2013-2016 Technology Plan - Osceola County School District

Administrative and Instructional Technology
which recommends applications based on its alignment with Sunshine State Standards and grade level
benchmarks.
Technology resources vary widely by school
The district allocates approximately 1-5% of the capital outlay budget for technology acquisitions, the
District Technology Committee recommends how Public Technology Funds should be distributed, and
the board approves the recommendation. In 1999-2000, Public School Technology Fund represented
approximately 40% of the total instructional technology budget. Elementary schools received
approximately 28% of these funds, middle schools 21% and high schools 51%. Exhibit 6-11 shows that
schools at all grade levels vary in the technology resources available to students. In talking with school
stakeholders during our public forums we found that there was some concern about the equity of
technology among schools in the district. The expenditure and resource availability substantiates the
concern.
Business partnerships encouraged
The district encourages schools to partner with outside sources in developing and delivering instructional
applications and infrastructures. Currently IT training partnerships exist in 7 different schools in the
district. See Exhibit 6-16. Although partnerships are encouraged and a few programs exist, the number
of students participating is relatively small and there is no follow up to determine if the students who
participated are benefiting by getting hired after graduation in Information Technology (IT) fields or by
pursuing advanced training. These programs should be evaluated based on their objective and their
desired outcome.
Exhibit 6-16
Osceola Schools Partner With IT Companies to Provide Training
Microsoft
Office
Web MCP/ User Network
School Name Oracle Cisco Academies MSCSE Specialist A+ +
Visua
l
Basic C++ Java
Technical
Education Center
Osceola (TECO) X X X X X X X X X
Professional and
Technical High
School (PATHS) X X X X X X
Gateway High
School
Osceola High
School
Poinciana High
School
St. Cloud High
School
Celebration High
School
X
X
X
X
X
Total Programs 1 6 1 2 2 2 2 1 1 2
Source: 2001 Technology Resources Survey.
District supports schools in technology decisions
Through the network, educators can visit websites on the Internet, or through vendor demonstrations,
professional development offerings and pilot programs, they have opportunities to preview new
OPPAGA 6-31
2013 Educational Technology Plan 31/40 School District of Osceola County Florida