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Leadership and Technology
Technology Planning
Developing a well-designed technology plan requires reflection on the needs, goals and focus of the system and provides a good starting point for identifying which grants, funds and opportunities are appropriate to pursue. The certification of a district's technology plan ensures alignment with the state-developed plan and maintains consistency in focus for all systems and districts throughout Louisiana.
Many technology grants and allocations require a certified technology plan in order to be considered for funding. Articulate, well-defined and focused grant writing has become increasingly important as competition for grants has increased. In an effort to reduce the stress of developing these application documents, several resources for grant writing are listed below, including avenues to find funding resources.
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State Plan for Technology
The Louisiana State Technology Plan is the standard by which all district and school plans are measured. It was written by a diverse committee consisting of businesses, parents, administrators, teachers, and technical staff from across the state and establishes the benchmarks to which the state is striving to achieve. Alignment with the philosophy and criteria of the state's plan is required for certification of District Technology Plans. The plan was adopted November 2006, and is structured for target attainment by the year 2014.
Download the Louisiana State Plan for Technology
State Technology Plan - 2007 - 2014 (Pdf)
PDF
State Technology Plan - 2007 - 2014 (Word)
Word
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District and School Technology Planning Resources
In order to address consistency in formatting and content, the following templates, forms and resources are linked for system or district technology plans.
Once submitted, confirmation of submission and reviewed documents will be returned to the district in order to address modifications or changes that may be required for certification of the plan. Once alignment and content of the plan have been approved, a letter verifying "certification" of the plan will be sent to the district or school. A certified Technology Plan is often a criteria for participation in state, regional or national grants or allocations available to districts or schools.
Most districts find it helpful to review the State Technology Plan as a guideline before developing their plan. A download link is available in the previous section as an MS Word or PDF file.
Technology Plan Template - Public (Word)
Word
Technology Plan Template - Public (PDF)
PDF
Technology Plan Template - NonPublic (Word)
Word
Technology Plan Template - NonPublic (PDF)
PDF
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Technology Plan Budget
The Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) require that all E-Rate applicants include a line item categorization of expenditures for all service discounts requested through the E-Rate program. In order to meet this mandate of the E-Rate program, applicants may provide budgeting information in the following methods:
1. An applicant may submit a yearly line item-detailed, signed budget covering the entire E-Rate funding year which addresses all non-discounted portions of their E-Rate application. This Technology Plan Budget must be certified prior to filing the E-Rate Form 486.
2. If an applicant does not have a signed final line item budget prior to filing the E-Rate Form 470, an applicant must submit a budget plan which addresses all non-discounted portions of their E-Rate application as part of their EETT Technology Plan certification request. The applicant is still required to submit a final signed line item budget for certification prior to filing the E-Rate Form 486.
It is expected that the Technology Plan Budget attached to the EETT Technology Plan budget will be amended annually in order to address changes in technology needs and expenditures that will be requested as part of an applicant's E-Rate application.
The Technology Plan budget will be reviewed for content, but will not be compared by LCET to the E-Rate application. All responsibility for compliance with E-Rate application requirements will be with the applicant, and therefore should reflect knowledge of the policies and expectations of SLD.
Technology Plan / E-Rate Budget
Excel
This Excel document is provided as a reference template and can be used to automate the calculations associated with the budget submission information identified as a required part of the E-Rate Application. Note: All budget information should be updated on a yearly basis.
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National Planning Resources
The technology plan offers an opportunity to review and plan for the needs of a school or district. Once the review process has been completed, putting together the final document can be intimidating. Links to some samples and contact information for developing and writing your district technology plan are also listed.
The National Center for Technology Planning (NCTP) is a clearinghouse for the exchange of many types of information related to technology planning. This information may be school technology plans available for downloading online; technology planning aids (checklists, brochures, sample planning forms, PR announcement forms); and/or electronic monographs on timely, selected topics. The NCTP was created for those who need help, seek fresh ideas, or seek solutions to problems encountered with planning.
The State Department of Education's Louisiana Center for Education Technology is the department's resource for questions and issues related to development of technology plans and grant resources. LCET is the contact for submission of technology plans, offering a wide range of related services.
National Center for Technology Planning
NCTP, based in Tupelo, MS, offers articles and resources to help districts in the development of a Technology Plan. A limited number of examples of Technology Plans are included on the site.
US Department of Education
An overview of grants and contracts available through U.S. Department Of Education. It includes searches and links to specific resources available from DOE.
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Grant Writing
The following links contain resources, sample text, and/or online tutorials for writing grants. Some of these sites include samples of successfully written grants as well as philosophical how-to guides. A number of recognized agencies also offer support services for grant writing. Do not hesitate to network with those successful grant writers in your area.
Often the abstracts of successful grants will be available when the funding is announced by the sponsoring organization. It is a good idea to check even outdated grant sites to gather information and ideas on what makes a good grant presentation.
Education Technology Leaders Organization
schoolgrants.org Writing Tips
Grant Writing Recommendations
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