C.+Collaboration+and+Integration

Link to ETIL 2009-1012

=C. Collaboration and Integration=

//Collaboration among participants, identification of shared program and curricular goals, and common strategies for achieving desired educational results advances ET-IL integration. Collaboration occurs best in an environment where the adminstration, library and technical professionals support and encourage cross-program activities that involve 1. the improvement of edcuational services, 2. the effective use of technology, 3. the acquisition of information literacy skills, and 4. the application of all to meet student achievement standards. It is important that ET-IL planners coordinate with district personnel responsible for Title programs and the Consolidated Grants Application, as Title II-D funds are routinely used in support of other Title efforts ( ie. district purchases reading software with Title II-D funds to support Title I activities). The ET-IL plan must indicate collaboration with Title programs to be approved.//

Guiding Questions:
//1. What department or organization at the school district is responsible for the following programs://
 * ET-IL --- Technology Steering Committee oversees the creation and implementation of the ET-IL plan
 * E-Rate --- Information Systems and Technology Services department
 * Title II-D Consolidated Application --- Student Support Services department, Title Grants Coordinator
 * Accreditation --- School Accountability and Accreditation department
 * Curriculum and Assessment --- Curriculum and Instruction department; School Accountability and Accreditation department
 * Professional Development --- Curriculum and Instruction department; Human Resources

//2. What mechanism is in place for collaboration?//

The Thompson School District utilizes the structure of the Technology Steering Committee for continuous interdepartmental collaboration, district policy refinement, and oversight of school-based technology equipment replacement and instructional integration plans. The members of the Technology Steering Committee meet monthly throughout the calendar year. Members of the Technology Steering Committee represent those who coordinate and or supervise the E-Rate, Title II-D Consolidated Application, accreditation, curriculum and assessment, and professional development.

The Thompson School District utilizes the structure of the Technology Advisory Committee to analyze potential technology integration, access, and professional practice policies, procedures and plans. This committee serves as a conduit to the various stakeholders throughout the district which include certified and classified staff in various content and specialized areas. Information gathered from the Technology Advisory Committee feeds into the Technology Steering Committee.

The Thompson School District utilizes the structure of the Thompson Technology Coaches to link to each individual school building. Thompson Technology Coaches are kept up to date regarding new technology integration tools, accessibility options, professional practice policies, procedures and plans. Technology Coaches attend quarterly meetings throughout the year and additional networking meetings as needed.

//3. How does the ET-IL plan foster integration of all the programs listed (in #1) above?//

The ET-IL plan fosters integration of all the programs listed above through the process of forming unifying goals, objective and strategies to support technology integration and 21st Century skills attainment. The various persons responsible for technology and information services, E-Rate, library services, curriculum development, instructional support, assessment and accreditation, Title II-D and professional development work collaboratively, bringing their individual areas of expertise and departmental resources, to actively and regularly support the district movement towards attaining their goals. It is clear to the Thompson School District that no one department could successfully achieve the set goals and objectives without sustained collaboration and interdepartmental support. The design of the ET-IL plan creates a natural opportunity for analysis of the integration and continuous improvement of the collective approach to the work.

//4. How is the administration, district and/or school involved in ET-IL planning and implementation?//

The Technology Steering Committee's membership includes representatives from all the key departments that support the ET-IL plan. In order to enhance communication, one member of the Thompson School District Board of Education is a standing member of the Technology Steering Committee. His presence deepens the board's understanding the purpose, goals, objectives and strategies outlined in the ET-IL plan. Two members of the Technology Steering Committee report to the Superintendent of Schools directly which increases his knowledge and understanding the the ET-IL plan. The Technology Advisory Committee members included district directors, building administrators, teachers, and classified personnel representatives. One member of the Technology Steering Committee acts as the key liaison between the Technology Advisory Committee and the Technology Coaches who represented each of the schools. Each school maintains an integrated ET-IL plan to support the district ET-IL plan goals and implementation.

//5. Describe how technology and information literacy is integrated into curricula?//

The Thompson School District began embedding ISTE student standards from our //Student Technology Profiles// (based on the original NETS*S) and the 21st Century Skills developed by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills into the ongoing curriculum development cycle. Creativity and Innovation skills, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills, Communication and Collaboration Skills and Media Literacy and Information Literacy skills have already been integrated into the most recent literacy and math adoption cycles. With our ET-IL 2009-2012 plan utilizing the revised ISTE NETS*S, we will continue the process of embedding the richer expectations within curriculum, instruction and assessment including the use of strategic lessons and best practices. The department of curriculum and instruction will continue the formal integration of these skills with the each curriculum review and adoption cycle until every content area has been fully integrated. The department of curriculum and instruction will ensure that ICT Literacy, Initiative & Self-Direction, Social & Cross-Cultural Skills, Leadership & Responsibility, Flexibility & Adaptability, and Productivity & Accountability are integrated into the forthcoming curriculum review and adoption cycles.

//6. What is the district doing to foster increased student achievement through the effective use of technologies?//

The Thompson School District continues to refine its Response to Intervention process in an effort to increase student achievement and close the achievement gap. In the fall of 2009, the students in grades 3-10 will engage in online formative assessments benchmarked to the Colorado state standards in math and reading. Additional diagnostic tests will be available for more in depth, skill-based assessments. Teachers will receive training in conducting gap analysis and data interpretation. Teachers will receive training in using data to drive their instructional decisions. The Thompson School District supports technology integration through the .62 FTE allocated for Technology Integration Teachers on Special Assignment (TOSA). The Technology Integration Coordinator along with Instructional Technology TOSAs, technology coaches, and school-based media specialists will support educators in the use of 21st Century tools.

//7. How does the district utilize and promote research-based strategies?//

In 2006, the Thompson School District passed a mill levy where funding was allocated to provide one .5 FTE and one 1.0 FTE to each elementary and secondary school to hire school-based Instructional Coaches. Title funding provided in-depth training to the school-based Instructional Coaches to strengthen their toolkit of research-based strategies. Instructional Coaches provide job-embedded, just-in-time training to individual teachers and use a variety of coaching strategies to model, observe, provide feedback, plan, reflect, and co-analyze data in partnership with classroom teachers. Instructional Coaches and technology coaches work with school Leadership Teams and school principals to plan a comprehenisve, site-based staff development plan aligned with their school improvement goals. Weekly early release time provides 1.5 hours to educators to plan, learn, and refine their instructional skills in collaboration with small and large groups and independently. The Thompson School District uses Title as well as general funding to provide district-wide training for educators with balanced literacy and balanced math. Building administrators receive monthly training to improve their instructional leadership skills.

//8. What is the district doing to coordinate ET-IL efforts with other programs such as Title I (Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged), II-A (Preparing, Training and Recruiting High Quality Teachers and Principals) and V (Innovative Programs)?//

The Thompson School District uses the Technology Steering Committee as an oversight group that works to coordinate efforts of other programming such as Title I, II-A, and V. The membership of the Technology Steering Committee is comprised of persons who supervise and oversee the Title I, II-A, and V funding sources. This maximizes the ability to effectively coordinate ET-IL efforts and implementation planning activities. The Assistant Superintendent of Learning Serivces oversees all the above funding sources and holds bi-monthly meeting with the Learning Services directors and auxiliary staff program coordinators who individually oversee individual funding sources to further enhance coordination efforts. The district's accreditation process mandates that schools integrate their site-based ET-IL plans and School Improvement Plans. Title I Schools must also integrate ET-IL plans into their School Improvement Plans to receive accreditation.