The 21st Century Classroom
The Progress Report for the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020 explains the necessary tools and resources needed to help the state establish 21st Century classrooms. Technology in these classrooms should be used to engage students in rigorous digital content. These classrooms are affected by how well the administrators, librarians, teachers and students use technology. The No Child Left Behind, Title II, Part D mandates that students must be technology literate by the time the students complete the eighth grade. These students must master the Technology Applications for TEKS for Grades K-8. All students are expected to reach this goal no matter their race, ethnicity, gender, income or disability. Texas Education Agency (TEA) uses the STaR Chart to help monitor the states progress toward the goal. The NCLB Report is also analyzed to monitor student progress. These reports also look at teacher data too. Most of the teachers are at the Developing Stage. These teachers should be growing along with the students. In order for schools, districts and the state to reach the goal schools must integrate technology into instructional strategies and curriculum. Funding must be available to make sure this integration takes place. The report indicates that economically disadvantage students are not doing as well as their counterparts. This leads to the funding issue. Schools must be able to budget funds to ensure quality instruction takes place in technology. This includes professional development for staff, ongoing data analyses to give students specific instructions; and finding ways to include parents in using technology.
2010 Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020 retrieved from: http://titter.tea.state.tx.us/comm/leg_reports/
