In this article, Summer Creek High School (Harris County, Texas) librarian, Louise Lankau shares a formula for successfully integrating technology via the school library and reaching every department and teacher in a school of 2,500 students and 170 teachers. The challenge is that the teaching staff at Summer Creek increases each year to…

The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) and the National Association of State Title I Directors (NASTID) drafted this paper to spark local discussions on the coordinated uses of funds to implement technology in the classroom. State and local Title I and Title IID directors can work together to ensure that these ideas are…

"Building Institutional Capacity for Data-Informed Decision Making" is the third installment of the Cutting Edge series, which aims to help colleges engage faculty, scale successful interventions, and create a strong culture of evidence through use of data to strengthen their institutional change and student success efforts. Though the…

This document presents the Texas STaR (School Technology and Readiness) Chart, designed to help school districts determine their progress toward meeting the goals of the Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology. The chart provides indicators for four levels of progress (i.e., early, developing, advanced, or target technology) in the following focus…

The question of how best to serve its constituents arises for any organization that is part of a campus or community. This guide is intended to address questions regarding assessment of impact, identifying targets for improvement, and ensuring organizational recognition. Seven strategies for maximizing impact are presented: (1) Be focused; (2) Be…

This handbook provides guidelines for planning, implementing, and evaluating technology for the purpose of improving student achievement in school districts across Texas. These guidelines are not intended to replace currently successful district practices, but to provide one model of a step-by-step method for planning and implementation. The…

Growing numbers of colleges and universities are making the leap to renewable energy. Some are not only saving money--they're making money on their renewable energy purchases. This guide, written by two energy consultants, walks readers through the process of evaluating the various technologies, ownership options, relationships with utilities, and…

A manual has been designed to assist Texas Education Agency investigators in their attempt to take a state-wide inventory of elementary and secondary school facilities and educational technology. This manual examines data collection activities, data storage and maintenance, deliverables, and reporting. Every campus is expected to be inventoried…

Discusses ways in which teachers in Texas have managed to keep up with trends in educational technology and thus raise their teaching effectiveness. Describes the process of teachers as learners that developed from a professional-development program. The program provided computer knowledge in all commonly used areas, and furnished all participants…

A study explored the use of career concentration areas in Texas school systems and recommended broad career concentration areas. Of the 40 largest school districts, 35 responded to the survey. Approximately 58 percent currently use variations of the career concentration area concept to help students prepare for working life. Respondents…

Presents the Texas standards for U.S. history in the following areas: (1) history, (2) geography, (3) economics, (4) government, (5) citizenship, (6) culture, (7) science, technology, and society, and (8) social studies skills. Offers 26 standards in total and provides expectations for the students in each area. (CMK)

This handbook for educators and officials in Texas school districts provides guidelines for planning, implementing, and evaluating technology use in order to improve student achievement. Intended for use in districts that are planning locally appropriate strategies, the handbook is divided into seven major sections: (1) Introduction (purpose, the…

This publication provides standards and guidelines addressing a variety of issues in the area of library automation in Texas. In addition to the core elements of a library automated system (public access catalog, cataloging, circulation, acquisitions, and serials), remote access, imaging, and full-text document management are included. This…

Boles Independent School District (Texas) serves 360 students and is the poorest district in Texas. Yet, due to the aggressiveness of its superintendent and staff, Boles has pieced together a technology program that equals or surpasses those of larger neighboring districts with more resources. This success is derived from creativity,…

Libraries offer a variety of services and play an assortment of roles. While few people disagree that libraries have been valuable institutions in the past, many wonder how necessary they will be in the future. Shrinking budgets make it harder for libraries to contradict these perceptions. This report examines the social and economic impact that…