Wareham Public Schools

Technology Plan
2011‐
2014 
The Wareham Public Schools’ Technology Plan has been developed by teachers, the administrative team and the 
technology department and reflects input from the WPS community.  It is aligned with the Massachusetts  To educate all students for life’s
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education guidelines and standards.  Based on the current status of  responsibilities, challenges, and
technology in Wareham and best practices, this plan reflects the direction needed to prepare our students for the  opportunities.  
21st century.   
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive Summary 3
Overview of the Technology Planning Process 4
Current Status 4
Technology Standards, Goals, Targets & Timelines and Timelines 5

Technology Integration and Literacy 5

Curriculum Integration
Technology Literacy
Staffing
Online Content Delivery
Leadership 7
Budget
Evaluation of Plan
Compliance with Laws and Regulation
Professional Development 9
Content of Professional Development
Delivery of Professional Development
Annual Technology Self Assessment
Resources 11
Hardware
Network/Internet
Staffing
Communication/Website

 
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Executive Summary

The Wareham Public Schools’ Technology Plan has been developed by WPS teachers under the leadership of the Coordinator of Technology and
reflects input from many stakeholders, including the Administrative Team, the Strategic Planning Technology Sub Committee and the Technology
Department. It is aligned with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education guidelines and standards as well as the
Wareham Public Schools Strategic Plan. It is divided into the following sections: Teaching and Learning, Leadership, Professional Development,
and Resources. Fundamental to this plan is the belief that technology is a necessary tool that supports student learning and instruction.

Based on the current status of technology in Wareham and best practices, this plan reflects the direction needed to prepare our student for the 21st
century. Action statements with Targets & Timelines and timelines are identified for each standard statement. Highlighted action items for each
section are:

Technology Integration and Literacy

• The WPS will develop and adopt grade level skill expectations
• Offer professional development that focuses on online learning and Web 2.0 tools
• Explore and determine the effects/feasibility of electronic portfolios on student learning/demonstrating student performance

Leadership
• Inventory current software and licensing
• Inventory hardware
• Phase in a maximum 5 year computer replacement cycle

Professional Development
• The Wareham Technology Self Assessment online tool will be revised and administered to staff annually
• Embed technology in all professional development as both a teaching and learning tool to support student performance, inform instruction,
and programming

Resources
• The district will upgrade and maintain a local area network and new switches
• Study the feasibility of increasing wireless coverage in all buildings across WPS
• Increase staffing in each building for technology integration and support
• Implement Standards Based grade entry for grades K-5 using the PowerTeacher web based gradebook

 
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Overview of the Technology Planning Process

The 2011-2014 Technology Plan was drafted by a group of teachers from across the district as well as the Coordinator of Technology. This group
met online via Moodle in a series of chats and discussion boards. Their recommendations were shared with the Administrative Team and the
Strategic Planning Technology Sub Committee as well as the department of Technology and additional input was gathered. Upon review, it was
revised and presented to the Administrative team.

Current Status of Technology

2011 2010 2009 2008

% staff using technology daily 100 88 86 77
% staff integrates technology daily with students 30 25 25 30
# of students per high end computer 9.11 23.04 28.26 4.31
# of students per medium end computer 3.39 4.03 4.23 3.47
# computers per IT staff 297.14 330.71 341.07 501.43

Wareham Public Schools has made progress towards meeting the standards set forth by the Department of Education. We need to continue to
purchase the technology, train the staff in its uses and provide the support to keep it running.

 
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Technology Integration and Literacy
™ Improve curriculum and instruction through the integration of technology by expanding the use of student-engaging models of instruction.
Technology Integration
State Standard(s)/Indicators
• At least 85% of teachers will
use technology appropriately
with students every day to
improve student learning of the
curriculum.
• At least 85% of teachers use
technology every day.
• The district encourages the
development and use of
innovative strategies for
delivering specialized course
through the use of technology.
Technology Literacy
State Standard(s)
• At least 85% if eighth grade
students show proficiency in
all MA DESE Recommended
PreK-12 Technology Literacy
Standards for grade 8.
• 100% of teachers are working
to meet the proficiency level in
technology and by the school
year 2010-2011, 60% of
teachers will have reached the
proficiency level as defined by
Current Status
30% of teachers integrate
technology daily in lessons.
100% of teachers use
technology every day.
Grades K-5 use
Everyday Math online.
Grades 3-8 use Study Island.
The district is drafting an
online learning policy for
review.
Current Status
75% of 8th grade students
self report that they have
mastered all or nearly all
standards.
Teachers are working on
their technology skills. 70%
of teachers self report that
they are proficient as defined
by the TSAT.
Action
Provide professional
development activities
focused on technology
integration including Web
2.0 tools during each
inservice and early release
day.
Provide the necessary
hardware and software
used in training to
participants.
Implement online learning
policy.
Action
Develop and adopt grade
level skill expectations.
Implement and allow time
for the online TSAT self
assessment for staff
annually during time
allotted for inservice.
Provide professional
development in proficiency
Targets & Timeline Measures
30% of staff participates Professional
in professional Development logs.
development annually.
On going
Track equipment use. Equipment request
On going forms.
Review online courses District policy
with policy. 2011-2014 review to ensure
alignment.
Targets & Timeline Measures
Grade level Classroom
expectations completed observations.
and implemented.
2011-2012
100% of staff self Report.
assessments
administered, results
summarized and
reported. 2011 -2014,
annually
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 the MA Technology Self
Assessment Tool.
Staffing
State Standard(s)
• The district has a district-level
technology
director/coordinator.
• The district provides one full-
time instructional teacher per
60-120 instructional staff.
• The district has staff dedicated
to data management and
assessment.
Online Content Delivery
State Standard(s)
• The district deploys network
connections for access to web
based and/or interactive video
learning on the local, state,
regional, national, and
international level.
• Classroom applications of e-
learning include courses,
cultural projects, virtual field
trips etc.
Current Status
A Coordinator of
Technology is in place.
There are no instructional
technology teachers in place.
1.5 data management staff
are in place.
Current Status
Teachers and students access
to web-based and interactive
video is in initial
implementation.
There are pockets of
classrooms that do online
projects using Web 2.0 tools.
We are currently creating
policy to define standards for
online learning for students
in grades 7-12.
skills as defined by TSAT.
Action
Maintain position in the
budget.
Provide instructional
technology teachers or
integration specialists at
each level.
Maintain the data
management positions in
the budget.
Action
Offer professional
development that focuses
on online learning and
Web 2.0 tools.
Implement online learning
policy for the selection of
courses for students.
Offer online courses for
credit recovery.
Targets & Timeline Measures
Position budgeted.
Ongoing
Positions created and
budgeted. 2011-2014
Position Budgeted.
Ongoing.
Targets & Timeline Measures
Enrollment of staff in Professional
online training. Report Development
of online activity. Staff records, Tech Plan
evaluation of online data.
training. 2011-2014
Students enrolled in
courses, reports of
activities. 2011-2014
2011-2014 Student enrollment
data.
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Leadership
™ Provide administrative leadership to support the use of technology across the district and contribute to the learning environment.
Budget
State Standard(s)
• The district has budget for its
local technology plan with line
items for technology in its
operational budget.
• The budget includes staffing,
infrastructure, hardware,
software, professional
development, support, and
contracted services (including
telephone services).
• The district leverages the use
of federal, state, and private
resources.
Evaluation of Plan
State Standard(s)
• The district’s technology plan
includes an evaluation process
that enables it to monitor its
progress in achieving its
educational goals and to make
mid-course corrections in
response to new developments
and opportunities as they arise.
Current Status
The district has a technology
operational budget.
The budget has line items for
staffing, hardware, software,
professional development,
support and contracted
services.
The district participates in e-
rate.
When given opportunity, the
district writes applies for and
participates in technology
competitive grants.
Current Status
The district’s technology
plan is reviewed on an
annual basis.
Action Targets & Timeline Measures
The technology budget will Increase in the
reflect the rapid technology budget. On
advancement of technology going.
by including a 10%
increase in the budget Technology line times
annually for the next three and operational budget
fiscal years. included district
Continue to allocate funds budget. Ongoing
for all aspects of
technology listed, staffing, Seek funding through
infrastructure etc. competitive grants. Grant application
Continue participation in Ongoing and process.
the e-rate program and
allocate funding for non- Successful
discounted portions. reimbursement. e-rate application
Ongoing and process.
Action Targets & Timeline Measures
Review and evaluate the Presentation to Annual review and
current status of the Administrative Team updated goals
Technology Plan and our mid year. Report submitted.
progress towards meeting submitted to
its goals annually. Superintendent
annually. Ongoing
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Compliance with Laws and
Regulations
State Standard(s)
• The district informs staff and
students that any information
distributed of the district or
school network may be a
public record.
• The district complies with
federal and state law, and local
policies including archiving
electronic communications
produced by its staff.
Current Status
A new Acceptable Use
Policy (AUP) is in draft form
and up for review and
approval. We do currently
have one in place.
The district participates in
offsite email archiving.
Action
Maintain and implement
the district Acceptable Use
Policy, included in
handbooks, on website, and
at annual mandatory staff
training.
Inventory current software
and licensing.
Continue with archiving.
Targets & Timeline Measures
Staff and student/parent Mandated staff
signed acceptance of training.
AUP in handbook. Signatures.
Annually
Complete database of Database complete
current software and up to date.
licenses, 2011-2012.
Archives current. Archiving in place.
Ongoing
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Professional Development
™ Improve professional development to expand the capacity of teachers to use and integrate technology into the classroom.
Content of Professional
Development
State Standard(s)
• At the end of 3 years, at least
85% of district staff will have
participated in 45 hours of
high-quality professional
development that includes
technology skills and the
integration of technology into
instruction.
Delivery of Professional
Development
State Standard(s)
• Technology professional
development is sustained and
ongoing and includes coaching,
modeling best practices,
district-based mentoring, study
groups and online professional
development. The professional
development includes concepts
Current Status
Professional development is
currently based on district
initiatives, which includes
integration of technology.
Current Status
WPS offers a variety of
technology professional
development using a variety
of models.
Action
Incorporate a technology
component into
professional development
activities, in-service days
and early release days.
Software, hardware and
web-based access used
during training will be
provided to participants for
implementation.
Provide technology
training at new staff
orientation.
Action
WPS will provide at least
15% of technology budget
for staff development
annually via budget and
grant funding.
The district will continue
to use 25% of technology
grant money for
Targets & Timeline Measures
At least, an average of Professional
20 hours offered Development data.
annually. Ongoing
Workshop evaluations Professional
and TSAT results. Development data
After each training
45 hours of technology
professional
development per
instructional staff.
2011-2014
Included on mentoring
program schedule, end Agenda
of year survey.
Ongoing
Targets & Timeline Measures
Money allocated and
spent annually.
Ongoing
Grant budget and end Reports
of year report. Ongoing
Enrollment of staff in Professional
online training. development data
Report of online
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 of universal design and
scientifically-based, researched
models.
Annual Technology Self-Assessment
State Standard(s)
• Administrators and teachers
consider their own needs for
technology professional
development, using the
technology self-assessment or
similar tool.
Current Status
WPS uses a self made online
survey that mirrors the
TSAT.
technology professional
development.
Train and implement an
online professional
development model.
Hire technology integration
specialists/coaches at all
levels.
Action
Implement the use of the
TSAT itself annually.
Results will be used to
evaluate our technology
plan and for planning
professional development.
activity. Staff
evaluation of online
training. 2011-2014.
Positions created and
filled. Budgeted 2011,
hire 2012 and 2013.
Targets & Timeline Measures
TSAT report. TSAT data
Annually
85% of staff
technology use and
integration increases
annually. Ongoing
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Resources
™ Provide practices that promote equitable allocation of resources and support quality technology operations in the district.
Hardware
State Standard(s)
Hardware Access
• The district has an average
ratio of fewer than 5 students
per high-capacity, Internet-
connected computer.
• The district has procurement
policies for information and
instructional technologies that
ensure usability, equivalent
access and interoperability.
Portable Devices
• The district provides students
with access to portable and/or
handheld electronic devices
appropriate to their grade level.
Assistive Technology
• The district maximizes access
to the general curriculum for
all students, including students
with disabilities, using
technology in classrooms with
universal design and assistive
technology devices.
Other devices: Projectors, cameras,
etc
• The district provides
classrooms access to devices
such as digital projectors and
electronic whiteboards.
Current Status
The districts average of
students to computer is 6.25
students per high or medium
end computer.
The Coordinator of
Technology and IT staff
make recommendations to
the district.
The district revised its
handbook to allow for
portable devices when
appropriate for educational
reasons.
Assistive technology is used
in each building as needed.
Kurzweil is used for students
with disabilities to access the
curriculum as well.
Digital projectors are on
carts and are available in all
schools. The middle school
has 6 classrooms with lcd
and Smartboards projectors
installed. Each school also
has a number of portable
Smartboards available.
Action
WPS will update and
purchase instructional
computers annually.
Purchases will reflect
compatibility with
equipment in the district.
The district will continue
to explore and support
teachers with mobile
devices in the classroom.
Create a list of assistive
technology resources and
their applications.
Offer professional
development on assistive
technology.
Develop standard for
inventory of equipment.
Secure technology grants
to provide teachers with
training and devices to use
in instruction for improved
student performance.
Targets & Timeline Measures
Inventory of purchases. Inventory up to
Ongoing date.
New equipment is Technology
being utilized. Request forms.
Ongoing
Observation and Technology
support. Ongoing Request forms.
Published document. Document.
2011, updated annually
Registration and sign in Professional
sheets. Evaluations of Development data.
sessions. 2011-2014
District Database based Database updated to
on tech plan data mirror items on tech
collection. 2011-2014 plan collection
form.
Apply for Competitive Grant applications.
grants. 2011-2014
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Replacement Cycle
• The district has established a
computer replacement cycle of
five years or less.
Network/Internet
State Standard(s)
Wiring/wireless
• The district provides
connectivity to the Internet in
all classrooms in all schools,
including wireless
connectivity, if possible.
• The district provides a
minimum 100 Mb Cat 5
switched network and/or
802.11 b/g/n wireless network.
Bandwidth
• The district provides
bandwidth of at least
10/100/1Gb to each classroom.
At peak, the bandwidth at each
computer is at least 100 kbps.
The network card for each
computer is at least
10/100/1Gb.
Servers and backup
• The district provides access to
servers for secure file sharing,
backups, scheduling, email and
web publishing, either
internally or through
No replacement cycle is in
place, computers generally
remain active until they no
longer work.
Current Status
Connectivity to classrooms
in all schools, good to
adequate.
Wireless access points are
available in all schools, but
there is not 100% coverage.
Networking equipment in the
majority of the schools is old
and obsolete.
WPS provides bandwidth of
10/100 to each classroom,
each computer has a 10/100
network card and greater
than 100 kbps bandwidth.
All schools, except for one
have file servers backed up
regularly. Web based
email/web files for all staff
through contracted services
and network drives for staff
As new computers are No school will have a All computers
purchased, the oldest computer that will not classified as A or B.
computers will be run the
discarded or repurposed. technology/applications
available. Computers
will be within DESE
recommendations for
Class A, B. Ongoing
Action Targets & Timeline Measures
The district will upgrade New servers installed Completion of
and maintain a local area and running for all services for
network, working toward buildings. Network Project.
increasing wireless Recommendations for Report of wireless
coverage in all buildings. increased wireless connectivity in each
coverage. 2011-2014 building.
Access and monitor Reports on bandwidth. Reports.
bandwidth utilization and 2011-2014
upgrade if needed.
Purchase new servers and New servers purchased Completion of
replace older switches and in production. 2011 services for
across the district. Network Project.
Implement PowerTeacher PowerTeacher web Utilization of data
web gradebook at gradebook in use. 2011 in PowerSchool.
elementary schools.
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 contracted services. and students grades 6-12. Additionally provide Student/Staff storage at Network drives and
student/staff storage at West Academy and log ins issued.
West Academy and grades grades 3-5. 2012-2013
3-5.

Staffing Current Status Action Targets & Timeline Measures

State Standard(s)
• The district provides a network
administrator.
• The district provides timely in-
classroom technical support
with clear information about
how to access the support, so
that technical problems will not
cause major disruptions to
curriculum delivery.
• The district provides at least
one FTE person to support 200
computers. Technical support
can be provided by dedicated
staff or contracted services.
There is no network
administrator, the
responsibilities are shared by
the IT staff.
The IT staff, with support
from building Technology
Para Professionals in the
larger schools do provide
timely support on most
issues.
Tech support to computers is
297:1 with assistance from
the Technology Para
Professionals in some
buildings.
Redefine IT roles to Document that clarifies Contracts and
provide network the roles of the IT staff. Department policies
administration. 2011-2012 and procedures.
Review technology trouble Review completed. System revised or
ticket system and Recommendations new one
implement a new one if made. 2012 implemented.
there is a need.
Increase staffing levels to One additional IT Line item in budget.
provide 1 person to support Specialist budgeted and
every 200 computers. hired. 2012 – 2014.

Communications/Website Current Status Action Targets & Timeline Measures

State Standard(s)
• The district maintains an up to The district/school web Continue to maintain Updated websites Review of websites
date website that includes pages were completely district and school reflecting current by Coordinator of
information for parents and revised in the past 2 years. websites, identifying local information. Ongoing Technology and
community members. Building level web techs webtechs. principals.
• The district web site includes have been identified and Post online a list of public Survey to compile List on website.
an up to date list of places trained. use computers and wireless information and list
where students and staff can Some teachers maintain web internet access in the posted on the website.
access the Internet after hours. pages or are currently community. 2011, updated annually
• The district works with creating them. Explore the possibility of Conversations about Scheduled
community groups to ensure The district works with after school programs programming and meetings.
WCTV local cable. providing access. access. 2012
 
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 that students and staff have Continue to support Teacher webpages Number of teacher
access to the Internet outside of teachers for creation of linked to webpages
the school day. webpages. district/school. increased.
Support an increase WCTV Ongoing
educational programming. Regular
communication with Increased
WCTV and school partnership with
system. Ongoing WPS and WCTV.

 
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