city of monroe Schools Moving forward August 2013, Volume 3

Louisiana Believes: ’s technology Footprint

www.louisianabelieves.com Improving education and technology Access

Improving educational outcomes and technology access for Louisiana students is a priority and a right for students in the 21st century. While assessments of student learning will soon be digital and computer-based, it is more life in the 21st century that makes technology-rich schools an imperative for students and educators alike.

Every child deserves a digitally-ready news for Louisiana, as more districts personalized learning opportunities school. Across the state, districts than ever before are ready to provide for students. Over the past year, have signaled their commitment to educators and students with the 19 districts have upgraded their making this necessity a reality by technology necessary to succeed managed network infrastructure to improving technology and broadband in the 21st century. Since the last 1 Gbps, and 13 districts expanded access within elementary and report, nearly twice the number their shared Internet broadband secondary schools. This commitment of districts has met the minimum capacity to 1 Gbps and allows their involves investments in computers, standard of 7 students to one device schools and students the capacity to software, school-based infrastructure, or 7:1. Importantly, 19 public school meet both testing requirements and and digital resources in addition districts have gone above and beyond learning requirements for 2014-15. to providing the professional this minimum to reach the excellent development necessary to ready standard of 5:1, providing more of Even with this impressive increase education systems for Louisiana their students than even before with in Internet bandwidth and network students’ technology needs. access to technology. One district, St. upgrades, only 12 districts meet James Parish, has exceeded all others 2014-15 Internet bandwidth This third edition ofLouisiana Believes: by meeting the national 1:1 ratio. To targets for daily learning, and Louisiana’s Technology Footprint serves meet these new ratios, public school only 27 districts meet 2014-15 as both a support tool for districts districts have upgraded or purchased network bandwidth requirements. and schools to analyze their current 62,512 devices over the past year. Additionally, none of Louisiana’s technology readiness status. It districts meet 2017-18 Internet provides up-to-date information for Districts have not only transformed bandwidth targets. The Department every school district and facility in student-to-device ratios, but they have of Education and districts alike the state on the status of technology also invested in major infrastructure will need to make Internet access devices and broadband capacity. upgrades to their Internet access a priority in the years to come if and network backbones in order to schools are to be equipped for the The third edition of these district provide applications and content 21st century. technology footprints offers great solutions required for enhanced

2 DEVICE PROGRESS

DISTRICTS MEETING EXCEEDING making Progress: MINIMUM DEVICE STANDARDS Statewide EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1:1 Student-to-Learning Device Ratio: St. James Parish Louisiana’s school districts are working to transform their classrooms with 3:1 Student-to-Learning Device Ratio: innovative technologies, expanded Internet access, robust networks, and Includes all 1:1 Districts and technology-enriched learning opportunities to engage students and improve Ascension Parish academic achievement. Over the past year, school districts across the state Cameron Parish have upgraded or purchased an additional 62,512 devices. Because of these Claiborne Parish East Baton Rouge Parish efforts, Louisiana now has 1,208 schools and 38 districts meeting minimum Iberville Parish technology device standards; up from 812 schools and 17 districts in January Plaquemines Parish 2013. In addition, a vast number of schools and districts have already St. Helena Parish upgraded their devices to exceed the minimum device specification, and 5:1 Student-to-Testing Device Ratio: many are going above and beyond, growing in each category of readiness. Includes all 3:1 Districts and Louisiana now has 24 districts that have exceeded minimum device standards Bienville Parish and have met 7:1, 5:1, 3:1 or 1:1 ratios; up from 6 districts in January 2013. Calcasieu Parish Caldwell Parish Over 86% of Louisiana public school students now attend a school that meets Catahoula Parish 7:1 minimum technology standards and 41% of schools have the minimum DeSoto Parish bandwidth needed to support online testing. Franklin Parish East Carroll Parish Louisiana has seen vast improvements from its initial baseline Jackson Parish St. Charles Parish readiness report in June 2012 to the Footprint’s second release West Feliciana Parish in January 2013 and the current third release in August 2013. Central Community Schools The following charts depict the state’s levels of success. 7:1 Student-to-Testing Device Ratio: Includes all 5:1 Districts and REDUCED RATIO OF STUDENT-TO-COMPUTERS IN SCHOOLS Sabine Parish In one year, schools have vastly reduced their student to computer ratios. St. Mary Parish Tangipahoa Parish Tensas Parish Report Total Recommended Device Specifications Vernon Parish Date Schools 7:1 Ratio 5:1 Ratio 3:1 Ratio 1:1 Ratio Reporting Fourteen districts in Louisiana have worked July 2012 1025 337 133 72 10 diligently to increase their student-to-device July 2013 1208 798 662 435 131 ratio to 7:1 but are still working to upgrade their devices from minimum specifications to meet the state’s recommended operating INCREASED NUMBER OF DISTRICTS GOING BEYOND THE system, memory and browser specifications. MINIMUM 7:1 RATIO OF STUDENT-TO-COMPUTERS Of these 14, eight districts (designated with Louisiana’s school districts are dedicated to ensuring their students have a *) are only 1 school away from exceeding the proper tools required for today’s 21st Century classroom these minimum device specifications. Districts meeting Minimum Minimum Recommended Device Device Standards Total Device Report Specifications Assumption Parish* Districts Specs Date Beauregard Parish Reporting 7:1 5:1 3:1 1:1 7:1 Ratio Bossier Parish Ratio Ratio Ratio Ratio Iberia Parish July 2012 61 2 2 0 0 0 Jefferson Davis Parish Red River Parish* January 69 17 9 5 5 0 Richland Parish 2013 St. John the Baptist Parish* July 2013 69 38 24 19 8 1 St. Tammany Parish September Union Parish* 9 11 6 0 0 2013* Washington Parish* Winn Parish* * Additional districts that have committed to reach new device ratios once they have Bogalusa City Schools* completed their summer device upgrades. Baker City Schools*

3 INCREASED STUDENT ACCESS TO DEVICES WITH MODERN BROADBAND SOFTWARE Districts have been working diligently to update old computers and purchase new PROGRESS laptops and tablets that meet Louisiana’s recommended device specifications.

DISTRICTS MEETING 2014-15 YEAR Total Schools Minimum Device Recommended Device Reporting Specifications Specifications INTERNET LEARNING TARGETS July 2012 61 231,269 66,326 Bogalusa City Schools Central Community Schools July 2013 69 42,813 128,838 City of Monroe School District DeSoto Parish East Carroll Parish EXPANDED INTERNET CAPACITY Franklin Parish Number of districts that have met 7:1 minimum and 7.1, 5:1, 3.1 and 1.1 target Iberville Parish student to device ratios. Madison Parish St James Parish Total Testing Targets 2014-15 2017-18 St. Helena Parish Report Schools Learning Learning St. Mary Parish Date 7:1 5:1 3:1 1:1 Tensas Parish Reporting Ratio Ratio Ratio Ratio Target Target July 2012 61 17 12 2 2 2 0 DISTRICTS MEETING 2014-15 NETWORK BANDWIDTH July 2013 69 37 32 22 12 12 0 LEARNING TARGET

Acadia Parish DISTRICT NETWORK CAPACITY Allen Parish Louisiana’s districts have been strategically upgrading their network Ascension Parish infrastructure to support testing and are now working to support expanded Assumption Parish learning opportunities and 1:1 environments. Beauregard Parish Caddo Parish Cameron Parish Total Testing Targets 2014-15 2017-18 Report East Baton Rouge Parish Schools Learning Learning Date 7:1 5:1 3:1 1:1 East Carroll Parish Reporting Target Target Franklin Parish Ratio Ratio Ratio Ratio Iberville Parish July 2012 61 36 28 17 13 12 0 Madison Parish July 2013 69 55 47 32 27 27 1 Bogalusa City Schools Central Community Schools Lafayette Parish The following is a list of major advancements and successes of Louisiana’s public Red River Parish school districts based on data collected in June 2013. It should be noted that many Richland Parish of Louisiana’s school districts were planning major upgrades enhancements to be Sabine Parish implemented in the summer and early fall of 2013. Some of those changes are St. John the Baptist Parish captured here within this volume of the footprint, while others will be included in St. Mary Parish Tensas Parish the release Fall 2013/Winter 2014 footprint release. Terrebonne Parish Vermilion Parish • A total of 69 public school districts submitted data relative to their technology Vernon Parish readiness. All districts and charter operators will be required to submit data Washington Parish for the fall 2013 data collection which is set to end on December 13, 2013. Zachary Community Schools Districts and schools must be prepared for both expanded and enhanced state online testing starting in August 2014. DISTRICT MEETING 2017-18 NETWORK BANDWIDTH • A total of 37 public school districts now have enough devices to meet the LEARNING TARGET minimum readiness standard compared to 5 in 2012. Ouachita Parish • A total of 26 districts, up from 8 districts in July 2012, now meet 2014-15 network bandwidth requirements and a total of 12 districts, up from 2 districts in July 2012, now meet 2014-15 Internet bandwidth targets.

4 STUDENT ACCESS TO DEVICES IN YOUR DISTRICT

Over the past year the Louisiana District schools are to be commended 2015 and 2016. The district should Department of Education has worked for their diligent and conscientious work toward upgrading and procuring with schools and districts across the work that resulted in 14 out of 17 devices that meet the recommended state to communicate the essential schools meeting the recommended device specifications and that meet the need for all schools to have adequate 7:1 technology specifications for 5:1 ratio for testing at all of its schools technology resources to support online testing; 8 out of 17 schools meeting sites. assessment and 21st century learning the recommended 5:1 technology environments. These communications specifications for testing; 2 out of 17 The City of Monroe School and observations have heightened schools meeting the 3:1 recommended District School Board is strongly awareness of technology’s influence digital learning specifications; and recommended to design and execute to support school transformation. As 2 out of 17 schools meeting the plans for expanding their digital a result, the state has continued to 1:1 target goal for digital learning. footprint efforts in support of higher support districts in transitioning to the Additionally, 14 schools only meet the academic achievement. In support minimum device requirements and 7:1 minimum online testing standards of City of Monroe School District beyond, such as the recommended and 3 schools are below the minimum schools, the state will continue standard of 5-students-per- 7:1 device standards. Since the initial to support and provide biannual instructional computer. Many districts District Technology Footprint release footprint updates to assist districts and have set the bar even higher with plans in July 2012, City of Monroe School schools in their device and technology to progress to the excellent standard of District schools have made some readiness efforts. 3-students-per-instructional computer movement in obtaining new devices or to the nationally-recommended and upgrading old devices to meet the On the following page, a detailed model of 1:1 student-per-instructional newly recommended standards for chart provides a breakdown of devices computer. testing and student learning. Based that meet recommended technology on this data and assuming the district standards and devices that meet the Since the initial District Technology maintains its current device levels and state’s minimum device specifications Footprint release in July 2012, City of student population, City of Monroe compared to the student-to-computer Monroe School District schools have School District has 14 schools that are ratios needed for online testing and made some movement in obtaining adequately prepared for state online digital learning. This information is new devices and upgrading old devices testing through the 2015-16 and 3 meant to inform and guide districts to meet the newly recommended schools that need immediate plans and schools in their device readiness standards for testing and student of actions taken to prepare for state efforts. learning. City of Monroe School online testing taking place in 2014,

5 Device Needs by School

Min Recommeded Tech Technology Specs Specifications School Name

T otal Devices 7:1 7:1 5:1 3:1 1:1 for testing (7:1) for testing (5:1) minimum specs Ratio Ratio Ratio Ratio Ratio recommended specs T otal S tudent esters T otal Devices needed T otal Devices needed T otal devices meeting T otal devices meeting

Carroll High School 562 90 0 90 80 112 0 0 22 97 472 Carroll Junior High School 304 64 0 63 43 61 0 0 0 38 241 Carver Elementary School 223 37 0 37 32 45 0 0 8 37 186 J.S. Clark Magnet Elementary School 238 51 0 51 34 48 0 0 0 28 187 Barkdull Faulk Elementary School 130 29 0 29 19 26 0 0 0 14 101 Clara Hall Accelerated School 0 36 0 36 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Martin Luther King Junior High 351 88 0 88 50 70 0 0 0 29 263 Berg Jones Elementary School 240 34 0 34 34 48 0 0 14 46 206 Robert E. Lee Junior High School 515 66 0 66 74 103 8 8 37 106 449 Lexington Elementary School 0 30 0 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Lincoln Elementary School 232 40 0 40 33 46 0 0 6 37 192 945 144 0 144 135 189 0 0 45 171 801 Minnie Ruffin Elementary School 315 35 0 35 45 63 10 10 28 70 280 618 131 0 131 88 124 0 0 0 75 487 Sherrouse School 42 9 0 9 6 8 0 0 0 5 33 Cypress Point Elementary School 212 30 0 30 30 42 0 0 12 41 182 Thomas Jefferson Elementary 280 34 0 34 40 56 6 6 22 59 246

DEVICE SPECIFICATIONS

Recommended Device Minimum Device Specifications All Devices (Minimum & Recomended) Specifications Desktop, Laptop, Netbook & Thin Client/VDI Connectivity: Desktop, Laptop, Netbook & Thin Client/VDI Operating Systems: Wired or wireless access to the Internet Operating Systems: Windows XP – Service Pack 3 or newer Screen Size: Windows 7 or newer Mac OS Mac OS 10.5 or newer 9.5 inch screen size or larger Mac OS 10.7 or newer Linux (Ubuntu 9-10, Fedora 6) Screen Resolution: Linux (Ubuntu 11:10, Fedora 16 or Chrome OS 19 1024 x 768 resolution or better newer) Memory: Input Device Requirements*: Chrome OS 19 or newer 512 MB of RAM Keyboard & Mouse/Touchpad Memory: Headphone and Microphone Requirements: 1 GB of RAM (preferably 2 GB of RAM) Tablets: Operating Systems: • Headphones/earphones and microphones are required for all students taking the Tablets: Android 4.0 English Language Arts/Literacy Speaking Operating Systems: Apple iPad 2 running iOS6, and Listening Assessment Android 4.0 Windows 8 Pro or newer • Headphones/earphones are required for Apple iPad 2 running iOS6, Memory: students using text to speech or other Windows 8 Pro or newer 1 GB of RAM or greater auditory accommodations. Memory: • Microphones are required for students 1 GB of RAM or greater using speech to text accommodations. *The input device must allow students to control an on-screen cursor to point, click, drag, and select an area. The input device must allow students to enter letters, numbers, and symbols and shift, tab, return, and backspace. 21ST CENTURY NETWORKS FOR 21ST CENTURY SCHOOLS IN YOUR DISTRICT

As Louisiana’s school districts continue advanced by the State Educational Internet access targets required to to implement more rigorous standards Technology Directors Association deliver innovative technologies that and assessments, districts also need (SETDA) in its May 2012 publication, support and extend many different to develop, operate and expand their The Broadband Imperative: teaching and learning styles. managed information technology Recommendations to Address K-12 networks to provide a wide array of Education Infrastructure Needs; as Monroe City Schools schools, like educational content and services to well as the new ConnectED Initiative most other schools in Louisiana, have ensure that all students can benefit announced in June 2013. been faced with the financial challenges from the opportunities provided by associated with budgeting and paying digital technologies. Managed networks Broadband Access for the growing costs of providing connect schools together via a secure sufficient bandwidth to its schools. data network, offering high levels of The Monroe City Schools School Board In order to meet future educational service quality and support. Managed is working toward providing application demands, the district will need new networks can also enable schools to delivery and content solutions to or other viable cost effective options access cheaper and faster Internet over accommodate a curriculum for which for acquiring expanded Internet and more reliable connections than many many components are offered through telecommunications access. Expanded Louisiana schools are using today. the local network and on the Internet. access for schools is not only a challenge In the past, Monroe City Schools for the district, but is also a challenge Understanding access to high-speed schools’ Internet bandwidth has been facing both the state and the nation. broadband and a reliable network one of the root causes for limiting New delivery options and funding backbone is vital a component the expansion and distribution of are currently under discussion in of Pre-Kindergarten to 12 school online productivity resources, media Washington but these changes could infrastructure, the state in partnership rich educational materials, expanded take years to enact. In the short term, with districts and schools must begin learning opportunities, and tools for Monroe City Schools will need to work long-term plans for implementing data-driven classroom decisions to the with the state to develop a viable state- sustainable and expandable technology district’s 947 computers. To remedy wide plan for broadband expansion infrastructures to support the state’s these limitations, Monroe City Schools and adoption that can benefit both its students and classroom. These plans has already embarked on a strategic plan schools and its students both at home will assist schools in meeting the new to expand their Internet access and to and in class. recommended broadband targets work toward meeting the recommended Monroe City Schools currently has School Internet & Network Recommendations 1 Gbps of Internet access for its 17 schools. To meet initial Internet Broadband Access for Teaching, 2014-15 2017-18 testing bandwidth targets, Monroe Learning, and School Operations School Year Target School Year Target* City Schools will need to provide a An external Internet connection to the At least 100 Mbps per At least 1 Gbps per minimum overall Internet bandwidth Internet service provider (ISP) 1,000 students/ staff 1,000 students/staff of 109 Mbps to test at a 7:1 ratio Internal wide area network (WAN) At least 1 Gbps per 1,000 At least 10 Gbps per assuming 100 kbps per student test connections from the district to each school students/staff 1,000 students/staff and among schools within the district taker within each of its schools. Monroe City Schools will need to provide

7 an overall Internet bandwidth of 7609 Mbps based on the an online repository of learning tools. Teachers are SETDA recommended 100 Mbps per 1,000 students’ digital designing higher quality work for students and achieving classroom learning target. For more details on the bandwidth greater student engagement and improved scholastic needs at the various ratios, see the Estimated School performance. Monroe City Schools believes that blending Bandwidth Needs chart included in this footprint. online education with the traditional classroom is not an alternative way to design school but the very future of Network Access education itself.

Monroe City Schools is dedicated to improving student Monroe City Schools is continually upgrading and achievement through technology-enriched learning enhancing its managed network to provide students with opportunities that engage students to ask questions and quality stable wired and wireless connectivity options. utilize tools to facilitate real-world problem solving. The The district now offers a 1 Gbps Internet connection for district uses technology not just to do the same things more all its school sites, as well as a 1 Gbps local area network efficiently, but also to develop engaging learning activities (LAN) connection within each of its schools. In order for in the classroom. It is Monroe City Schools’ objective to the district to continue to meet future networks demands, transform classrooms with innovative technologies that the district needs additional funding and cost effective support and extend many different teaching and learning options for acquiring and expanding network access and styles. Each school’s network provides access to a wealth of connectivity not only within its schools and district, but productivity resources, media and educational materials, also to other educational institutions and resources both expanded learning opportunities, and tools for data-driven in-state and out-of-state. classroom decisions. Similarly, teachers using web-based streaming audio and real-time video applications have been Monroe City Schools will need to provide an average very successful in keeping students more engaged. Teachers 1 Gbps WAN connection per school site to meet participate in on-going professional development to recommended 2014-15 student digital classroom-learning experiment, initiate, and create new models of teaching and targets and an average 10 Gbps WAN connections to meet learning for today’s dynamic and changing curricula. 2017-18 targets. Final network requirements for Louisiana’s End-of-Course tests and PARCC’s tests will be released in All classroom computers are part of the school network, September and October 2013, respectively. The district will and all schools are connected to the district’s managed need to ensure it has adequate bandwidth to meet these network infrastructure. Teachers throughout the district new testing requirements when released. For more details can share resources, activities, and assessments through on the network needs per school, see the Estimated School Bandwidth Needs chart included in this footprint.

Bandwidth Usage in Schools A Note on Facility and Testing Bandwidth Environments Online Activity required (per student) Currently data is not being collected on facility readiness or Email and Web Browsing 500 kbps capacity to provide or sustain the increased infrastructure VoIP (Voice over IP) 500 kbps requirements of digital learning. Districts should begin to Online Learning 250 kbps assess their schools and document needed upgrades, expansions Audio Streaming 100 kbps and concerns including, but not limited to space planning, furniture, wiring and power to accommodate testing as well as Online Assessment for each Student 250 kbps future digital learning needs. Facility needs should be included School Portal 250 kbps in the district’s overall strategic plan for improving schools as TV-Quality Video Streaming to a Desktop 700 kbps well as in their technology improvement plans. Basic Video Conferencing 1 mbps HD Video Conferencing and Tele-learning 4 mbps The Department will be providing guidance on secure testing HD-quality Video Streaming 4 mbps environments in future footprints and does not recommend Interactive Online Learning Games 1 mbps that districts create new, permanent labs that will be used solely for testing. Testing is just a small part of the school year; Two-way Online Gaming in HD 4 mbps therefore, schools and the technology within schools should be designed and used for optimal learning.

8 With a robust network backbone, teachers throughout the district and throughout the state can share resources, activities and assessments through online learning tools.

9 ESTIMATED SCHOOL BANDWITH NEEDS

Internet Bandwidth SETDA Recommended Needed for Testing Internet Targets Total 7:1 Ratio 5:1 Ratio 1:1 Ratio 2014-15 2017-18 School Name Students (mbps) (mbps) (mbps) (mbps) (mbps) Parish Totals 7609 106 149 743 760.9 7609

Carroll High School 562 8 11 55 56.2 562 Carroll Junior High School 304 4 6 30 30.4 304 Carver Elementary School 441 6 9 43 44.1 441 J.S. Clark Magnet Elementary School 496 7 10 48 49.6 496 Barkdull Faulk Elementary School 246 3 5 24 24.6 246 Clara Hall Accelerated School 318 4 6 31 31.8 318 Martin Luther King Junior High School 351 5 7 34 35.1 351 Berg Jones Elementary School 465 6 9 45 46.5 465 Robert E. Lee Junior High School 515 7 10 50 51.5 515 Lexington Elementary School 570 8 11 56 57 570 Lincoln Elementary School 459 6 9 45 45.9 459 Neville High School 945 13 18 92 94.5 945 Minnie Ruffin Elementary School 578 8 11 56 57.8 578 Wossman High School 618 9 12 60 61.8 618 Sherrouse School 42 1 1 4 4.2 42 Cypress Point Elementary School 419 6 8 41 41.9 419 Thomas Jefferson Elementary 280 4 5 27 28 280

10 IT AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF IN YOUR DISTRICT Districts that properly plan, train and staff their testing support team will be better prepared to ensure test security and success.

Districts and schools should plan on having adequate staff who can serve in the following roles: test monitor/proctor, school test coordinator, school technology coordinator, district test coordinator, and district technology coordinator. In addition Concern Reported by Parish Schools Relative to Staffing to these staff, key technical resources should be identified and prepared to provide Levels of Information schools support during all testing windows. Technical resources could include: the Technology and Test network administrator, Internet service provider and desktop support administrators. Administration Staff All staff assigned to support testing should be properly trained (and appropriately staffed).

Through the state’s survey, public schools across Monroe City Schools were asked about their concern relative to school/district staffing levels for information technology and testing administration technical assistance staffing levels; as well as their concern levels relative to training and technical knowledge of test administration and information technology staff. The charts, on the right, details the responses provided by the schools. Sufficient Technical Sufficient Information Assistance (TA) Staff Technology (IT) Staff As staffing and training plans are developed, districts should not forget to create ■ Negligible Concern (1-3) ■ Slight Concern (4-5) internal reporting protocols for escalating technical problems during the testing ■ Moderate Concern (6-7) ■ High Concern (8-10) windows. Until further guidance is provided, it is recommended that districts use the same protocols set forth for End-of-Course testing. This will provide both the district Concern Reported by Parish and schools with a familiar, proven process for handling, reporting and managing Schools Relative to Knowledge testing issues and technical problems that could potentially arise. and Training Levels of Information Technology and EOC Reporting Protocol Test Administration Staff

EOC Tests Help Desk District Test Coordinator Pacific Metrics Student Test LDOE Coordinator District Teacher Technology Coordinator TA Student TA’s have TA’s have IT staff IT staff sufficient sufficient have have technical training sufficient sufficient knowledge technical training knowledge ■ Negligible Concern (1-3) ■ Slight Concern (4-5) ■ Moderate Concern (6-7) ■ High Concern (8-10)

11 Support Options

The Louisiana Department of Technology Planning or services (e.g. computer software; Education (LDOE) is committed computer peripherals, devices, and to supporting districts in achieving LDOE will be working with LEAs to support; network hardware and all of the technology readiness goals develop a new technology plan template support; technology services; and in all schools across the state. The as well as benchmark measurements, telecommunication products and Department will continue to provide assessment tools and guides, budgeting services) are created, LDOE will publish new and expanded technology support and training plans, sample policies, and purchasing information and costs in the and services based on district needs and tips/best practice information from Connections Catalog. requests. fellow districts. Districts and schools will be able to use these resources to Infrastructure Design & Below is a list of the initial services that develop a long-term strategic road map Guidance the state would like to implement. for meeting technology readiness goals, ConnectED goals, E-Rate requirements Through LDOE’s newly created Technology Assistance Teams and most importantly educational TAT groups, the state will work to (TAT) goals. assist LEAs with additional resources for designing new or upgraded Technology Assistance Teams will be State Contracts infrastructure designs to support comprised of LEA staff members who technology goals. This will include, but are willing to serve in both an advisory With information and guidance is not limited to, bringing in private and support capacity for developing from TAT groups, the state will partners and other agencies to work and implementing technology policies work to create statewide technology collaboratively on creating the best and plans in both their district and contracts and private partnerships design to meet the specific needs of across the state. This team will meet which provide significant discounts a school and/or district based on its at a regular intervals to assist the state and expanded services for LEAs and particular educational direction and in determining its needs, direction schools. The first contracts to be services. This team will also provide and solutions for meeting technology created have been laptop, desktop, and training and support options that are procurement, training, planning and tablet computers. As new products tailored to the district needs. funding requirements in the classroom.

12

Louisiana Believes: Louisiana’s technology Footprint

Louisiana Department of Education

1201 North Third Street Baton Rouge, LA 70802-5243

Toll Free: (877) 453.2721 Fax: (225) 234-9876 Email: [email protected] www.louisianabelieves.com