Texas STaR Chart

In order to determine whether the recommendations of the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020 are being followed, the Texas School Technology and Readiness (STaR) Chart was created and aligned with the four key areas of the plan. These areas include: 1) Teaching & Learning; 2) Preparation & Development of Educators; 3) Leadership, Administration, & Instructional Support; and Infrastructure for Technology. This survey tool should be used for self-assessment of a campus’ and district’s efforts to effectively integrate technology across the curriculum. Since educators must assure that the knowledge and skills students learn match the knowledge and skills needed to live and work in the 21st Century, this information can be used as a planning tool for a campus or district. The area of Preparation & Development of Educators seems to be of particular importance. A school would be scored as Target Tech (on Target) if there are regular technology-supported learner-centered projects; there is vertical alignment of Technology Applications TEKS and anytime, anywhere use of online resources; administrators ensure integration of appropriate technology; 100% of educators meet SBEC standards; and 30% or more of the school’s budget is allocated for professional development. Our school’s classification, according to the STaR Chart scoring, is in the Developing Tech stage. Almost three-fourths (74.2%) of all schools in Texas are in the same classification. We are trying to move toward the Advanced Tech stage, with the ultimate goal of Advanced Tech in the future. The goals of the Long Range Plan are quite lofty, and only .6% of all Texas schools are classified as in the Advanced Tech stage. With this in mind, our school is working to include professional development sessions in the area of technology as often as possible. There are challenges to this goal. So many current teachers have not grown up using technology, and much of it is foreign, and indeed, intimidating to many of them. Finding appropriate professional development is a challenge. Requiring the implementation of the new training and encouraging teachers to change their delivery strategies is often met with resistance. Funding for training is another challenge for administrators. Challenging teachers, new and veteran, to become 21st Century learners along with their students is as task on which administrators need to focus much of their attention. 21st Century education is not replacing traditional education as quickly as it should, and administrators should realize the urgency.

Texas STaR Chart Retrieved from: http://starchart.esc12.net/