ROCKLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS TECHNOLO

The technology mission of the Rockland Public Schools is to ensure that students obtain essential digital literacy skills in conjunction with the application, critical thinking, and communication skills necessary to prepare them for lifelong growth and success in the increasingly competitive global economy of the 21 st Century.

The technology vision of the Rockland Public Schools is to provide a school climate that affords technology literacy opportunities for all students to acquire the technical skills and application skills necessary to use technology in the learning process and in the workplace. The first step to ensuring student technology literacy is to offer high-quality professional development training for teachers that will give them the knowledge and skills necessary to enhance student learning by integrating technology within the various curricula. Both teachers and students will use technology as a tool for instruction, communication, presentation, documentation, research, and assessment. Teacher training and student learning for technology literacy includes technical skills such as navigating, editing & formatting, and using hardware, peripherals, and applications, as well as, cognitive skills including an understanding of terminology, ethics, and effective communication. Use of technology also increases productivity, improves problem-solving skills, encourages cooperative learning, and expands learning opportunities for all students. Rockland Public Schools is dedicated to merging current educational practices with emerging technologies to prepare students for the technology communities of tomorrow.

GOAL	DOE BENCHMARK CODE	OBJECTIVE	TIME LINE	EVALUATION
1. To increase the technology budget.	Benchmark 1 E2	To include a line item for professional development.	2007-2011	Documentation of line item.
2. To continue to apply for technology related grants and Erate.	Benchmark1 E3, E4	A. To apply for the Technology grants as they come available	2007-2011	Documentation of grants and Erate awarded or not funded.
	Benchmark1 E3, E4	B. Continue to apply for Erate for internet access and telephone services	2007-2011	Documentation of grants and Erate awarded or not funded.
3. To continue to survey and evaluate teacher progress in achieving the District Technology Goals, and evaluate student use of technology.	Benchmark 1 F1, F2 Benchmark 2 B1, B2	A. Administer the TSAT. 1. Working to meet Proficiency level in the TSAT: At least 70% by spring 2008 At least 80% by spring 2009 At least 90% by spring 2010 At least 100% by spring 2011 2. Reached the Proficiency level in the TSAT: At least 25% by spring 2008 At least 37% by spring 2009 At least 49% by spring 2010 At least 60% by spring 2011	2007-2011	TSAT
		B. Revise student technology survey to be aligned with the new state’s technology literacy standards.	2007	Student Survey
		C. Survey students using district student technology surveys	2007-2011	Student Survey
4. To improve teacher use of technology both outside and within the classroom.	Benchmark 2 A1, A2 Benchmark 2 B2 Benchmark 2 C2 Benchmark 3 A, B, C, D Benchmark 5 A, C	A. Administer the Teacher Use Surveys each year 1. 85% of teachers use technology every day outside teaching time. At least 55% by spring 2008 At least 65% by spring 2009 At least 75% by spring 2010 At least 85% by spring 2011 2. 85% of teachers use technology for Teaching and Learning everyday to improve student learning. At least 36% by spring 2008 At least 52% by spring 2009 At least 69% by spring 2010 At least 85% by spring 2011	2007-2011	• Teacher Use Survey • Technology Equipment Sign-out forms • Department Chair monthly reports. • Tech integration component is added to teacher evaluations. • Technology Professional development offered on a regular basis.
		B. To add a FTE instructional technology teacher.	2007-2011
		C. Continue offering professional development based on TSAT data and objective of having 85% of staff having participated in 45 hours of high-quality professional development: Target is 61% by spring 2008 Target is 71% by spring 2009 Target is 77% by spring 2010 Target is 85% by spring 2011	2007-2011
		E. Mandate the use of technology in the classroom and incorporate into teacher evaluations.	2007-2011
		F. Monthly departmental meetings will add a “How I’m Using Technology in the Classroom” component to allow sharing of tech integration usage.	2007-2011
		G. Continue encouraging e-learning activities such as WebQuests, virtual field trips, and use of educational interactive web sites.	2007-2011
5. Align the middle school curriculum to Technology Benchmarks, and develop an Elementary Technology Curriculum.	Benchmark 2 B1	A. Align the middle school curriculum to the revised Technology Benchmarks.	2007-2011	Documentation of Middle School Technology Curriculum Guide.
		B. To develop an Elementary Technology Curriculum and add an Elementary computer teacher	2007-2011	Documentation of Elementary Technology Curriculum Guide.
		Educate minors about appropriate on-line behavior and cyberbullying awareness and response	2008-2011	Instruction added to Library Program K-12
6. To improve student proficiency in Massachusetts Instructional Technology Standards for grades 5-8.	Benchmark 2 B1	Show 85% Proficiency in K-8 Instructional Technology Standards: At least 62% by Spring 2005 At least 74% by Spring 2006 At least 85% by Spring 2007	2007-2011	Evaluate using district developed student survey.
7. To continue to maintain and purchase technology equipment.	Benchmark 4 E1, E2, E3 Benchmark 4 A1, A2, A3, A5, A6 Benchmark 4 C2	A. To add a FTE network administrator/technician to our technology staff to improve our down time.	Spring 2011	A FTE Administrator/ Technician is hired. Part time hired spring 2005
		B. To have a ratio of fewer than five students per computer.	2007-2011	The ratio remains a 5:1 or less.
		C. To purchase computer peripherals including such devices as digital cameras, science probes, graphing calculators, LCD projectors etc.	2007-20011	As evidenced by purchase orders and inventory.
		D. To provide and maintain access to servers for file sharing, backups scheduling, email, and web publishing	2007-20011	As evidenced by purchase orders and services
		E. To establish a computer replacement cycle of six years or less.	2007-2011	As evidenced by purchase orders and inventory.
8. To update and maintain infrastructure	Benchmark 4 B2 Benchmark 4 C1 Benchmark 5 B	A. To replace hubs with 10/100/1 Gb switches.	2007-2011	As evidenced by purchase orders and inventory.
8. To update and maintain infrastructure	Benchmark 4 B2 Benchmark 4 C1 Benchmark 5 B	B. To update the backbone to a gigabit	2007-2011	As evidenced by purchase orders and inventory.
9.
10. To provide access to the Internet before and after school hours, and to collaborate with community organizations to provide access.	Benchmark 5 D Benchmark 4 D1	A. To maintain an up-to-date website.	2007-2011	Evidenced by viewing website.
	Benchmark 5 D Benchmark 4 D1	B. To add community information/links such as the public library hours and information.	2007-2011	Evidenced by viewing website. Completed 2005

The technology program is funded through line items in the School Department Budget and grants. The budget includes staffing, hardware, software, professional development, maintenance, and contracted services. E-Rate funds, if awarded, are used to pay for 42% of telephone and Internet services. Jefferson School’s first computer lab is made up of class C computers relocated to the school, as well as some laptop computers donated by Serono. We will continue to investigate companies’ donations to augment our technology budget.

The district employs the following staff: Computer Education Coordinator whose responsibilities include curriculum integration, network/system management and maintenance and repair; .4 Technician/Assistant whose responsibilities include maintenance and repairs; .2 Student Information Specialist who is responsible for high school warnings, report cards and collecting data from the local schools, verifying it and submitting it to the Department of Education; and .1 Webmaster who maintains our homepage.

The Professional Development Program for the Rockland Public Schools is designed to provide a rich variety of professional development opportunities, usually, at no cost to staff. The context of the program includes workshops conducted locally by in-district staff, on-site presentations and courses given by consultants, state sponsored programs, as well as workshops offered by other educational agencies, consortiums, and third party providers. The school system assumes the cost for most program opportunities and awards Professional Development Points under the guidance of the local Professional Development Committee. The underlying principle of the Professional Development Program is that it enables administrators, teachers, other professional staff, and School Councils to create and maintain positive and effective learning experiences for students. Technology training in emergent applications, existing programs and support for the use of technology as an instructional tool based on data analyzed from the Technology Survey Assessment Tool (TSAT) are offered to new and veteran teachers alike. Assistive technology training is included in technology training offerings.

The Technology Committee conducts evaluations and modifications of the technology plan. Student and teacher evaluations regarding their use of technology within the curriculum will be both formal and informal. Use of the Massachusetts Technology Self-Assessment and the Teacher Use Survey will provide indication of technical advancement and areas that need improvement. Student needs will be assessed by district developed student surveys in Grades 4, 8 and 12 and the MCAS test. Those who will be using the products, coordinators, and administrators, using a recommended criteria checklist, will evaluate instructional technology materials.

Gerald Kohn	Principal, Jefferson School
Susan Patton	Assistant Principal, RHS
Tim Wells	Technology Coordinator
Linda McFarland	Teacher Esten School
Sheryl Beers	Town representative
Kathy Hoffman	Teacher Rockland High School
Lisa Ryan	Middle School Technology Teacher