Bane Elementary Technology Grant Proposal Brief

Bane Elementary School is looking to improve STAAR test scores of the 4 th grade socioeconomically
disadvantaged and ELL students by providing new instructional technology upgrades through the purchase
of a class set of Chromebooks because that will enhance improved group and individual instruction
resulting in raising test scores to the state average on all levels.

At this Title 1 school, 62.4% of the student population is economically disadvantaged. There is a limited
amount of technology in the classroom and at the student’s disposal at home. By providing a Chromebook
for individual student usage, it allows a teacher to customize the students’ experiences with specific apps,
lesson extensions, and themes in areas that the student has not successfully mastered on the STAAR
exam. Since previous methods have not increased students’ scores, providing a Chromebook to each
student will give them access to new information from many sources such as I-ready, Dreambox, and
Spelling City. This new technology will equip students to better attack questions and develop problem
solving strategies along with lessening test anxiety and reducing their fear of failure.

The fourth-grade teachers are requesting 60 Chromebooks for students and 3 additional Chromebooks for
each of the fourth grade teachers use. Additional technology needed includes 3 charging cart/stations with
lockable doors, 3 Acer Chromebox’s, a Chrome Education license for each Chromebook purchased along
with 3 management licenses for the teachers. In addition, training would be necessary for the classroom
teachers, librarian, and administrative testing coordinators to ensure that the new technology is indeed
improving overall grade level and individual scores. Cost would be first year implementation and little to no
cost to continue usage for the subsequent academic years.

Scores on the STAAR test for the past years have stayed below district and state averages on all levels. On
the math STAAR test the scores for all students passing was 16% below the state average. In writing, only
50% of the students passed and they ranked 17% below the district average. Chromebooks will allow the
teachers to gather specific data needed to provide students with differentiated instruction and targeted help
with troublesome concepts. Chromebooks also provide the latest up to date information to ensure that all
material is relevant and meeting the required elements of the test. Students will be required to continue
state mandated testing through their high school years and will require passage for them to graduate. It is
imperative that this new learning approach be implemented for the next school year.

Kelly Luza, Library Media Specialist, will be the local point of contact for this grant request. Weekly
meetings will be held with myself, administrative principal, fourth grade team and district elementary testing
coordinators to review data and adjust implementation of this new implemented program.