I work for Plano ISD. This is the school district that I attended as a child as well. Plano is a large suburban city north of Dallas. Plano ISD covers about 100 square miles and also provides education to some areas of several surrounding towns. It services almost 50,00 students ranging from preschool to adults. Plano is a very culturally diverse city. There are high populations of many different nationalities throughout the district. 14,000 students are white, 13,00 are Hispanic/Latino, 11,000 are Asian, and 6,000 are African American. There is a wide variety of languages spoken throughout the district with an increasing number of schools becoming bilingual to accommodate the large number of Spanish-speaking students and families that attend PISD schools.
There are also a wide array of jobs that families within the district have: 20% are professionals, 20% are in the education or healthcare field, 12% are in finance, 11% are in retail, while the others are in food, construction, and utilities. There is a vast difference in the economic status of students in the district. There are a large number of corporate headquarters near Plano which lead to multi-millionaires as well as families that are without housing or have recently immigrated and are starting over. Most students go to the school that is the closest to them. The district has started allowing students to transfer to other schools in the district, but must be approved to do so. Most campuses are traditional schools but there are a few alternatives within the district. There are IB campuses, virtual school, bilingual campuses, and alternative schools. There is also an adult education center.
The district has put a large emphasis on technology. There is a 1-to-1 ratio for students to have Chromebooks at school. There is wifi available at all schools, throughout the schools. Teachers use it daily in the classrooms, for curriculum, testing, communication, student work, grades, etc. They also require students and teachers to use certain technology in class (for example, I work at an elementary campus and we are required to use Seesaw a certain amount of times a month). Students use technology in other areas of the school besides their classroom, such as the library, PACE, and ESL classes. Students are able to bring their technology with them around the schools. The district does help families that might not have access to technology at home by having Wifi available to families from the parking lots of many schools. A wide variety of the apps that are used in school, are available to students and families to access at home too. Individual campuses have policies about student technology checkout. Some of the technology students have access to are chromebooks, hotspots, and more.
Our district understands the importance of technology in the classroom and all the benefits it provides to students, teachers, and families. There is a small amount of technology professional development, but it does get overshadowed with all the other training that is required. There are many options for professional development but those are not mandatory.
Plano ISD Technology Information
Facts & Figures / 2021-22 Annual Report. (n.d.). Plano ISD. https://www.pisd.edu/Page/29215
Instructional Technology / Homepage. (n.d.). Plano ISD. https://www.pisd.edu/Domain/88
2022-2023 Student Enrollment. (n.d.). TEA. Retrieved February 10, 2024, from https://rptsvr1.tea.texas.gov/cgi/sas/broker?_service=marykay&_program=adhoc.addispatch.sas&endyear=23&major=st&minor=e&format=w&selsumm=id&linespg=60&charsln=120&grouping=e&loop=2&key=043910&_debug=0
Hi Kelly,
ReplyDeleteMy district is similar to yours in the sense that there is a huge push towards technology. We are also a 1:1 district and there are several programs that students use that are required by the district. For example, students must complete 45-60 minutes on typing.com and K-12 Summit weekly. Students are able to complete the time in class when teachers integrate the program into their curriculum and they are also giving time to work on programs when they the visit the counselor's office. Additionally, our district also tracks usage of IXL and Study Island weekly. Professional Development in technology is offered to teachers regularly and teachers have access to different technology integration options as part of their curriculum. Thank you for sharing!
Erika
This is fascinating! It seems that technology is seen as useful, but the pd available to take greatest advantage of it is lacking. Plano is huge! I did not realize how geographically large the district is. How do you keep in touch with colleagues? Or do you?
ReplyDeleteHi Kelly!
ReplyDeleteWow! 100 square miles is huge! I agree that Plano ISD's demographics are diverse. That is much different than my district. Mine is primarily Hispanic (over 90%) in comparison. I'm amazed that your district has a 1:1 ratio for Chromebooks considering the amount of students PISD has. It's great that they put that much emphasis on technology and use it in multiple areas. Thank you for including the links to your information and for sharing your environmental scan.
Your detailed insight into Plano ISD's demographics and technology integration is impressive. It is clear that the district prioritizes equitable access to technology, which is evident through the 1-to-1 Chromebook ratio and Wi-Fi availability. Your description highlights the district's commitment to bridging the digital divide and preparing students for success in today's digital world. Thank you for sharing these valuable insights into your district's approach to technology.
ReplyDelete