In the Texas progress report for the Long-Range Plan for Technology, the state reviews the House and Senate Bills passed by the 80th Legislature to build a virtual school network, provide, internet safety, technology-based assessment and other technology-based supplements.
Through these bills we now have the Texas Virtual School Network which provides professional development online through regional eduation service centers and online student learning. TxVSN provides flexibility in learning, acclerated course and courses that are not offered in many smaller school districts. The Texas Imersion Pilot Program has also shown success. Through technology based learning school districts that were a part of the TIP program showed increased math and reading literacy, more itellectually demanding work, and less discipline problems. The House and Senate also began creating college readiness standards to help schools prepare all stundents for a post-secondary education.
To help Texas school districts with the immersion of technology the state offered several grant opportunities to build appropriate infrastructures and create key leadership positions, as well as provide technology based professional development. Vision 2020 Grants provide districts with the opportunity to build either a virtual program or a 1:1 ratio in their classrooms. The STAR Grant was designed to proide technology based professional development and the Rural Technology Grant to provide for districts outside of traditional internet reach.
Through the STaR Chart, Texas ensures that all districts have adequate WAN/LAN access and are reaching to meet the LRPT standards. Currently, roughly 70% of districts fall under the developing technology level. Texas has also introducted a Master Technology Teacher certification for techonology mentors, and new tools for teachers such as C-SCOPE.
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