A Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan for Technology of the State Board of Education. Submitted to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker, and the Seventy-Second Texas Legislature.

Overview & Synopsis

Adopted in November 1988, the Long-Range Plan for Technology of the Texas State Board of Education plots the course for meeting educational needs through the application of technology and for implementing concomitant changes in education from 1988 to the year 2000. The plan recognizes that both educational technology and the practice of education are changing and reflects the belief that advances in technology applied to the practice of education can be an effective means of achieving a vision of education that would otherwise be unattainable. The vision of education is one in which: no student is denied course work necessary for employment or higher education; teachers have both the responsibilities and resources to guide the instruction of their students; performance determines advancement; performance and economic status are unrelated; and adults continually enhance their job and life skills. Four priorities established in the original plan are still valid today: classroom instruction; instructional management; distance education; and telecommunications. It is noted that state legislation has provided the statutory authority and the appropriations necessary to take the initial steps for changing the face of education in Texas. This report contains updated information intended to: (1) illustrate the environmental conditions that influenced the creation of the plan and which will influence continued progress toward its stated goals; (2) provide a brief description of the progress made toward the implementation of the plan; and (3) outline requests to the Seventy-Second Legislature which will enable further progress toward achieving the goals of the plan. (25 references) (DB)