Coherent Systems, Resources, and Policies – Digital Promise

Coherent Systems, Resources, and Policies

This domain refers to the alignment and activation of systems, resources, and policies to a defined strategic and continuous improvement plan for deep technology integration. This alignment results in remarkable coherence across all organizational functions, which, in part, manifests in funding technology in full; support for it through approved policies, including those that ensure data privacy and ongoing procurement of devices and emerging technologies; and integration of technologies into core systems, such as structured professional development activities.

Coherent Systems graphic

Domain Indicators

The domain indicators provide guidance on what school and district stakeholders need to accomplish to activate the domains. Hitting these “markers” signal that schools and districts are making progress toward triggering each domain in full.

Essential Question: In what ways is your vision for technology present across all systems, resources, and policies as a means to support long-term development and application of powerful learning?

Strategic Alignment with Vision for Digital Equity
Equitable Resource Utilization
Collaborative Policy Development
Inclusive Innovation in Evaluation

Strategic Alignment with Vision for Digital Equity

Organizational functions align seamlessly with the vision for digital equity, ensuring a cohesive and integrated approach across all district and network operations, as evidenced by:

  • Alignment Scorecard: A framework or tool used for assessing and illustrating the integration of technology across various departmental functions, including criteria for data privacy and security. For example, a scorecard that evaluates the level of technology integration in areas such as curriculum and instruction, professional development, data management, and communication systems, with specific metrics for data privacy and security compliance.
  • Non-Academic Technology Initiatives: Examples of technology-enhanced processes or projects in non-academic spaces (e.g., HR, finance, operations) that align with the digital equity vision, ensuring data privacy and security are integral parts of these initiatives.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Regular meetings involving representatives from different departments, focused on aligning systems with the digital equity vision.
  • Testimonials on Integration: Personal accounts, showcased in a public forum (e.g., newsletters, social media), from staff highlighting the effective incorporation of technology in enhancing their departmental functions.

Equitable Resource Utilization

Resource allocation processes reflect a commitment to digital equity, particularly in technology integration and professional learning related to digital competencies. These processes leverage a diverse range of funding sources, including partnerships and grants, to ensure that all students and staff have access to the necessary tools, infrastructure, and training. Evidence of this commitment includes:

  • Digital Equity Budget Allocations: Budget documents showing dedicated funding for technology integration personnel, digital equity initiatives, instructional technology coaches, professional development, and skill information technology (IT) personnel to support schools, families, and staff.
  • AI Professional Development Funding: Budget allocations specifically for AI-related professional development for teachers, staff, and students, ensuring they are trained not only in AI integration but also in maintaining security and privacy standards.
  • Alignment of Expenditures: Expenditure reports indicating that actual spending aligns with budgeted allocations for technology and equity, including coaching and IT support.
  • Equity Impact Reports: Comparison data demonstrating the impact of equitable distribution of technology resources across schools or student groups, including access to and utilization of AI-powered learning tools.
  • Professional Development Investments: Calendars and attendance records related to ongoing digital competency training for staff, including sessions on data privacy, security, and ethical technology use.
  • Coaching System Plan: A comprehensive plan outlining the roles, responsibilities, and deployment of instructional technology coaches to support digital equity efforts.
  • IT Support Strategies: Documentation of strategies and resources allocated to provide skilled IT support to schools, families, and staff.
  • Regular Technology Audits: A plan and schedule for conducting regular technology audits to ensure maximum utilization of features, identify redundancies, and optimize resource allocation for digital equity.

Collaborative Policy Development

Policies with technology implications (including teaching, learning, and human capital teams) are collaboratively developed and data-driven, with a focus on maintaining data privacy and security. The district establishes a clear organizational structure and process for policy development, documentation, and communication, as shown by:

  • Policy Development Framework: A documented framework outlining the roles, responsibilities, and processes for collaborative policy development, including the involvement of diverse partners and members of the school community, data-driven decision-making, and regular policy reviews and adaptations.
  • AI Ethics and Usage Policies: Development and implementation of policies specifically addressing the ethical use of AI in educational settings, including guidelines for data privacy, bias mitigation, and transparency in AI-powered tools.
  • Diverse Partner Involvement: Outreach logs and meeting attendance notes demonstrating a roster of diverse partners and members of the school community, including teachers, learners, and families, involved in technology policy development.
  • Data-Driven Policy Reviews: Logs or summaries of policy revisions that incorporate partner and school community feedback and current educational technology trends.
  • Policy Review and Adaptation: Schedule and process for set cadence to assess and adapt policies to changing landscapes.
  • Policy Communication: Internal and external materials explaining technology policies and their inclusive development process to a wide array of partners and members of the school community.

Inclusive Innovation in Evaluation

Evaluation systems for teachers and staff are collaboratively designed to align with equitable technology use practices, enhancing student learning outcomes through inclusive innovation, demonstrated by:

  • Educator Involvement in Design: Records of educator involvement in the development or refinement of evaluation systems.
  • Technology Integration Criteria: Teacher and staff evaluation rubrics or criteria explicitly addressing innovative, effective, equitable technology use, including adherence to data privacy and security protocols.
  • Alignment with Best Practices: Research citations or references in evaluation system documentation, ensuring alignment with best practices.
  • Impact on Student Learning: Data reports demonstrating the impact of technology-related evaluation criteria on student learning outcomes.

Digital Equity Competencies for K-12 School Systems

The Digital Equity Competencies for K-12 School Systems define what teachers, instructional technology coaches, and administrators (inclusive of district, school, and IT leaders) need to know and be able to do—and the mindsets they need to have—to activate each of the five domains collectively.

Conditions for Cultivating Coherence

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Coach

Leader

Professional Learning and Community Networks

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Coach

Leader

Tech-Enabled Assessment and Data Analysis

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Coach

Leader

Interdependencies Across Domains

The Digital Equity Framework offers a holistic approach to bridging the digital teaching and learning divides. The framework’s emphasis on interdependence across domains ensures that all aspects of digital equity are addressed. Below are examples that highlight some of the interdependencies across multiple domains:

Leadership IconCoherent Systems, Resources, and Policies and…

Leadership for Digital Transformation

Strong leadership is essential for developing and implementing coherent systems, resources, and policies that support digital equity.

Coherent systems, resources, and policies, in turn, provide the necessary foundation for leaders to effectively enact their vision for deep technology integration.

 

Consistent Access to Devices and Connectivity graphic

Consistent Access to Devices and Connectivity

Coherent systems, resources, and policies are necessary to ensure consistent access to devices and connectivity for all stakeholders.

Consistent access to devices and connectivity, in turn, enables the effective implementation and utilization of coherent systems, resources, and policies to support digital equity.

 

Digital Competency graphic

Digital Competency

Coherent systems, resources, and policies can facilitate the development of digital competencies by providing the necessary support, resources, and opportunities for learning and growth.

As stakeholders develop digital competencies, they are better equipped to contribute to the development and implementation of coherent systems, resources, and policies that support digital equity.

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