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8th Grade Technology Report Required by NCLB

The NCLB act, passed in January 2002, requires school districts to collect data on the information and technology literacy progress of students at the end of their 8th grade year. This data collection requirement is effective at the end of the 2005-2006 school year and emphasizes the need for the School's future elementary education graduates to be prepared to assist their students in attaining information and technology literacy.

Districts will be asked to collect data on two items centered on student proficiency: 1) identify special needs /underserved students (EEL, ESL, TAG, Homeless, Migrant, At-risk, Section 504, etc.) and how they are ensured access to your district’s technology resources; and 2) collect evidence and analysis related to student information and technology levels. Districts will be asked to provide a needs assessment analysis as part of the district LEA Information and Technology plan.

In anticipation of these reporting requirements, DPI is asking districts to refer to the definitions of information and technology literacy included in the Wisconsin Model Academic Standards for Information and Technology Literacy across four content standards: A. Media and Technology; B. Information and Inquiry; C. Independent Learning; and D. The Learning Community. Districts are also asked to refer to the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) definition -- “Technology literacy is the ability to responsibility use appropriate technology to communicate; solve problems; and access, manage, integrate, evaluate, and create information to improve learning in all subject areas and to acquire lifelong knowledge and skills in the 21st century.” http://www.setda.org/NLItoolkit/TLA/tla02.htm .

According to Rob Roy, Education Consultant – Educational Technology with DPI, “the deadline for reporting is a year away so it is just now getting attention. Since it is not part of AYP [Adequate Yearly Progress], the "stick" of NCLB, no one paid much attention until now. I have been telling people all along to keep it in mind but the AYP testing had the spotlight.”

To assist districts with assessment, DPI has published the following resources to help schools plan and prepare for end of year reporting. For additional information about the requirement, or to find out how CIMC resources can assist you, please contact Jo Ann Carr at carr@education.wisc.edu .

Posted by Catherine Stephens on November 5, 2005