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Teachers need access, training and time for implementing technology in their classrooms before they are ever required to be assessed or held accountable for technology proficiencies. TCTA championed that message, testifying in September before the SBOE, where many state board members agreed with TCTA’s concerns and directed the committee to start over with the plan. As a result, TCTA was successful in getting many harmful provisions removed or improved in the draft State Board of Education Long-Range Plan on Technology 2006-2020. Major improvements include:
- Mastery of the Technology Application standards will be required only after teachers have access to technology, quality professional development, and time to implement new strategies in their classrooms, with these steps being essential to reach the goal.
- Requiring teachers to be assessed on the Technology Applications proficiencies was replaced with language stating that districts need strategies to measure the progress of students and teachers in meeting the Technology Applications proficiencies as access to technology and professional development becomes available.
- Provisions requiring the number of teachers mastering the Technology Applications proficiencies to be part of the accountability system were removed.
Now the revised plan will be presented to the SBOE in November for final adoption. If the SBOE approves the Plan, it will then be forwarded to the Legislature.
For more details on the specific language that was changed, visit this page.
Last updated: 11/6/06
