September 2013

Improve Technology Infrastructure

  1. Purpose: The Legislature directs OSPI to partner with nine ESD-based Educational Technology Support Centers (ETSC). Staff are directed to increase the capacity of districts to integrate technology into teaching, learning and administration. ETSC staff centralizes professional development and lead the strategic planning and reporting functions critical to each district’s technology-related initiatives. They deliver training and tech support for the E-rate process and lead state-led technology integration programs at the regional level. As the essential bridge between IT, instruction and administration, staff in the Educational Technology (EdTech) department at OSPI and the ETSC work closely with educators to enrich classroom activities with new media and communications software able to extend learning and differentiate instruction, and with administrators to create a technology-friendly learning environment.
  1. Number of staff associated with this program/service (indicate where applicable):

FY 2012-13
# of OSPI staff associated with this funding (FTEs): / 2.6 FTEs
# of other staff associated with this funding: / .75 FTE per ESD (6.75 FTE total)
  1. Number of educators and districts served by this program: More than 6,000 educators in 268 districts received training and technology support directly from ETSC staff in the most recent three-month reporting period.
  1. Are federal or other funds contingent on state funding? If yes, explain: Yes. Without state funding for the Educational Technology program at OSPI and the ETSC,the federally-sourced E-rate discount districts depend on to bring network and telecom costs down, stands in jeopardy. EdTech and ETSC staff provide the critical training and support district staff need to develop approvable strategic technology plans and E-rate applications—without a state-approved plan, many districts cannot apply to the federal E-rate program. Last year, this support helped to bring more than $39 million in E-rate discounts to 293 districts across Washington.

5.Is continued funding needed in the next biennium?Yes.

6.First year funded: 1999-2000

7.State funding since inception:

Fiscal Year / Amount
FY13 / $980,000
FY12 / $980,000
FY11 / $1.959 million
FY10 / $1.861 million
FY 04-09 / $1.959 million
FY 00-03 / $2.025 million

8.Major challenge faced by the program: Reduced funding will jeopardize the efficacy of the Educational Technology Support Center Program. The ETSC program has proved its value as a source of high-impact, sustainable professional development and, at the leadership level, a critical resource as administrators respond to the demands of a 21st century learning environment, and connect curriculum and instruction to their IT operations.

Reduced funding for the past two years has put the present capacity of the ETSC program at risk and paralyzed our ability to extend its reach. Without an increase in operational funding, ETSC directors will find it progressively more difficult to meet the emerging needs of district educators as they integrate technology into teaching and learning.

9.Future opportunities:

Strengthen and extend the role of the ETSC Program

The skills and experience of the current ETSC staff provide an excellent launch point from which to strengthen and extend the role of the Educational Technology Support Centers at the regional and district level.

Two future opportunities are possible and cost-effective:

  1. Develop training content for regional workshops that target administrators, teachers and students:
  2. Create a supportive networking environment and community of practice within each region.
  3. Introduce new technologies.
  4. Introduce a framework to evaluate the instructional potential of new digital technologies for districts.
  5. Share best practices that support powerful teaching and learning.
  1. Develop the capacity of the ETSC program staff:
  2. Find and promote opportunities for professional development that strengthen their skills as adult educators and program developers.

Develop the base of strategic partnerships for the Educational Technology program at OSPI

  • Partner with OSPI’s Digital Learning Department and education leaders at the district and community level to support and promote technology integration, Open Education Resources and standards-based teaching and learning in the online environment.
  • Partner with providers of free educational software and resources. ESRI (GIS technology) and Google (communications, cloud computing, productivity and instructional software) have outstanding programs for K-12 education. The Educational Technology team at OSPI is eager to bring these leading edge technologies, and corresponding teachertraining, into every public school in Washington State.
  • Develop OSPI’s partnership with the Qwest/CenturyLink Foundation to extend the Teachers & Technology Grant Program. These grant awards recognize K-12 educators who are creative technology integrators. Each year, nine Washington State teachers or teacher teams receive $10,000 to implement an innovative learning project that leverages technology to deepen learning.
  • Leverage these partnerships to 1) strengthen current technology integration programs and district support activities led by the Educational Technology department at OSPI; 2) expand the reach and efficacy of these programs statewide; 3) create new and innovative program initiatives that promote the essential conditions[1]; and 4) develop courses of professional development that support effective technology integration into teaching, learning and education management.

10.Statutory and/or Budget language:

Budget Proviso: 2ESHB 1087, Sec. 513 (3) $980,000 of the general fund -- state appropriation for fiscal year 2012 and $980,000 of the general fund -- state appropriation for fiscal year 2013 are provided solely for improving technology infrastructure, monitoring and reporting on school district technology development, promoting standards for school district technology, promoting statewide coordination and planning for technology development, and providing regional educational

Chapter 28A.650 RCW - EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY

RCW 28A.650.005 Findings -- Intent.

The legislature recognizes that up-to-date tools will help students learn. Workplace technology requirements will continue to change and students should be knowledgeable in the use of technologies.

Furthermore, the legislature finds that the Washington systemic initiative is a broad-based effort to promote widespread public literacy in mathematics, science, and technology. An important component of the systemic initiative is the universal electronic access to information by students. It is the intent of the legislature that components of RCW 28A.650.010 through 28A.650.025 will support the statewide systemic reform effort in mathematics, science, and technology as envisioned by the Washington systemic initiative. [1993 c 336 § 701.]

RCW 28A.650.010 Definitions.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Education technology" or "technology" means the effective use of electronic and optical tools, including telephones, and electronic and optical pathways in helping students learn.

(2) "Network" means integrated linking of education technology systems in schools for transmission of voice, data, video, or imaging, or a combination of these. [1993 c 336 § 702.]

RCW 28A.650.015 Education technology plan -- Educational technology advisory committee.

(1)The Superintendent of Public Instruction, to the extent funds are appropriated, shall develop and implement a Washington state K-12 education technology plan. The technology plan shall be updated on at least a biennial basis, shall be developed to coordinate and expand the use of education technology in the common schools of the state. The plan shall be consistent with applicable provisions of chapter 43.105 RCW. The plan, at a minimum, shall address: (a) The provision of technical assistance to schools and school districts for the planning, implementation, and training of staff in the use of technology in curricular and administrative functions;(b) The continued development of a network to connect school districts, institutions of higher learning, and other sources of on-line information; and(c) Methods to equitably increase the use of education technology by students and school personnel throughout the state.

(2) The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall appoint an educational technology advisory committee to assist in the development and implementation of the technology plan in subsection (1) of this section. The committee shall include, but is not limited to, persons representing: The state board of education, the commission on student learning, the department of information services, educational service districts, school directors, school administrators, school principals, teachers, classified staff, higher education faculty, parents, students, business, labor, scientists and mathematicians, the higher education coordinating board, the work force training and education coordinating board, and the state library. [1995 c 335 § 507; 1994 c 245 § 2; 1993 c 336 § 703.]

RCW 28A.650.020 Regional educational technology support centers -- Advisory councils. Educational service districts shall establish, subject to available funding, regional educational technology support centers for the purpose of providing ongoing educator training, school district cost-benefit analysis, long-range planning, network planning, distance learning access support, and other technical and programmatic support. Each educational service district shall establish a representative advisory council to advise the educational service district in the expenditure of funds provided to the technology support centers. [1993 c 336 § 705.]

RCW 28A.650.025 Distribution of funds for regional educational technology support centers.
The Superintendent of Public Instruction, to the extent funds are appropriated, shall distribute funds to educational service districts on a grant basis for the regional educational technology support centers established in RCW 28A.650.020. [1993 c 336 § 706.]

RCW 28A.650.030 Distribution of funds to expand the education statewide network.
The Superintendent of Public Instruction, to the extent funds are appropriated, shall distribute funds to the Washington school information processing cooperative and to school districts on a grant basis, from moneys appropriated for the purposes of this section, for equipment, networking, and software to expand the current K-12 education statewide network. [1993 c 336 § 707.]

RCW 28A.650.035 Education technology account.

(1) The Superintendent of Public Instruction may receive such gifts, grants, and endowments from public or private sources as may be made from time to time, in trust or otherwise, for the use and benefit of the purposes of educational technology and expend the same or any income according to the terms of the gifts, grants, or endowments.

(2) The education technology account is hereby established in the custody of the state treasurer. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall deposit in the account all moneys received from gifts, grants, or endowments for education technology. Moneys in the account may be spent only for education technology. Disbursements from the account shall be on authorization of the Superintendent of Public Instruction or the superintendent's designee. The account is subject to the allotment procedure provided under chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for disbursements. [1993 c 336 § 708.]

RCW 28A.650.040 Rules.
The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall adopt rules as necessary under chapter 34.05 RCW governing the operation and scope of this chapter. [1993 c 336 § 709.]

[1]From ISTE (international Society for Technology in Education). The conditions necessary to leverage technology effectively for learning. At the highest level − shared vision, strategic planning, consistent and adequate funding, equitable access, skilled personnel, continuous professional development, technical support, standards-based curriculum, student-centered learning.