Technology Plan Evaluation

Atlanta Heights is a charter school that is operated by an educational management company, National Heritage Academies. Atlanta Heights was opened August, 2010 so its technology plan is relatively recent but will be updated in 2013. A good portion of the money to fund the technology at the school comes from a general fund but also comes private sources as well. The Library Technology Specialist (LTS), along with the schools administration, will carry out the primary duties of providing access to grade level appropriate technology to all students, facilitating professional development of staff on current technology and education best practices with technology, and empowering students, families and the community to utilize technology to help challenge each child to achieve his or her fullest potential. This technology plan is actively followed by teachers, the LTS, and administrators. Teachers regularly infuse technology throughout the curriculum. Additionally teachers use technology to assess, plan lessons, input daily attendance, grades, etc. The LTS infuses technology into the media center instruction as well as administering the benchmark tests (NWEA) three times a year. The administration uses technology to track student discipline, analyzing student data, evaluating teachers, professional development, and communicating with stakeholders. Although Atlanta Heights does closely follow the technology plan, they could still do more training on how to use equipment.

Atlanta Heights Charter School is a new school and has adapted well to new forms of technology in the school system. According the rubric created each category rated the following: Goals and Realistic Strategies: Goals for realistic strategy for using telecommunications and information technology rated four out of a four. The school uses goals to address the teaching and learning needs, which are clear, attainable, and measureable. The goals set are helpful ways for teachers to make sure they are using technology in ways students will benefit from and gain the most use. Goals such as incorporating technology weekly, incorporating technology into administrative feedback, teaching parents and teachers how use software in the classroom and at home all give a specific and measurable way to improve the technology mission of the school. Professional Devlopment Professional development rated a four out of a four because each component was met. Technology is addressed in the action plan and includes multiple strategies, incentives, and resources. The school provides online and E-Learning modules for staff professional development, which includes various topics including classroom management, effective teaching practices, English language learner instruction, tutoring, and formative assessment. Atlanta Heights has the ability to hold video conferences, stream videos, and use web based instruction in classrooms. There are guidelines set so all staff has ability to participate in professional development from the very beginning. It begins with new teacher development, then progresses to staff meetings, and grade-level meetings. The teachers are given opportunities to stay up to date with 21st century technology in the classroom.

Assessment of Telecommunication Services, Hardware, Software, and Other Services Assessment of telecommunication services, hardware, software, and other services needed rated a four out of a four. Assessment is comprehensive and contains detailed information from hardware resources. There is a complete section in the appendixes that states the types of hardware used in the school, the amount of technology, etc. The technology found in the building, the number found, and its current status are all found there. There is also a section in the beginning of the paper that states how the school is doing as a whole integrating the different technologies into the classroom. The explanation given is a clear assessment of how the school is doing overall with their technology.

Budget Resources Budget resources rated a three out of a four. Budget resources are listed for the school but budget figures are not given which gives it a lower score. To improve in this category the school needs to list the budget figures to the public. The only figure provided is the amount given for the Anticipated- Walton Family Foundation grant ($ 3,050). Ongoing Evaluation Ongoing evaluation process rated a four out of a four. An evaluation process and instrument are described in detail and comprehended throughout nature. Assessment is made timely and is connected to objectives. The school conducts evaluations of technology needs. The information found is provided to improvement team, board members, school staff, parents, and community

stakeholders. The school forms School-Improvement Teams that meet three times a year to assess how the school is doing and to make any improvements on their goals/mission. Summary: Overall, this is a very thorough technology plan. Each section is detailed and informative as to the goals and steps that the school will take to meet their technology mission. The school sets goals for how to integrate technology, how to improve technology, and how to get new technology. The goals are obtainable and measureable. The school recognizes the path that it is headed on and clearly states how it will get to its final and overall goal for the school (creating students and teachers who are technology savy). They are clear about where they are now, and where they want to head in the future. They give clear explanations as to the amount of technology they have in their school and how they will obtain more. They give specifics as to how they will train both their teachers and parents on how to use the technology into the classroom. The only thing missing is specifics for how they will pay for the goals they are setting for themselves. Since the school is new, there is plenty of room to grow and flourish, but they have a great blueprint to set them up for success. This plan fits the schools mission of creating a challenging curricular environment by giving the students and teachers a clear path to incorporate technology into their learning. Many schools in this day and age try to incorporate technology, but this school has an exact plan in place to ensure that every stakeholder will be successful in incorporating technology.