

State Inventory

Assess teacher

use of the

mobile labs or

interest in

tablet labs

Local School

Funds based on

availability

$300,000.00

Resource Technology

Teacher,

Director of Technology,

Principals

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Instructional Uses of Technology

Goal 2: To continue providing professional development and role modeling in the effective use and

integration of technologies to enhance Common Core Georgia Performance Standards-based

teaching and learning.

Strategies

Benchmark

Evaluation

Method

Funding Source/

Estimated

Amount

Person

Responsible

To increase the

number of

Technology

Enhanced

Classrooms in

which technology

tools are an integral

part of the

curriculum.

At least 95% of

classrooms in our

system will be

equipped with

interactive white

boards, slates,

projectors,

document

cameras, and

audio

enhancement

devices.

Teachers in

Technology

Enhanced

classrooms will

complete at least

20 hours of

technology

training

Annual Hardware

Inventory

Classroom

Observations

CRCT student

achievement test

given annually in

the Spring

GRASP and

district

benchmark

assessment tests

Class logs

showing teacher

participation in

the training

Local Technology

Funding

$300,000.00

School Allocated

Title 1 Funding

$8000.00

Special Education

Funds (if needed)

$5000.00

Title I Funding for

North Bryan

County

Director of

Technology,

Technology

Resource Teachers,

Principals

Goal 3: To integrate technology in the Common Core Standards-based curriculum and assess

students’ technology literacy.

Strategies

Benchmark

Evaluation

Method

Funding

Source/

Estimated

Amount

Person Responsible

Specific student

technology

competency goals

as required by

Georgia

Technology

Standards will be

incorporated into

the curriculum at

all grade levels.

Students will

reach

age-appropriate

technology

literacy levels by

the end of eighth

grade.

Annual 8th Grade

Proficiency

Assessment

N/A

Director of

Technology,

Principals

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Administrative Uses of Technology

Goal 4: Administrators will demonstrate efficient use of technology and establish an ongoing

process of assessing technology to improve instructional planning.

Strategies

Benchmark

Evaluation

Method

Funding Source/

Estimated

Amount

Person Responsible

Administrative

personnel will

support and

participate in

professional

development in the

implementation

and integration of

the latest

administrative and

instructional

technologies.

100% of

administrators

will be offered

training in the

effective use of

current

administrative

and instructional

technologies

Class logs

showing

administrators

participation in

technology

classes annually

N/A

Director of

Technology/

Principals,

Technology Resource

Teachers

Evaluation

practices will

address the

effective use of

educational

technology for

student

achievement of the

CCGPS standards.

50% of our

schools will

evaluate the

effective

integration of

technology in the

classroom.

Classroom

Observations

Collect baseline

and comparative

data of effective

technology use

when teaching

CCGPS

standards.

N/A

Principals,

Technology Resource

Teachers

Curriculum Resource

Teachers

Administrative

personnel will

observe and

document

technology use as

integrated in

teacher lesson

planning and

technology

planning.

70% of teachers

will include

technology in

their weekly

lesson plans.

Weekly

evaluation of

lesson plans

N/A

Principals

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Administrative Uses of Technology

Goal 4: Administrators will demonstrate efficient use of technology and establish an ongoing

process of assessing technology to improve instructional planning.

Strategies

Benchmark

Evaluation

Method

Funding Source/

Estimated

Amount

Person Responsible

Administrators will

communicate

effectively with all

audiences through

the use of

technology.

40% of

administrators

will use

technology to

create and

enhance

communication

and multi-media

presentations.

All administrators

will ensure school

web sites are

current and up to

date.

Local evaluation

– daily usage

reports

Annual survey of

administrators

and teachers to

determine usage

Local

Technology

Funds

$300,000.00

Director of

Technology,

Principals, Central

Office Administrators

Superintendent

Administrators will

establish

technology

integration

standards, and

become informed

decision makers on

technology issues.

100% of School

Improvement

Plans and System

Improvement

Plans will include

goals addressing

the integration of

technology.

Annual

evaluation of

Improvement

Plans

N/A

Superintendent,

School

Administrators,

System Level

Curriculum

Personnel

Director of

Technology

School

administrators will

use available

technology to

organize, analyze,

and interpret

student data in an

effort to determine

areas of

instructional need.

100% of schools

will use

technology to

disaggregate data.

CRCT Scores,

School Level

Data Reports,

GHST Scores,

etc.

N/A

System Level

Curriculum Director,

Curriculum Resource

Teachers,

School

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Administrative Uses of Technology

Goal 4: Administrators will demonstrate efficient use of technology and establish an ongoing

process of assessing technology to improve instructional planning.

Strategies

Benchmark

Evaluation

Method

Funding Source/

Estimated

Amount

Person Responsible

Administrators will

endorse and

promote the

integration of

technology into the

curriculum

throughout all

areas of instruction

to enhance learning

opportunities for

all students.

100% of

administrators

will provide their

staff with a

minimum of 10

hours of

professional

development on

new and

emerging

technologies and

assist the

integration of

technology into

the curriculum by

2015.

Class logs

showing staff

participation in

technology

training annually

Classroom

Observations

CRCT Scores,

Data Reports,

GHST Scores,

etc.

N/A

Director of

Technology,

School

Administrators,

Technology Resource

Teachers

To develop a

Technology

Committee,

including school

administrators and

technology

resource teachers,

to increase

technology

integration in the

classroom.

100% of schools

will have

designated

representatives

who will meet

and collaborate

with instructional

technology

resource teachers

quarterly or as

needed.

Technology

Committee

Attendance logs

N/A

Director of

Technology,

School

Administrators,

Technology Resource

Teachers

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Parent/Community Uses of Technology

Goal 5: To use technology as a means to increase communication between the school system

parents, and the community.

Strategies

Benchmark

Evaluation

Method

Funding Source/

Estimated

Amount

Person

Responsible

Technology

Resource Teachers

and Principals will

provide information

during after school

hours to parents in

order for them to

increase their

knowledge of

available

technology in the

school system.

100% of schools

will invite parents

to a Parent/Teacher

or Back to School

night to increase

awareness of the

technology

currently available

in their school

including the parent

portal portion of

Power School and

the Notify Me

service.

Parent sign in

sheets

N/A

Technology

Resource

Teachers,

Principals,

Technology

Director

E-rate applications

for both school

system and district

website hosting

will be completed

in order to provide

a stronger

home/school

connection.

At least 90% of

classroom teachers

will publish a

classroom website.

School websites

will be monitored

every nine weeks.

2,500.00 after

e-rate funding for

district and school

level website

hosting

Superintendent,

Director of

Technology,

Principals

The parents and

students will be

given usernames

and passwords to

access the

parent/student

portion of Power

School to have

access to student

assignments,

attendance and

grade information

and have reports

generated and sent

to them.

100% of all

parents will have a

username and

password

generated and

available at their

child’s school for

pickup and use.

Power School

usage log

Local Technology

Funds

$300,000.00

Director of

Technology,

School Principal

The district will

provide the Online

Assessment

100% of schools

will have access to

OAS, District

Online Assessment

reports, student

and teacher data

N/A

Technology

Resource

Teachers,

20

System (OAS),

district

benchmarks, and

GRASP testing

and MAP testing

in order to

improve students

test taking skills.

Students and

Parents can access

OAS at home with

an individual login

and password.

Benchmarks, and

GRASP testing.

reports generated

from GRASP, and

Data Warehouse

software

CRCT student

achievement test

given annually in

the Spring,

Benchmark testing

given three times a

year, GRASP

testing given two

to four times a

year, MAP testing

will be given twice

a year

21

System Readiness (staff technical competencies/attitudes)

Goal 6: To continue to enhance, maintain, and support the network infrastructure to ensure access

for all employees and students to meet educational needs.

Strategies

Benchmark

Evaluation

Method

Funding Source/

Estimated

Amount

Person Responsible

To provide

essential tools to

enhance learning in

the 21

st

century.

100% of teachers

have access to

modern desktop

computers or

laptops.

Every grade level

and/or academic

department will

have access to a

standard lab with

a replacement

cycle for every

computer of 5

years to ensure

that technology

integration is

possible.

DOE Hardware

Inventory

annually

DOE Hardware

Inventory

annually

Local

Technology

Funds

$300,000.00

Local

Technology

Funds

$300,000.00

Superintendent,

Director of

Technology,

School

Administrators

To improve

connectivity to

networks

(including

wireless) for

communication

and collaboration

as well as phone

line connection.

Provide 100

megabyte

connection to

every desktop

Begin planning

and implementing

wireless

connectivity

within our school

buildings.

E‐rate

applications will

be filed annually

to apply

for discounted

rates for leased

lines and

the district's

phone system.

DOE Hardware

Inventory

annually

Local

Technology

Funds

$300,000.00

Superintendent,

Director of

Technology,

Technical Support

People

22

System Readiness (staff technical competencies/attitudes)

Goal 6: To continue to enhance, maintain, and support the network infrastructure to ensure access

for all employees and students to meet educational needs.

Strategies

Benchmark

Evaluation

Method

Funding Source/

Estimated

Amount

Person Responsible

To maintain the

security of network

and Internet access

through annual

Acceptable Use

Policy (AUP)

procedure updates.

100% of the

Bryan County

School system

users will be

informed of

revision of AUP

Signed

AUP forms

annually

N/A

Superintendent

Director of

Technology

Principals

To provide

professional

development

opportunities that

will enable

technology

resource teachers

and technical

support specialists

to redeliver new

and innovative

technology

initiatives and

maintain and

enhance network

infrastructure.

100% of

technology

resource teachers

and technicians

will receive 10 or

more hours of

training.

Class logs

showing class

participation

annually

Local

Technology

Funds

$300,000.00

Superintendent,

Director of

Technology

23

III. Communication and Marketing

Communication Role in Helping Students Achieve

A strong bond between the community and the school system is essential to student success. To ensure student success, Bryan County is committed to maintaining frequent and meaningful communication between the school system and community members. Bryan County is dedicated to providing two way, open ended communication between community members and the school system.

To ensure proper communication, Bryan County shares information with the community through the use of school and system report cards and progress reports that document student achievement on standardized tests and course grades. Parents can access standardized test information via the Internet to find out how the county as a whole and the individual schools are performing. This same information is provided in the school system newspaper, Good

News about Bryan County Schools, and the local newspaper The Bryan County News. These two publications also

feature articles that update the community on how students and teachers are utilizing technology in the classroom and feature information on how parents can offer input into the county’s technology planning efforts. The local newspaper, The Bryan County News, allows the school district the opportunity to feature articles written by staff members about activities in the district.

Parental input is sought annually with the county’s official Parent Survey. This survey is sent home with every student in the county and is also featured in electronic format on the county website. Results from this survey are used to update the technology plan as well as other county level and school level plans.

Parents are kept abreast of school level and county level information in a myriad of ways including: Weekly teacher newsletters, mass mailings, 4 ½ weeks progress reports, report cards, Power School parent portal, information found on the county and school level websites, and the Notify Me service which sends email or text messaging and notifies parents of upcoming or important events. Parents and community members are invited to attend quarterly PTSO meetings to receive information about technology integration, student achievement, and school business. All schools host Open House events where parents learn about the curriculum and technology resources within the

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school. Most schools also hold a Back to School Night in which parents can attend classes to learn about the technology that is present in each school, how this technology helps student achievement, and additional information about what their children experience at school on a daily basis.

Power School, the county’s student information system, gives parents and students a username and password which

allows them access to student grades and assignments. It also allows students to register online for their next year’s upcoming classes.

A district level website, maintained by the Technology Director, provides information to the community about the Bryan County Schools. Each school maintains their websites and through a third party webhosting company. Each school website is maintained by the school’s Technology Resource Teacher and provides information about school activities and technology integration. Parents and community members currently can access faculty members by phone or by email links provided on each school’s website and through the parent portal of Power School.

Market Role in Helping Students Achieve

Parents are provided with home access to the Online Assessment System (OAS) website in which their children can take practice standardized tests to help prepare them for state tests. Students and parents also have access to subscription based websites that certain schools have purchased to help enhance student achievement. Through the school report card, school website, newspaper articles, weekly newsletters, mass mailings, school level meetings, and Power School parent portal, the school system is able to present to parents and community members how student achievement is enhanced through technology. The State’s Longitudinal Data System is also available showing student achievement on all state mandated tests.

Integration/Coordination with Long-Range Planning Initiatives

In order to facilitate communication, to enhance academic achievement, and to assist in the effective integration of technology into the curriculum, the district technology team interacts with various departments, committees, and services prior to monthly planning sessions. Including school system staff and community members in the

25

development of school and system technology plans increases the likelihood that these groups will have a stake in the advancement of technology in Bryan County and provide support and ideas for continued growth. By involving members of the community, system staff members can be assured that the system is doing its best to prepare students to function in a technological world.

Community members, business representatives, and parents serve on each school’s School Council. The School Councils meet quarterly at each individual school and are open to the public for input. School Council members offer their input directly to the school Principal.

Long-range planning includes initiatives that incorporate media, Title I, and Special Education through the daily utilization of programs such as Accelerated Reader, Star Math and Reading, Lexia, Orchard, and SEMS (Special Education Management Software). The media centers oversee the implementation of the Accelerated Reader Program. The Study Island program for basic skills remediation is one software program used by Title I students and the SEMS program is used by teachers to manage and document the needs of special education students.

IV. Professional Development

The district Professional Development Plan aligns with the prioritized student needs as it addresses research-based instructional strategies at all levels, while allowing the professional growth of individual staff members. Available technology local funds and other professional development funds are used to ensure that professional development funds are spent appropriately. All professional learning must be linked to the Professional Development Plan and approved by the Professional Development Coordinator, the Assistant Superintendent. The concentrations for these courses will be differentiated instruction; standards based education, inclusion, and technology integration. Each course or training offered is researched-based utilizing empirical methods of systematically improving student achievement. The Bryan County School District complies with the Principles of Effectiveness by selecting and implementing scientifically and/or evidence-based practices and products targeting assessed needs. Fidelity of program implementation is also reviewed each year by student pre- and post test results, classroom observations, 8th grade literacy tests, and standardized tests.

26

Each of our schools has a certified Technology Resource Teacher who offers courses based on a needs assessment given to the instructional staff during the school year. Funding for technology equipment, software, and training comes from a variety of sources including local technology funds, Title I program funding, and special education funding.

Courses Offered

Targeted Audience

Internet Safety/CyberBullying

Faculty and Students

Orientation to the Computer Lab and

Components

Students and Teachers

SMARTboard

All Departments

Turning Point

All Departments

Emerging Technologies (Using Vernier

Probeware)

Teachers and Students

Internet Learning Tools (Rubistar, Brain

POP, Discover Streaming, Google Earth)

All Departments

Photostory

All Departments

Teacher Webpages

All Departments

Power Teacher/Power School

All Departments

Windows Movie Maker

Teachers

Outlook – Basic and Contacts

All Departments

Microsoft Office – Overview/Basic

Differences

All Departments

Georgia Online Assessment System

Teachers

USA Test Prep

Teachers

Quia

Teachers

School Pad/Qumo Pad Basics

Teachers

Web Design

All Departments

ELMO Document Camera Training

All Departments

Creating Lapbooks (2 sessions)

All Departments

Digital Microscope

All Departments

PC Tablet

All Departments

27

V. 8

th

Grade Technology Literacy

According to 2010-2011 results from the state 8th grade proficiency assessment, 72% of Bryan County 8th grade students achieved mastery/competency on the 8th grade technology literacy skills. Although all students in the elementary grades attend the computer lab on a weekly basis and work in diverse programs, their knowledge of technology varies due to the lack of a standardized technology curriculum countywide. Each school is fortunate to have a certified technology resource teacher on campus who works with students and teachers, but because of the individuality of schools and software programs within the schools, the information students learn varies. In an effort to improve the technology proficiency levels of our students by the eighth grade, the elementary technology resource teachers will assist in the creation of a county wide standardized technology curriculum that focuses on the National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS-S) as defined by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE).

28

APPENDIX A

Acceptable use policies/procedures:

Board Policy Descriptor Code: IFBGA

Electronic Communications

Bryan County Board of Education recognizes that the extensive use of computers in all areas of today's technological society has created a need to provide students and employees the opportunity to use computers in support of the teaching and learning process and to facilitate the operations of the district. Electronic media, such as the Internet, offers a variety of resources for students, teachers, administrators, and staff. The Internet provides resources and tools that promote educational excellence, expand avenues for research, and increase the sources of information used to fulfill system objectives.

The intent of this policy is to ensure that all uses of the Bryan County Schools Internet connection are for the support of education or district operations and are consistent with

the goals and educational philosophy of the school system. All Internet users must sign the Internet Use Authorization Form. Student users must also have a parent or guardian

sign the Parent or Guardian Authorization, and the teacher must sign the Sponsoring Teacher Authorization. The Bryan County Board of Education believes that students, teachers, administrators, and staff should have access to the Internet and other forms of electronic media in

accordance with the following guidelines.

1. Measures must be in place to protect against access, by adults and minors, to inappropriate matter on the Internet and World Wide Web. This includes visual depictions

that are: (1) obscene, (2) pornographic or with respect to the use of computers, (3) harmful to minors.

2. Processes must be in place to monitor and identify unauthorized access, including "hacking" activities, and other unlawful activities by minors and adults using the Bryan

County School System computer network.

3. Guidelines regarding the unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal information regarding minors must be communicated to all computer users signing

the Internet Use Authorization Form.

4. Activities that ensure the installation, maintenance, and ongoing monitoring of a firewall and filtering software must be in place to facilitate Internet safety and security for

all computer users accessing the Internet or World Wide Web through the Bryan County School System computer technology network.

5. The Internet Use Authorization Form must address Internet Guidelines and must include the use of electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic

communication.

Any violation of this policy and/or rules may result in the loss of school-provided access to the Internet. Additional disciplinary action may be determined in keeping with existing

procedures and practices regarding inappropriate language or behavior. When and where applicable, law enforcement agencies may be involved.

29

Bryan County School System

Internet Use Agreement

All of the Bryan County Board of Education district's Internet service users are subject to the following rules and regulations:

I. ACCEPTABLE USE

Access to the Internet through the district's network is provided for educational purposes and research consistent with the school system's educational mission and goals.

Transmission of any material in violation of any U.S. regulations, state regulations, or Bryan County Board of Education policy is prohibited. This includes but is not limited to:

copyrighted materials, threatening or obscene material, or material protected by trade secret. Use for commercial activities or product advertisement is not acceptable. Use for

political lobbying is prohibited. II. PRIVILEGES

The use of the school system's Internet is a privilege, not a right. Inappropriate use may result in the cancellation of those privileges. Each school's administrative staff will

determine what is inappropriate. An administrator, faculty member, or staff member of the Bryan County Board of Education may request the denial, revocation, or suspension

of a specific user's privileges. III. INTERNET GUIDELINES

The user is expected to abide by the following guidelines. These include (but are not limited to) the following: 1. Primary use of the Internet is for educational or work-related purposes. Illegal activities are strictly prohibited. 2. The following uses of the Internet are prohibited: Submitting, publishing, or displaying profanity, vulgarities, or defamatory language. Publishing intentionally inaccurate

information, or inappropriate language is prohibited.

3. Disclosure of personal information of any person such as personal address, phone number, or any unauthorized disclosure, use and dissemination of personal information is

prohibited.

4. Electronic mail (e-mail) is not private, and inappropriate or illegal messages will be reported to the authorities. 5. Use of the Internet in such a way that one disrupts the use of the network by other users is prohibited.

6. Users are prohibited from engaging in chat rooms, non-educational games, and the monopoly of resource time and materials.

7. Users should be aware that all communications and information accessible via the network should be assumed to be subject to copyright law. The user is responsible for

checking for copyrighted or licensing agreements.

8. Users are to provide credit for all material used in research. Data received through the Internet is subject to the same rules of documentation as traditional information.

9. Copying or downloading software illegally from network sources, disks, or CD ROMs to another computer is prohibited.

10. Users must honor the policies of other networks when accessing them through a connection on the Bryan County Board of Education network.

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Vandalism is defined as an malicious attempt to harm or destroy equipment or data of another user, the Internet, or any other network. Vandalism will result in revocation of

access and disciplinary action. This includes (but is not limited to) the uploading or creation of computer viruses or worms.

V. SECURITY

Security on any computer system is a high priority, especially when the system involves may users. If it is suspected that a security problem exists on the Network/Internet,

employees and students are required to notify the network administrator or the Technology Department. Do not demonstrate the problem to other users. Never use another

individual's account. Attempts to log on to the Network/Internet as a network administrator will result in cancellation of user privileges. Any user identified as a security risk

may be denied access to the Network/Internet through any Bryan County School. VI. DISCLAIMER

The Bryan County Board of Education makes no warranties of any kind, whether expressed or implied, for the service it is providing. The Bryan County Board of Education will

not be responsible for any damages suffered. This includes loss of data resulting from delays, service interruptions, and exposure to offensive or threatening material. Use of

any information obtained via the Network/Internet is at one's own risk. The Bryan County Board of Education specifically denies any responsibility for the accuracy or quality of

any information obtained through its services.

Bryan County School System Internet Use Agreement Authorization Form Student Authorization:

I understand and will abide by the provisions and conditions of this agreement. I understand that any violation may result in disciplinary and/or legal actions. I also agree to

immediately report any misuse of technology resources or services to my teacher or a staff member. User Name (please print): ____________________________________

User Signature: _________________________ Date: _____________ Parent or Guardian Authorization:

(Must be completed if user is a student)

As the parent or guardian of the above-named user at _________________, I hereby certify that I have read and understand that my child's school and the Bryan County Board

of Education are providing Network/Internet resources and information services for educational purposes. I understand that although my child's school and the Bryan County

Board of Education have taken reasonable precautions to restrict access to offensive, illegal, defamatory, or inaccurate materials, such exposure may nevertheless occur. With

that understanding, I hereby give permission to the Bryan County School System for my child to use the Internet. I further agree to hold harmless the Bryan County School

System, its employees and agents, from any and all claims arising from or related to my child's use or misuse of the Internet, and waive any and all claims I may have against

the System for such use or misuse.

Parent Name (please print): __________________________________ Parent Signature: ________________________ Date: _____________

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Sponsoring Teacher Authorization: (Must be signed if the user is a student)

I hereby certify that I have read and that I understand the Bryan County Board of Education Policy IFBGA.As a sponsoring teacher, I have instructed the above-named user on acceptable use of the network and proper network etiquette.

Teacher’s Name (please print):________________________________________________ Signature:___________________________________________

Date:____________________________

It is the policy of Bryan County Schools to: (a) prevent user access over its computer network to, or transmission of, inappropriate material via Internet, electronic mail, or other forms of direct electronic communications; (b) prevent unauthorized access and other unlawful online activity; (c) prevent unauthorized online disclosure, use, or

dissemination of personal identification information of minors; and (d) comply with the Children’s Internet Protection Act [Pub. L. No. 106-554 and 47 USC 254(h)].

Definitions

Key terms are as defined in the Children’s Internet Protection Act.* Access to Inappropriate Material

To the extent practical, technology protection measures (or “Internet filters”) shall be used to block or filter Internet, or other forms of electronic communications, access to inappropriate information.

Specifically, as required by the Children’s Internet Protection Act, blocking shall be applied to visual depictions of material deemed obscene or child pornography, or to any material deemed harmful to minors.

Subject to staff supervision, technology protection measures may be disabled or, in the case of minors, minimized only for bona fide research or other lawful purposes.

Inappropriate Network Usage

To the extent practical, steps shall be taken to promote the safety and security of users of the Bryan County Schools online computer network when using electronic mail. Access to chat rooms, instant messaging, and other forms of direct electronic communications are not permitted using the Bryan County Schools online computer network. Specifically, as required by the Children’s Internet Protection Act, prevention of inappropriate network usage includes: (a) unauthorized access, including so-called ‘hacking,’ and other unlawful activities; and (b) unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal identification information regarding minors.

Supervision and Monitoring

It shall be the responsibility of all members of the Bryan County Schools staff to supervise and monitor usage of the online computer network and access to the Internet in accordance with this policy and the Children’s Internet protection Act.

Procedures for the disabling or otherwise modifying any technology protection measures shall be the responsibility of the Bryan County Schools Technology Director or designated representatives.

Policy Level: BOARD POLICY

Descriptor Term: INTERNET SAFETY POLICY

Descriptor Code: IFBGA-B Effective Date: 3/23/06