4.+Interview

I was unable to interview an actual person in regards to technology in the Florida Classroom. However, upon looking up some information on my own, I found out information about many of the Florida school districts.

In Polk County , a grant was received to help bring more technology into the classrooms. The purpose of the program is to increase access to learning and academic achievement for many of our exceptional student education (ESE) students through the use of communication devices and assistive technology (www.polk-fl.net). The program will serve primarily ESE students, pre-school through age twenty-two, from throughout the Polk County school district. A county-wide as well as six school-based assessment teams will receive Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) evaluation kits for use during evaluations with their students. The county wide Local Augmentative and Assistive Technology Team (LAT) evaluates seventy to one hundred new students each year. Additionally, they continue to follow previously identified students to determine if their supports are still appropriate.

Osceola County  had many goals for the 2009/2010 school year. Some of which had to do with ESE students such as raising the number of students in the inclusion program by 5% and increase the proficiency level of ESE students in reading, math, science, and writing by two percent as measured by the FCAT. Only time will tell if Osceola County was able to achieve their goals after this school year.

Orange County has a similar Strategic Plan that set goals to limit unnecessary referrals to the ESE program, make sure all students are in an inclusive setting, and assure that all students with disabilities show progress and improvement in their academic achievement. Among many other goals.

These few sites show that a major goal in Florida County schools, and most likely schools all across the country, is to make sure that Assistive technology is available and accessible for students with special needs. To make sure that students are not being incorrectly identified. And to make sure that schools, teachers, and students have the resources and funding they need to ensure that all students get what they need in order to learn effectively.