August 2019 webcast agenda for KY K-12 CIOs/edtech leaders

Please join us virtually this morning (August 27th) at 10 am (EST) while we broadcast from Grayson County schools. It will end no later than 11:30 am timeframe. Below are the audio and video links for the webcast. We always encourage you to watch or listen to the webcast live; however we do understand there are certain situations that may prevent that. We will usually provide a written summary of this month’s webcast in 4 weeks with next month’s webcast agenda, however there are certain items that you need to be aware of that will occur before you get that written summary. For that reason, we again encourage you or your representative to tune into this month’s webcast. You can tune in and be part of the webcast from any device by going to the following link: http://mediaportal.education.ky.gov/watch-live/. You can give us your live feedback and ask questions during the webcast though GoSoapBox  Link:http://app.gosoapbox.com. The GoSoapBox access code: edtech

KY K-12 main edtech points of emphasis and discussion for August webcast

1.     Edtech update and feedback from Grayson County schools throughout the webcast

2.     KY K-12 edtech identified in a positive way in Edweek Magazine in regards to KETS product standards (e.g., finance system).

3.     The SY 2019-2020 edtech needs and operational plan for KY K-12 approved by the KBE in August 7^th. SFCC must approve next on September 4th.  Then the 1^st KETS offers of financial assistance of can start going to districts.

4.     The additional budget request (ABR*) for KY K-12 edtech in 2020. Need all 172 KY K-12 CIOs/edtech leaders to approach and educate their district leadership team (e.g., Supts, CFOs) on this ABR.

5.     Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) eSports next steps (e.g., League of Legends battle game) for the upcoming season.

6.     SB1 and School Safety:  KY’s Homeland Security’s anonymous reporting system (text, voice, e-mail) for this school year. Up to 6 points of contact per school. Posters.

7.     The upcoming releases of the KY K-12 school report card this early fall with a focus on accountability.

8.     KY K-12 Digital Readiness, Technology Activity Report (TAR) and annual feedback results due.  Helps confirm KY K-12 tech needs for upcoming legislative session and for the KBE.

9.     KY K-12 Internet services, switch upgrades and firewalls

10.  KY K-12 Cybersecurity (e.g., password requirement by x date, SAML to IC by x date)

11.  KY K-12 contracts update (Educator License system, etc.)

12.   KY K-12 Computer science, STLP, Tech standards and Computer Science & IT Academy.

13.  KY K-12 is first in the nation to connect all school districts via high speed to the Internet in 1995. And the first to connect all its schools to the Internet not long after that.  Our K-12 students with a smartphone and Internet access via wired and/or wireless at their home is better than the national average. What are some possible explanations?

14.  Other topics

Webcast GoSoapBox poll and discussion questions:

*Additional Budget Request (ABR) for the upcoming legislative session beginning in Jan 2020 for education technology.

Since 2010, the KETS allocation has been steadily reduced from $19.5M to $15.4M. Similarly the previous and most recent budget cuts have also impacted the state’s K-12 Internet funds during a time over the past five years where there has been a 140% increase in Internet usage by our students and teachers. During the 2020 legislative session, there is a need to address the additional budget request (ABR) for the following reasons:

1.     To help properly address the people side of edtech in districts so there are the right number of technicians, digital learning coaches and other basic edtech leadership responsibilities in districts (data accuracy, cybersecurity/cybersafety/cyberprivacy, strategic planning, emerging technology) that help ensure the school technology is kept reliable for students and teachers, is maximized in instruction, is cybersecure/cybersafe and is of high quality (e.g., data);

2.     To address the rapid annual increase in the numbers (e.g., districts going to 1 to 1) and types of tech devices (e.g., HVAC using the Internet, phones over the Internet, school safety devices that use the Internet) and services (e.g., KY K-12 Internet bandwidth service) being used by over 750,000 KY K-12 students & adults for instructional, communication, physical safety, cybersafety and cybersecurity purposes;

3.     To address the needs of schools for online daily formative testing, intermediate/quarterly testing and end of year high-stakes summative testing that provide quick feedback/results to both students and teachers;

4.     To restore the significant cuts (i.e., $5M+) of over the past 10 years to the basic KY K-12 edtech funding. The legislature has provided a KETS allocation each year since the Kentucky Education Reform Act which remained at $19.5 million from SY 1992-SY 2009. Through a series of budget reductions, the KETS allocation was reduced to $15.4 million from SY2013-SY2019; and,

5.     There have been zero increases in basic cost of living costs to KETS since 1992 which is very unrealistic if the expectation to maintain basic high quality services for schools and districts.

Did You Know?

District Technology Leaders Webcast_08272019

District Technology Leaders Webcast_08272019