Buffalo Public Schools Strategic Technology Plan: 2016-2019
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Buffalo Public Schools www.buffaloschools.org Three Year Strategic Technology Plan September 2016 – June 2019 Buffalo Public Schools Dr. Kriner Cash Superintendent of Schools Board of Education Dr. Barbara Seals Nevergold President and Member-at-Large Dr. Theresa Harris-Tigg Vice President and East District Sharon Belton-Cottman Ferry District Hope Jay North District Jennifer Mecozzi West District Carl P. Paladino Park District Patricia Pierce Member-at-Large Lawrence Quinn Member-at-Large Paulette Woods Central District BUFFALO PUBLIC SCHOOLS THREE YEAR STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS TECHNOLOGY PLAN AT-A-GLANCE .............................................................................................................................3 BPS Technology Plan Objectives Organized by New Education Bargain Planks .....................................................8 INTRODUCTION & EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................................................................................. 12 Background .......................................................................................................................................................... 12 District Demographic Information ....................................................................................................................... 13 A Vision for the Buffalo Public Schools: The New Education Bargain with Students and Parents ..................... 16 Technology Plan Goals ......................................................................................................................................... 18 References ........................................................................................................................................................... 19 GOAL 1: SUPPORT FOR STUDENT LEARNING WITH INNOVATIVE INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES ...................... 20 Buffalo Public Schools Case Study ....................................................................................................................... 20 References ........................................................................................................................................................... 24 GOAL 2: PROVIDE BPS STAKEHOLDERS WITH BEST IN CLASS RESOURCES ............................................................. 25 Buffalo Public Schools Case Study ....................................................................................................................... 25 References ........................................................................................................................................................... 28 GOAL 3: ENHANCE CONNECTIONS WITH THE BPS COMMUNITY............................................................................ 29 Buffalo Public Schools Case Study ....................................................................................................................... 29 References ........................................................................................................................................................... 31 GOAL 4: ASSEMBLE AND MAINTAIN THE OPTIMAL INFRASTRUCTURE .................................................................. 32 Buffalo Public Schools Case Study ........................................................................................................................ 32 References ........................................................................................................................................................... 35 APPENDIX A – SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY PROFILE ...................................................................................................... 36 APPENDIX B – INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES .................................................................................... 37 APPENDIX C – NETWORK DIAGRAM ........................................................................................................................ 39 APPENDIX D – DATA CENTER SPECIFICATIONS ........................................................................................................ 41 APPENDIX E – Information Technology Organizational Chart ................................................................................. 43 APPENDIX F – The New Education Bargain ............................................................................................................. 44 1 | P a g e BUFFALO PUBLIC SCHOOLS THREE YEAR STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY PLAN This document is available at: http://buffaloschools.org/informationtech.cfm Document contact: [email protected] @Buffalo_Schools Buffalo Public Schools 2 | P a g e BUFFALO PUBLIC SCHOOLS THREE YEAR STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY PLAN TECHNOLOGY PLAN AT-A-GLANCE In order to support the Buffalo Public School District’s (BPS) New Education Bargain With Students and Parents (NEB) and to help fulfil the promise of providing “A World-Class Education for Every Child,” BPS is updating its June 2014 – 2017 Information Technology (IT) Plan, extending it through June 30, 2019. The Buffalo Public Schools strives each day to be a high- performing organization in which all students achieve proficiency through rigorous standards. Lifelong learning is a critical survival skill for 21st Century learners who must be able to access, analyze, and communicate information in a fast- paced and constantly changing world. In response to these educational challenges, The New Education Bargain has put forth a bold agenda to move BPS forward in terms of innovative educational offerings for District stakeholders, and technology is inherently woven into nearly “We want to encourage a every strand of the NEB. This 2016 – 2019 Buffalo Public Schools Technology world of creators, of Plan stands at the forefront of aligning the Information Technology goals to the inventors, of contributors. planks of the New Education Bargain. The goals and objectives established in Because this world that this Technology Plan will not only support the planks of the New Education we live in, this interactive Bargain, but will also provide ample opportunities for BPS students and parents world, is ours.” to participate in the innovations and revitalization of our school district. Further, this Plan underscores the major benefits, goals and objectives of information Ayah Bdeir technology for students, parents, and teachers as well as documenting the potentially positive impacts of 21st Century technology skills. 3 | P a g e BUFFALO PUBLIC SCHOOLS THREE YEAR STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY PLAN BPS IT 3.0 – Learning in the Digital Age A Vision for Technology in the Buffalo Public Schools Support for Student Learning With Innovative Instructional Technologies Provide BPS Stakeholders with Best-in-Class Resources Enhance Connections with the BPS Community Assemble and Maintain Optimal Infrastructure The overriding intention of any school district’s technology plan is for that plan to act as a guide so that technology may positively impact instruction and thereby contribute to the overall success of students. Technology must also be a facilitator and driver of operational efficiencies and productivity. In recent school years, Buffalo Public Schools has made tremendous strides in putting together a robust and agile information technology infrastructure. These advances have helped facilitate the seamless integration of technology into all facets of teaching and learning, as well as driving efficiencies in business operations. This plan presents a comprehensive catalog of projects and initiative that BPS will undertake in pursuit of providing our stakeholders the most comprehensive and innovative technology experience possible. This plan will provide detail on these and other initiatives: A mobile computing device for each student Digital Literacy for all students Innovative technologies for schools A push for more content available via mobile devices The feasibility for low cost broadband for the community Collaborations with community partners Enhancements to our BPS Data Center New classroom audio and visual displays Improvements in District operational efficiencies Upgrades to security cameras and access cards This 2016-2019 Technology Plan, along with the planning processes behind it, has relied on the guidance of District staff and stakeholders as well as a number of documents; most notably: National Educational Technology Plan, The standards established by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), the New York State Smart Schools Technology Plan, and local planning and reform efforts – most notably the recently adopted Buffalo Public Schools New Education Bargain With Students and Parents. 4 | P a g e BUFFALO PUBLIC SCHOOLS THREE YEAR STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY PLAN New York State Smart Schools Bond Act The New York State Smart Schools Bond Act was passed in the 2014-15 Enacted Budget and approved by New York State voters in a statewide referendum held during the 2014 General Election on Tuesday, November 4, 2014. The Smart Schools Bond Act (SSBA) authorized the issuance of $2 billion of general obligation bonds to finance improved educational technology as well as infrastructure to improve learning and opportunities for students throughout New York State. This funding is specifically earmarked for educational technology and school safety upgrades. Buffalo Public Schools qualifies for approximately $56 million from this Smart Schools Bond funding. The first step for all districts applying