NCLB Title II, Part D Technology Requirements
Frequently Asked Questions

Q. My understanding of the new reporting requirement is that teachers complete the Teacher STaR Chart, principals complete the Campus STaR Chart based upon teacher STaR Chart responses and principals have to complete their own STaR Chart. Is this correct?

A. Teachers and librarians should have already completed the Teacher STaR Chart for 2007-2008 school year. We will aggregate that data from the STaR Chart system. The administrators will need to log on to the STaR Chart system and select 'NCLB' to access the administrator assessment instrument. Upon completion, the administrator will submit through the electronic system.

Additional information can be located at: http://starchart.esc12.net/nclb/default.html

Q. The report wants us to give the total number of computers that meet certain specifications; however, I need to know does this include teacher computers?

A. All computers available for student use should be included in the count. Computers may be located in classrooms, labs, and/or other locations. Teacher computers can be counted if they provide students with access.

Q. How and what will be reported at the district level for Section 2?

A. What will be reported is the number of 8th graders that are technology literate in school year 2007-2008. It will be reported through the STaR Chart system.

The NCLB Technology Reporting System will be used to collect the data for the new reporting requirements. This new district level component of the STaR Chart system will open on September 15, 2008 and close on November 30, 2008. All NCLB data must be entered by the time the system closes on November 30th so that data can be aggregated and forwarded to the United States Department of Education.

Q. We are doing our best to make sure our districts are aware of the new report and the deadlines associated with it. Unfortunately, several districts have commented that they just can’t complete the assessment piece, in particular, by November. Can you advise on any related consequences they may face due to a failure to complete the report?

A. The Texas Education Agency has to report - we have no other options. If the assessment piece is not completed we will have to report a zero. For example, a district reports they have 10 campus principals (administrators) and only 5 of these principals completed the assessment instruction. Assuming they are proficient with technology, we will have to report 5 campus principals are proficient with technology and 5 principals are not proficient.

Q. I am the lead person to complete the NCLB reporting system that will be incorporated with the Texas Campus StaR Chart. If you have a listserv can you please add me to the list.

A. We do not have a listserv for NCLB technology reporting requirements. Our website will have instructions to complete the report but if you have specific questions, send to nclbtech@tea.state.tx.us.

Q. Will districts also be asked to report teacher performance results on an assessment similar to the assessment being piloted in some TX districts assessing eighth graders’ technology applications TEKS mastery or is section 3 only going to seek to report annual Teacher STaR chart survey results?

A. Teacher assessments will be collected through the Teacher STaR Chart for school year 2007-2008. There will not be a separate assessment instrument for teachers. Section 3 will provide an assessment instrument for campus administrators only.

Q. Will the Administrator self assessment be in the same format as the Teacher STaR Chart survey format?

A. The administrator assessment instrument will be in a similar format as the Teacher and Campus STaR Chart. For example:

Inspire a shared vision for comprehensive integration of technology and foster an environment and culture conductive to the realization of that vision.
___Early Tech (I practice this at a minimal level)
___Developing Tech (I practice at some level)
___Advanced Tech (I practice this most of the time)
___Target Tech (I practice this all of the time)

Q. Will teacher proficiency be reported from the Teacher STaR Charts?

A. Teacher and librarian/media specialist proficiencies will be obtained from the Teacher STaR Charts.

Q. Will all other certified personnel somehow demonstrate proficiency by November 30, 2008?

A. A separate survey instrument for the administrators will be provided through the STaR Chart. Additional information is located at http://starchart.esc12.net/nclb/section3.html.

Q. Can the 8th grade literacy proficiency be a survey?

A. Yes, the student proficiency can be a survey.

Q. What type of documentation should be kept on all of the student and personnel proficiency assessments?

A. This is a local accountability decision. Your district may already have policy guidelines in place for school documentation.

Q. Will these new reporting requirements become an annual requirement?

A. Yes, this will be an annual requirement.

Q. Is there any information available concerning Section 3 for determining technology user skills? Is there a form that we will use for each teacher?

A. The teacher and librarian/library media specialist data will be aggregated from the Teaching & Learning and Educator Preparation & Development sections of the Teacher STaR Chart.

The campus administrator data will be collected through the NCLB Technology Reporting System and will be based upon the 6 overarching standards from the ISTE Technology Standards for School Administrators. Campus administrators may be defined as campus principals, assistant principals, and/or other campus leaders.

These overarching standards include:

1. Leadership and Vision: Educational leaders inspire a shared vision for comprehensive integration of technology and foster an environment and culture conducive to the realization of that vision.

2. Learning and Teaching: Educational leaders ensure that curricular design, instructional strategies, and learning environments integrate appropriate technologies to maximize learning and teaching

3. Productivity and Professional Practice: Educational leaders apply technology to enhance their professional practice and to increase their own productivity and that of others.

4. Support, Management, and Operations: Educational leaders ensure the integration of technology to support productive systems for learning and administration.

5. Assessment and Evaluation: Educational leaders use technology to plan and implement comprehensive systems of effective assessment and evaluation.

6. Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues: Educational leaders understand the social, legal, and ethical issues related to technology and model responsible decision making related to these issues.

Q. Are library browsers to be counted as unduplicated student use computers?
I also assume that computers that are used for intervention programs, RTI, are also counted as unduplicated student use even though they are used for specific student populations. Is this correct?

A. They can be counted if they are used for student instructional purposes.

Q. Can we use the Teacher StaR Chart to meet the NCLB teacher technology proficiency requirement?

A. Districts do not need to report teachers or school library/media specialists. TEA will acquire that data from the 2007-2008 teacher STaR Chart data.

Q. What is the completion date for current year 8th graders for 2008 - 2009? And is the completion date for 2007 – 2008 school year?

A. The completion date for the 2008-2009 8th graders has not yet been determined; however we will need to acquire that data during the 2008-2009 school year. For the 2007-2008 school year, November 30, 2008 will be the deadline to provide us with the information.

Q. Where can I find information about the methodology as defined by the state at the end of the 8th grade? What are we to use to evaluate them or do we develop our own tool?

A. Districts will need to determine how they assess their 8th graders. They can use a commercial assessment instrument, locally developed instrument, or a portfolio assessment that is aligned with Technology Application TEKS. You can measure proficiency in a variety of ways (an exam, grade from a Technology Applications course or courses, grades from multiple courses when integrated into the foundation areas, portfolio assessment, teacher checklist, successful completion of the Technology Applications instructional materials’ activities, etc.). Students included in this report are those who exited 8th grade in 2007-2008

Q. Based upon TEA Correspondence from May 30, 2008, and written under the "New Reporting Requirements" heading, Section 2, it appears that 07-08 8th graders who will be 9th graders during the 08-09 school year, still need to complete the on-line version of TEA's technology competency test that should have been completed last year. Is this true?

A. TEA does not have an online competency test to determine 8th grade literacy but districts will need to report those students who were 8th graders during the 2007-2008 school year.

Q. I have also heard that students who were 8th graders during the 07-08 school year have been exempt from the assessment due to the fact most school districts were not aware of this NCLB requirement, and therefore did not complete it. Is this true?

A. That is not correct. The state is required to report 8th grade literacy for school year 2007-2008 by the United States Department of Education.

Q. I read that the campus administrator data will be collected through the NCLB Technology Reporting System and will be based upon the overarching standards from the ISTE Technology Standards for School Administrators. What is the NCLB Technology Reporting System?

A. We will be using the STaR Chart System to function as our reporting system. Once you log into the system, you will have an ‘NCLB’ selection option that will guide you to the assessment instrument.

Contact the NCLB Technology Mailbox with any questions you may have.