District/School Administration PK-16 Program Support
Educational Technology

EdTech Updated 2000 Report

March, 2001

Dear Educators, Parents, and Interested Parties:

I am pleased to share with you this report, EdTech Updated 2000  , which includes findings from the Fall 2000 Tech Plan Updates. Through our online data collection system, we continue to track technology access in Massachusetts schools. Our state has made tremendous progress in improving technology access for educators and students. Many classrooms are now connected to the Internet, providing greater opportunities to enhance student learning with technology.

This year's report focuses on the Local Technology Plan Benchmark Standards for the Year 2003. These standards were devised by the Department, in consultation with a working group of district technology specialists from across the state. The benchmark standards represent the minimum conditions that should be in place in each district in order for technology to play a meaningful role in raising student achievement. They were provided to help districts set goals in their local technology planning, and we encourage all districts to meet these goals by the year 2003.

As in the past, statistics for individual districts are listed at the end of the document. This year we have added some new statistics to this listing, based on the benchmark standards. In addition to the student-to-computer ratios and percentage of Internet-connected classrooms, we are reporting on the number of computers serviced by one full-time technical support person, the number of staff supported by one half-time curriculum integration specialist, and the percentage of district staff trained since 1998.

We look forward to continue working with you in partnership toward our mutual goal of providing high-quality educational technology for all students in our state.

Sincerely,

David P. Driscoll
Commissioner of Education