ERIC ED360992: Strategic Plan for Information Resources Management, FY 1993-97: Improving Education through Automation.

61 Pages·1993·1.1 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
ED 360 992
IR 054 681
TITLE
Strategic Plan for Information Resources Management,
FY 1993-97: Improving Education through
Automation.
INSTITUTION
Texas Education Agency, Austin.
PUB DATE
93
NOTE
65p.
AVAILABLE FROM
Publications Distribution Office, Texas Education
Agency, 1701 North Congress Avenue, Austin, TX
78701-1494 (initial free distribution to authorized
institutions; additional copies $2 each).
PUB TYPE
Vietypoints (Opinion/Position Papers, Essays, etc.)
Reports
Evaluative/Feasibility (142)
(120)
EDRS PRICE
MF01/PC03 Plus Postage.
DESCRIPTORS
Access to Education; Cost Estimates; Decision Making;
Educational Improvement; Educational Objectives;
*Educational Planning; Educational Quality;
Educational Technology; Elementary Secondary
Education; Equal Education; *Information Management;
*Public Education; *Statewide Planning; Strategic
Planning; *Technological Advancement;
*Telecommunications; Training; User Needs
(Information)
IDENTIFIERS
*Texas
ABSTRACT
In support of educational excellence and equity, the
Texas Education Agency views all state public education information
resources and technology as strategic assets of the education
enterprise. This plan is presented in support of the goals of
enhancing instruction through technology, restructuring the data
processing environment for administrative purposes, and developing
end-use decision support capabilities in the client community.
Information resource strategies are detailed in the areas of funding,
developing technology, and implementing its use. Major ongoing
initiatives include: (1) decision support;
(2) operational support;
(3) telecommunications; and (4) technology allotment. Major new
initiatives are planned in the areas of technology support for
instruction and restructured operational support through technology.
Training for technology users is an important aspect of the plan.
Cost estimates are made for implementation through 1997. Thirteen
attachments in the form of figures and charts provide supplemental
information about the strategic plans. (SLD)
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Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.
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,teARTMENT Of EDUCATION
Ott ff of EducaPonat Reseatch and Improvement
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION
CENTER (ERIC!
This document has been reproduced as
rece.ved from :he person or organaaPon
onp.naonp
0 Mmor changes have been made to Improve
reproductfon Quaid},
Romts of vew or op...ohs stated .0 Mrs Oocu
ment do not necessarily represent orfic.al
OEM ppsrPon or policy
STRATEGIC
PLAN
FOR
INFORMATION
RESOURCES
MANAGEMENT
FY 1993-97
IMPROVING EDUCATION
THROUGH AUTOMATION
Texas Education Agency
Austin, Texas
"PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS
MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY
Linda Kemp
PEST COPY AMAMI
TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)."
TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY
AUSTIN* TEXAS
STRATEGIC PLAN for
INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
FY 1993-1997
This publication is not copyrighted; any or all sections may be duplicated.
additional copies may be purchased for $2.00
After an initial free distribution to authorized institutions,
from the Publications Distribution Office.
TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY
1701 N. CONGRESS AVENUE
AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701-1494
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
(State Board for Vocational Education)
CAROLYN HONEA CRAWFORD, Beaumont
Chairman of the State Board of Education
District 7
MARY HELEN BERLANGA, Corpus Christi
WILL D. DAVIS, Austin
Secretary of the State Board of Education
Vice Chairman of the State Board of Education
District 2
District 10
Board Members
GERALDINE MILLER, Dallas
ALMA A. ALLEN, Houston
District 12
District 4
RENE NUNEZ, El Paso
JACK CHRISTIE, Houston
District 1
District 6
ROBERT H. OFFUTT, San Antonio
EMME1T J. CONRAD, Dallas
District 5
District 13
DIANE PATRICK, Arlington
MONTE HASIE, Lubbock
District 11
District 15
MARY KNOTTS PERKINS, Lufkin
WILLIAM L. HUDSON, Wichita Falls
District 8
District 14
ESTEBAN SOSA, San Antonio
PATSY JOHNSON, Sulphur Springs
District 3
District 9
LIONEL R. MENO
Commissioner of Education
(Executive Officer of the State Board of Education)
Committees
of the
State Board of Education
LONG-RANGE PLANNING
PERSONNEL
MARY KNOTTS PERKINS, Chairman
RENE NUNEZ, Chairman
ALMA A. ALLEN
ALMA A. ALLEN
JACK CHRISTIE
JACK CHRISTIE
EMMETT J. CONRAD
EMMETT J. CONRAD
CAROLYN HONEA CRAWFORD
DIANE PATRICK
WILL D. DAVIS
PATSY JOHNSON
DIANE PATRICK
STUDENTS
GERALDINE MILLER, Chairman
MARY HELEN BERLANGA
PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND
PATSY JOHNSON
ESTEBAN SOSA, Chairman
ROBERT H. OFFUTT
MARY HELEN BERLANGA
MARY KNOTTS PERKINS
MONTE HASIE
WILLIAM L. HUDSON
GERALDINE MILLER
SCHOOL
FINANCE
RENE NUNEZ
WILL D. DAVIS, Co-chairman
ROBERT H. OFFUTT
WILLIAM L. HUDSON, Co-chairman
CAROLYN HONEA CRAWFORD
MONTE HASIE
ESTEBAN SOSA
TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY
STRATEGIC PLAN
FOR
INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
FY 1993-1997
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
CHAPTER 1
Overview of Agency Information Resource Goals
1
and Strategies
Major OnGoing Initiatives
2
4
Major New Initiatives
Plan Costs
5
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 2
6
Where We Have Been
6
Where We Are
Reorganization for the Future
6
Impact of Agency Mission, Goals, i.,nd Objectives on .
7
Information Resources Management
8
Where We are Going
9
In Step with the State
PLANNING FACTORS AND ASSUMPTIONS
CHAPTER 3
10
Assumptions
10
Planning Factors
11
Population Demographics
11
School Finance
11
Technological Advancement
11
Paradigm Shift
12
Technology Work Force
IR GOALS, OBJECTIVES, STRATEGIES, AND ACTION ITEMS
CHAPTER 4
13
Background
Agency Strategic Planning and Budget Structure .
13
. .
Table A-1 - Statewide/Agency/IR Strategic Plan Summary.21
23
Table A-2 - Agency Goals, Objectives, and Strategies
.
for Public Education
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RESOURCE OPPORTUNITIES
CHAPTER 5
26
Innovation
26
Re-engineering
26
Staffing
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
CHAPTER 6
Agency's Current Information Resources Environment.27
A.
28
Policies and Practices
B.
Methodology for Information Resources Planning .
30
C.
31
Configuration
D.
32
Telecommunications Infrastructure
E.
32
Interagency Network Participation
F.
33
Database(s)
G.
36
Major Applications
H.
41
ATTACHMENTS
CRAP= 1
ZUCCUTIVII SUDOMIRY
In the past decade, Texas, similar to national trends, has experienced
an ever-wideninc gap between what students learn in school and what they
must know to achieve as adults.
Texas muet attain equity and excellence in student achievement.
This
means that all children attain the same standard outcome.
The Agency is
addressing these obstacles as a top priority for all Texans to obtain
the equitable, efficient, and accountable system of public education
required by the State Constitution. For the 1990's,
the challenge
confronting the Texas Education Agency is tr) close the achievement gaps;
ensure that what students learn in school more closely parallels the
knowledge and skills of the "real world"; and bring about equity and
excellence in student achievement.
In support of excellence and equity, the Agency views all state public
education information resources and technology as strategic assets of
focused on the use
The Agency has
the education enterprise.
of
technology at all levels of the Texas public education system to:
education
Enable
services,
efficient access
to
convenient,
information and databases throughout the education enterprise;
exchange
educational
Facilitate
and
electronic
the
of
administrative information;
operations
education-related
and
management
the
Improve
of
programs; and
Enhance the ability of educators, administrators, and legislators
make program
access information
essential and budget
to
and
decisions based on the most up-to-date enterprise
information
available.
Overview of Agency Information Resource Goals and Strategies:
The Texas Education Agency will facilitate the attainment
Agency Goal:
equity in student achievement for all students in
of excellence
anc,
Texas public schoo's.
Provide appropriate technology and support services
Agency Strategy:
promote
effective
and
the
performance
which
enhance
student and
efficient operation of schools.
Information Resource Goals:
Enhance instruction by incorporating adequate technology into the
methods of classroom instruction.
environment
Restructure processing
increased,
the data
for
effective data gathering by continuing to develop enterprise-wide
systems of automation designed to facilitate the rapid electronic
education
among
exchange
public
levels
information
all
of
of
administrators and staff.
Continue to develop end-use decision support capabilities in the
client community through the implementation of distributed systems
and information resource tools.
1
7
Information Resource Strategies:
integration
Promote the systematic acquisition, implementation and
funds
supplementary
providing
by
technology
instructional
of
five-
through the Technology Allotment for every school district's
year technology plan;
classroom
of
employment
and
acquisition
effective
the
Ensure
instructional technology under the Technology Allotment Program;
selecting,
for
guidelines
and
standards
statewide
Establish
include
to
technology
instructional
installing
and
procuring,
micro density
software evaluation and selection, network design,
ratios, staff development and technology training;
Provide students and educators with convenient access to technology
analysis and
that emulates real world methods of inquiry, research,
communication;
common carrier
Promote the continued delivery and expansion of
bulletin
telecommunication networks to provide electronic mail,
diverse
computer conferencing and access to remote and
boards,
educational materials to all educators and students;
of a dedicated,
Promote the development, delivery and expansion
information
satellite telecommunications system which facilitates
districts via
exchange and proaram delivery among all Texas school
digital communications;
one-way video, two-way audio and broad-band
transfer and
Design and specify a common, rapid system for data
exchange between core databases;
for
procedures
implementation
and
methods
standard
Develop
technology;
channeling output through graphical user-interface
evaluation and
Establish policies that incorporate desktop review,
all
decision making into the daily operations and management of
levels of public education;
Major Ongoing Initiatives:
provides ongoing development
As reflected in previous plans, the Agency
and decision and
and support of a variety of information technologies,
operational support systems which include the following:
Decision Support:
systems and
Flexible access to data stored in the Agency's computer
for analyzing that information
access to the automated tools necessary
To help the state's
systems.
are provided through decision support
compatible and
decision makers, the Agency has installed a technically
access/analysis
and
management
data
of
combination
integrated
capabilities which include relational database management systems, query
and
ad hoc report design and data
analysis,
for
management tools
distributed software tools for multi-platform processing.
databases is the
The key decision support component of the Agency's
PEIMS' focus,
Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS).
enterprise data store, remains
as well as the Agency commitment for an
of the local
the focus for a strategic core of information in support
2
education agencies, State Board of Education, Texas state government,
the Agency, the education service centers, other educational entities
and the federal government.
The Agency has increased the public's ability to utilize and access the
PEIMS database through limited direct access to the mainframe as well as
the development of standard software files, products and tools that are
prepared and delivered to clients who process PEIMS information on a
In addition, the Agency continues to
variety of technical platforms.
analysis
tools
develop
facilitate
platforms
to
for
and
technical
in results
and assistance
decisions concerning student performance,
the Academic
System
Indicator
based monitoring,
Excellence
(AEIS),
trend
modeling,
program
analysis,
and
performance
evaluation,
accountability and accreditation.
Operational Support:
The Agency continues to develop operation support systems to leverage
in the execution of
recurring business
Agency personnel
functions.
Through the
on-line
technology,
relational
database
application
of
client-server
processing
and
capabilities, remote
support
systems
Among the
support continues to
operational
improve.
applications,
ongoing Agency functional processes undergoing automation during this
planning period are teacher certification and appraisal, the Permanent
federal and state
School Fund investment and accounting procedures,
program financial management, human resource development, Agency budget
and accounting and child nutrition.
Telecommunications:
Access to statewide telecommunications networks has rapidly emerged as
The Agency
one of the most critical strategic resource requirements.
has continued to define and implement portions of a statewide network
Components of the
which will continue through this planning cycle.
following
with
strategy
continue
the
telecommunications
Agency's
continues
be
Education
to
Texas
Network,
projects: The
(TENET),
implemented throughout the districts of the state to provide electronic
mall services, bulletin boards, teleconferencing, access to educational
computer archives and instructional hypermedia libraries. TENET is also
the backbone data
increasing number
carrier
of
for
serving
an
as
The Texas
administrative applications such as teacher certification.
School Telecommunications Access Resource (T-STAR) continues its process
of implementation to expand telecommunications, via satellite, to link
the Agency, school districts, and the ESCs for the purposes of distance
assistance
technical and
in-service,
teacher
education,
teleconferencing.
telecommunications
Agency's
the
improvement
An
additional
in
capabilities is currently in progress with the continued expansion of
the internal local area network (IBM Token Ring), and the replacement of
facilitate
system with
to
Novell
operating
network
obsolete
the
increased internal capabilities and the development of client-server
applications.
Technology Allotment:
During the 1992-93 school year, the Agency reviewed and approved school
district technology plans to facilitate the funding of technology for
This program will continue to
students, teachers and administrators.
expand to provide the introduction and utilization of
instructional
classroom and
student
improve
to
levels
campus
the
technology
at
3
Appropriations for the technology fund were $30.00 per
performance.
funded
student during fiscal year 1993, with $27.00 per student actually
The funa will increase in $5.00
for the fiscal year after proration.
$50.00 per
increments per student until 1996, when the fund will provide
student for that and every year thereafter.
Major Mew Initiatives:
Technology Support for Instruction:
technology
Enhance instruction by incorporating adequate instructional
into the methods of classroom instruction.
Direct Instructional Support - Provide equitable access and
appropriate
exposure to the use of instructional technology in
subject areas for all students.
implementation
Promote the systematic acquisition,
by
technology
instructional
of
integration
and
providing supplementary funds through the Technology
five-year
district's
every
school
for
Allotment
technology plan.
and
evaluate
Identify,
Support
Instructional
-
Indirect
use
by
classroom
tools
for
software
generic
promote
development,
curriculum
aide
providers
in
as
instruction
classroom management, lesson preparation, and as basic data
providers to PEIMS.
Restructured Operational Support:
data
Restructure the information technology environment for efficient
of
gathering and record keeping by installing an enterprise-wide system
automation designed to facilitate the electronic exchange of statistical
and
information among all levels of public education administration
staff.
and
Design
Capture
Source Only
Data
-
Distributed
Fully
capture,
source-level
implement a standard methodology for
data
essential
of
entry
electronic
automatic
and
edit
concerning the daily operations of public education.
Assure that source data capture is supported by a
input system which eliminates
simple, easy-to-use,
paperwork, assures data validation, establishes an
audit trail, and provides information security and
protection for al:. data.
premise
Data Integration and Structured Storage - Based on the
that the campus, district office, education service center,
and
collecting
for
levels
major
the Agency
the
are
and
each
data
for
essential
the
define
maintaining
data,
relational
standard
recommend
and
level
organizational
structures for storing and maintaining this data.
Establish criteria which define essential operation
for
data and the desired structural connectivity
each organizational level.
4
0