So this week, it's all about the Benjamins (so to speak). Educating the masses costs money. The government has it and school districts want it. So how are we gonna' get it? The majority of school financing comes from state and local funding, with a small portion coming from the federal government. But no matter where is comes from, it's rarely enough to go around. And, unfortunately, that means technology integration is often a lower priority when it comes to funding and budget cuts happen quite frequently. That just means innovative leaders have to leave no stone unturned as they look for alternate funding sources. There seems to be a multitude of resources available to interested parties; one just has to know where to look. According to an article in USA Today (Arbel, 2021), President Biden has recently put together a $100 billion dollar plan to make internet availability more equitable, more affordable, and less monopolized. Would our district be positively impacted by such a plan? Maybe. Any plan to lower the cost of internet access and make it more affordable would have a positive effect on our community unless taxes are increased in doing so. Our school district recognized the need and has made strides over the past two years to make internet access a reality for our neediest students. Initially, our district leaders were able to secure low-cost internet connections during the pandemic. More recently, we've provided internet hotspots to families who request it. So will President Biden's plan, if it comes to fruition, have a positive impact on our community? I guess only time will tell.
My "Call to Action" focused more on professional development with student achievement as a by-product of that PD rather than on infrastructure; use rather than access. As a result, I plan to focus my efforts on funding options that support tech professional development. One of that "multitude of resources" I alluded to earlier is in "Every Student Succeeds Act" (ESSA) funding. Section 4104 of the ESSA specifically addresses how the ESSA grant might be used for professional development, and that fits right in with my Technology Integration Plan. ESSA for the win! Funding from this grant would allow my district to support ISTE certification for educators in our district. It would also allow us to embrace the use of EdCamps (ISTE, 2018) for tech professional development. Further, it would allow us to implement support for programs resulting in "micro-credentials". Each of these strategies made possible by ESSA funding would go hand-in-hand supporting the goals in our Tech Integration Plan.
The ISTE (2018) article outlines the steps necessary in order to secure funding through an ESSA grant. Those steps include
- identifying our state's SSAE grant officers.
- identifying our state's current priorities for the SSAE grant.
- conducting additional research as necessary.
- scheduling a formal meeting with our state's grant officers to begin official collaboration and planning while advocating for our district's needs.
- forming a planning committee with said officers.
- presenting major findings (made by the aforementioned committee) to the district superintendent.
- completing a needs assessment,
- communicating with state tech directors for additional guidance and support.
Arbel, T. (2021, April 3). Broadband for all: Inside President Biden’s $100 billion plan to improve internet access. USA Today
Hi, Pamela!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the insightful comment on my post! I agree with you, as well, in that Biden's plan sounds great, but if it means a significant increase in taxes, then that seems a bit counter-productive for certain communities. Hopefully that would not be the case, though!
Also, you are so right–despite the amount of work that would need to go into getting everything set for the ESSA grant, the benefits would be amazing.
Great post!
Best,
Jackie Pop
I too worry about the increase in taxes with Biden's plan. Would it help the lower income families if it comes with a tax increase? I personally don't think it would. The ESSA grant is a fabulous funding source for schools looking to increase professional development. The benefits seen with increased PD would definitely outweigh the effort to get the funds.
ReplyDeletePamela,
ReplyDeleteI agree that Biden's plan could benefit many, but how will that help families who are already struggling? Also, raising taxes is guaranteed to be voted against at the state level in our state. Locally, our patrons are supportive, but this is not the case for all districts. I'm also planning on ESSR as my primary source of funding. Our district already has a history of using these grants for technology acquisition and implementing new student programs.
Thank you for your insights. Your thoughts are always helpful.
Beth
Pamela,
ReplyDeleteYou raise valid points regarding Biden's plan and we all know our government is notorious for raising taxes and not following through with plans. The plan sounds amazing, but how would families already struggling handle a potential tax hike? Would states be expected to match funds with federal dollars? I think the plan would address a significant aspect of the digital divide (access), but at what cost? Thank you for your insight.
I love how you mentioned that when something has to be cut, it usually is technology. I am feeling this because we recently had a bond that did not pass. Yes they wanted 35 million for athletic facilities mainly, but 1 million of it was technology. The admin is so upset about this that I feel as though technology is going to the bottom of the list like usual. I know my district received ESSA funds, but I can not find where and on what they specifically spent it. I get crazy things like, "I was going to get you 30 Chromebooks for that class!" Ummmm really? Why can'y you give me a position that actually helps teachers?? We are all messed up over here! It sounds like you have a great plan!!!
ReplyDelete