What is HISDs technology plan?

    I just discovered that The Schools and Libraries Program of the Universal Service Fund, commonly known as "E-Rate", provide discounts to the Houston Independent School District (HISD) to afford telecommunications and Internet access. HISD had to provide a technology plan to qualify for the discount. Below I’ve provided a very brief synopsis of HISD’s technology plan.
    HISD’s technology plan is titled District Long Range Strategic Plan for Technology (LRSPT) and was created to meet all filing requirements of the Texas E-Plan and to provide the District with a strategic road map for technology. The HISD LRSPT was developed to address the four key areas of the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology: Teaching and Learning; Educator Preparation; Leadership, Administration, and Support; and Infrastructure for Technology.
    A goal designed to address the first key area was the assurance of equitable access to a technology-enhanced curriculum. This can be done by the increase of technology integration into everyday classroom practice. The budget for this strategy is $3,060,000. Individual campus personnel is responsible for the alignment of the integrated lessons with the “School Technology Roadmap”. Evaluations are based on lesson plans and teacher observations.
    A goal designed to address the second key area was the increase in teacher and administrator participation in instructional technology training. This can be done by the increased participation of teachers and administrators in instructional technology training. The budget for this strategy is $150,000. Individual campus personnel is responsible for the increased awareness of opportunities for staff to participate in activities sponsored by technology professional education organizations. Evaluations are based on an increase in representation from the district by 10% in professional groups.
    A goal designed to address the third key area was the implementation of instructional programs that extend instruction beyond the boundaries of the traditional classroom. This can be done by the continuation of the district virtual school. The budget for this strategy is $800,000. Virtual school department manager is responsible for the continued development of virtual school online. Evaluations are based on the virtual school’s continued development.
    A goal designed to address the fourth key area was the expansion and capacity of HISD’s network to provide an infrastructure that supports teaching and learning with technology. The budget for this strategy is $2,000,000. Networking personnel is responsible for upgrading internal network connections, hardware and software for HISD sites to provide high speed Internet access to students. Evaluations are based on updated equipment reporting via surveys.
    Although the district has budgeted finances to implement this plan, it will take the sufficient TIME of the teachers to learn these strategies. This was not mentioned in the plan and I hope this issue is not overlooked.

http://www.slideshare.net/safirah1/hisd-tech-plan

Houston ISD Technology Plan 2009 - 2012. Retrieved from http://www.houstonisd.org/Technology/Home/Forms%20&%20Documents/2009-2012%20HISD%20TECH%20PLAN.pdf