District Administration - March 2007 - (Page 74)

Warning : session_start : The session id contains invalid characters, valid characters are only a-z, A-Z and 0-9 in /mnt/data/www.nxtbook.com/fx/config_1.3/global.php on line 9 Warning : session_start : Cannot send session cache limiter - headers already sent output started at /mnt/data/www.nxtbook.com/fx/config_1.3/global.php:9 in /mnt/data/www.nxtbook.com/fx/config_1.3/global.php on line 9 Warning : Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by output started at /mnt/data/www.nxtbook.com/fx/config_1.3/global.php:9 in /mnt/data/www.nxtbook.com/fx/config_1.3/global.php on line 10 CO M P U T E RS contribution from families. The appropriate funding model for your school or district is unique to your local community needs and culture. However, it is critical that your adopted model be both sustainable and, above all, equitable. Little or nothing is gained from a one-off grant or bond issue unless it is used for a proof of concept, which can then be used to source additional funds. Additionally, all students must have laptop access. T he best funding solution for your one to one laptop initiative will derive from one or more of the following approaches: • State-Funded Models The state of Maine led the way, but several states have since followed. Maine’s model was well thought out and provided funding not only for the technology but also infrastructure and professional development. Recurrence will always be the biggest challenge with this model, as such innovations are vulnerable to political changes and new priorities. While a state-funded model overcomes equity issues, the other challenge can be what else is associated with any tied funds, that is, the extent to which there is any local control of the manner in which the funds are distributed and managed. • District-Funded Models The district-funded model may include some state or federal funds. The model pioneered by the Henrico County, Va., schools enjoys the beneﬁt of sustainability while preserving local control. Henrico expanded its existing technology by increasing spending from 2-3 percent of the budget to approximately 5 percent. The additional funds resulted from savings in other areas, such as textbooks and Very few administrators that have launched a one to one initiative ever believed they could afford it. 74 March 2007 specialized technology used by few students. The reordering of budgetary priorities ensured that the provision of student laptops became an annual expenditure, just as traditional ﬁ xed costs are. A lt hough many districts succeed in raising one to one funds through bond issues, changing priorities may make the program vulnerable at the end of the bond period. This strategy builds in a high level of accountability since renewing the funding requires asking the community for an additional bond. Still, it is difﬁcult to repeatedly ask the community for large bonds, and that can make laptops seem like a one-time investment rather than an educational staple. • Parent-Funded Models This model leverages the fact that a child with a laptop will use it District Administration Laptp.indd 3 2/13/07 9:44:14 AM Warning : Unknown : The session id contains invalid characters, valid characters are only a-z, A-Z and 0-9 in Unknown on line 0 Warning : Unknown : Failed to write session data files . Please verify that the current setting of session.save_path is correct /var/lib/php/session in Unknown on line 0

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - March 2007

Contents
Editor's Letter
Update
Inside the Law
Curriculum Update
District Profile
Administrator Profile
Friday Night Fever
Creating an Effective Virtual School Program
Hunting for Talent
Multimedia Man
Do These Web Sites Work?
Finding Funds for Student Laptops
Curriculum Crassifieds
Gearing Up for Science Assessments
New Products
Computer Literature
Speaking Out
Principal Opinion
The Online Edge
Calendar of Events
Problem/Solution
Research Corner

District Administration - March 2007