Progress Report Posting #2

The Texas Long Range Plan for Technology progress report complies all the data from the STaR charts into a report, offers conclusions on programs that support technology in the classroom, and other distance learning programs. In the report in talks about the advances in distance learning through a program called Texas Virtual School which is powered by Region 10 to give all students in the state access to quality academics. Ongoing researched based professional development is a crucial piece in transforming our educational system for 21^st century learning. This is in place and being used in a number of schools by teachers across Texas. Texas supports Vision 2020 technology advancement in the classroom by offering numerous grants for technology enhancements along with teacher training. Our school is one of main schools and districts that have grown through this program. Are ability to reach kids through alpha smart writing, Mobi interactive notepads, projectors, and computers is amazing. NCLB mandates that all Texas 8^th graders be technologically literate by the end of that school year. In 2009, data indicates that 61.5% of Texas 8^th graders mastered the Technology TEKS while nationwide 62.9% reached mastery. One area that Texas does need to improve on is providing technology support to disadvantaged students. Seeing the progress in recent years could give false hope. With our state and nation in a massive economic recession, How do we continue to spend as district’s to advance our technology when we our increase class sizes and on hiring freezes? Our political leaders, governor, and teacher associations need to stand up for the rights of our students to be competitive in the 21^st century. We can not get there without the appropriate funding