District/School Administration PK-16 Program Support
Educational Technology

EdTech 1999 Report

For five years the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has tracked technology access in Massachusetts school districts. This report incorporates the latest data gathered in the spring and the fall of 1999.

Download the complete report   for a complete listing of statistics by district.

Highlights from the report:

Access to technology -- statewide averages:

• 7.4 students per high-speed computer (those with Intel Pentium or Apple Power PC processors, their equivalent, or newer)
• 5.1 students per any computer type
• 69.2% of classrooms have access to the Internet
• 68.5% of classrooms are connected to a Local Area Network (LAN)

Teacher Training and Professional Development:

• Districts report a stronger focus on training activities that help teachers integrate technology into the curriculum
• 60.8% of professional staff (including administrators, support staff and teachers) participated in district-sponsored technology professional development activities
• On average statewide, district spending on technology training is up 36% from the 1998-1999 school year, with the average district spending $188 per staff person

Technical Support:

• Average levels of tech support remain low, relative to the number of new resources acquired by the districts
• Districts report higher levels of curriculum integration support personnel, but the numbers have increased only marginally over the previous year