Contact:
Christine Fox
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Leveraging Title I & Title IID: Maximizing the Impact of Technology in Education
Two New Resources Identifying Effective Technology Tools and Approaches for Schools

(September 24, 2009:  Washington, D.C.) – The National Association for State Title I Directors (NASTID) and the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) released two coordinated reports in a resource entitled, Leveraging Title I & Title IID: Maximizing the Impact of Technology in Education: A Resource Guide Identifying Technology Tools for Schools. This resource will serve as a guide and a glossary of terms around products, models, strategies and research outlining successful technology integration efforts in schools.  Some highlights of the impact on Title I populations include:

• Closing the achievement gap for fourth grade in mathematics and special education (Missouri’s eMints Program).

• 10.42%  increase in the reading scores for third grade (Kansas Technology Rich Classrooms)

• Increase in literacy rates among third graders from 67% to 84% proficient and among fourth graders from 47% to 69% (Arkansas’ Technology Integration in the Elementary Classroom (TIE) project)

NASTID and SETDA developed these documents in the hopes of sparking interest among state, district and school leaders to forge partnerships that leverage Title I and Title IID funding to implement instructional technology programs that individualize instruction for all students and provide teachers with the tools, leadership and training they need to succeed.

“Research shows that solid technology integration helps to eliminate the achievement gap,” said Rich Long, PhD, Executive Director of NASTID.  “Integrating technology in instruction provides all students, especially those who lack resources at home, with opportunities to gain these fundamental, critical skills,” Long continued, “We look forward to future discussions and are pleased with this first step in a series of papers and collaborative efforts for our two organizations.”

“This combined effort to develop documents and continue the dialogue through the wiki is very exciting,” stated Carla Wade, Technology and Title I Education Specialist from Oregon Department of Education. “The administrators from the field who previewed the documents are already asking for local dialogue on leveraging resources and how to implement 21st Century Learning Environments in their districts. Students across the country who are most in need will be the real winners of this collaboration.” Wade continued.

“These findings demonstrate the power of instructional technology to substantially increase student achievement, teacher quality and retention, and graduation rates,” said Dr. Mary Ann Wolf, PhD, Executive Director of SETDA. “We are pleased to see that the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) offered us this opportunity to discuss new ways of working together to adequately prepare our students for college and the workforce. Wolf continued, “Technology needs play a critical role in addressing the needs of our nation’s schools in most need so this guide may help forge the partnerships necessary.”

The Report:  Leveraging Title I & Title IID: Maximizing the Impact of Technology in Education provides general background information on the power of technology in the classroom including research, rational and examples with data on increased student achievement levels. https://www.setda.org/web/guest/titleI

As an appendix, a Technology Tools Resource Guide provides definitions of key technology components and relevant examples, where appropriate as a glossary for educators. The guide also presents essential implementation and infrastructure considerations that decision makers should think about when implementing technology in schools to help close the achievement gap and best prepare our students for a 21st Century workforce. Technology enhances administrative, teacher and student capabilities and performance, especially for those students who lack access to technology outside of school.

The two groups have also created an online collaboration site to provide an avenue for educators to continue the discussion and provide additional examples at https://www.setda.org/web/guest/titleIwiki. SETDA and NASTID are available for comment.  If you are interested in setting up an interview, please contact Christine Fox at 561-963-0400 or cfox(at)setda.org (SETDA) or Richard Long (NASTID) at 571-480-9970 or RichLong(at)titlei.org.

The National Association of State Title I Directors is dedicated to improving and implementing the Title program so that more children reach their academic potential. NASTID provides state-based educational leaders with the opportunity to work together to share ideas on effective and innovative programs, identify problems and solutions, and represent the needs of Title I families. http://www.titlei.org/

The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) is the principal association representing the state directors for education technology. SETDA works in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education, education associations, and the corporate community in an effort to promote national leadership in education technology; provide professional development in educational leadership for members; and build partnerships and provide leadership to advance learning opportunities. SETDA’s membership includes educational technology directors and staff from the state departments of education of all fifty states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa and the US Virgin Islands. https://www.setda.org