The document summarizes Claude ISD's STaR Chart ratings over three years in four key areas of technology use: infrastructure, educator preparation, leadership support, and teaching & learning. While scores have been consistent, infrastructure has dropped due to aging technology. Educator preparation is the hardest to improve due to varying teacher experience. Leadership support scores also dropped but new administration is acquiring technology aggressively. Teaching & learning receives most attention but lower scores remain a concern for teacher training needs. The state mirrors these challenges, though Claude ISD has experienced academic success and ongoing technology growth.
2. Introduction The administration and teachers of Texas public schools are required to submit information each year that rates their school on how technology and the use of technology is progressing on our campus. The ratings in these four key areas helps schools and the state know how much progress is being made towards the states’ long range goals on technology.
4. Campus STaR Chart Summary Category rating for both the state and campus are broken into the follow scoring categories. 6-8 point----Early Tech 9-14 points---Developing Tech 15-20 points---Advanced Tech 21-24 points---Target Tech These are based on where schools rate themselves concerning the Long Range Plan for Texas Public Schools.
5. Description of Graph The bar graph mentioned earlier is meant to show the scores given to the school over the three previous years. The chart points out that we have had very consistent scores over the last three years. With the Infrastructure for Technology area being the one where the scores have dropped steadily. I would give two reasons for this drop in scores:
6. Description of Graph # 2 Differences of opinion by the new administration that was only available for some of the last three years worth of STaR Chart summaries. The age of our current technology. Such as the internet wiring in the building, the age of the building, and the amount of technology available per student and teacher.
7. Educator Preparation and Development In this area of Educator Preparation, I noticed that Claude ISD had its lowest scores but only by a fraction. This area is the one in my opinion that has to be the hardest to improve. Every teacher has different levels of understanding of technology and each teacher has had different levels of exposure to technology in their life time. This makes training teachers for future technology even more difficult.
8. Leadership, Administrative, and Instructional Support In the area of Leadership, Administrative Support, the score has dropped since it high in the 2006-2007 school year. I can not agree with this reduced score for the simple fact that our administrations is more technology oriented than the previous administration. Also, we are being more aggressive in acquiring new technology as we speak. In fact new technology is being installed in the class rooms almost daily at this time.
9. Teaching and Learning The first area that is on the bar graph, Teaching and Learning, is of course the area that seems to get the most attention. It is also close to being the one that could be labeled with the lowest scores for our school district. I would like to point out some concerns that teachers have that go along with teaching and learning.
10. Teaching and Learning # 2 When do we get the training on this new technology? How can we afford the technology when all we hear is how tight the budget is? I can’t teach the kids this when I don’t understand it myself. Teachers will learn the technology if the training is provided and we have the opportunity to be re-taught several times.
12. State STaR Chart Summary The state wide results mirror our own campus as far as Educator Preparation. Most schools (74.2%) consider themselves in the Developing Tech area just as Claude ISD considers themselves. Also if you will notice not many schools in the state consider themselves at the Target Tech category. I see most school struggling to reach this level. The time and money it takes to get there is tough to come by.
14. Claude ISD has been rated Exemplary many times since 1998-1999.
15. Some parts of our school building are new and modern
16. Claude ISD Teachers and students at Claude ISD have experienced a high amount of academic success and are now going through a period of technology improvement and growth. Go to the Claude ISD web site and see what is going on today. www.claudeisd.net
17. Summary In conclusion the STaR Chart used by public schools of Texas is a good way to see where your school is heading and the progress made towards technology improvements. Claude ISD is progressing in a good direction and with all four categories rated Developing Tech or higher. Check out the following web-site for information on your schools STaR Chart ratings. http://starchart.esc12.net/
