Brownwood ISD has been awarded the TEA Connections Grant, a new $850,000 grant for technology initiatives that will improve student academic achievement. The grant will provide funding for equipment, teacher training and parental involvement. In addition, BISD will be designated as a Technology Demonstration Site to model technology integration and student learning for other districts and state lawmakers to see.
The Connections Grant is designed to ensure that every student is technology literate by the time he/she finishes 8th grade. The funds are targeted for use in grades 4-12. Included in the district’s plan will be purchasing Mac laptop computers for 7th graders, hopefully to be in students’ hands by
Christmas break. (8th graders received their laptops the first week of school.) Also included are 100 iPads for classroom use, V-clickers for grades 4-6, 150 more laptops and 6 more laptop carts for grades 4-6, five sets of flip cameras, digital curriculum, software, a project manager, and extensive professional development for instructors.
The traditional school model is being revolutionized by technology, as has every area of business and life. Text books are becoming a thing of the past, as publishers began providing digital text books in place of bound versions, beginning in 2009.
“We have to have technology already in place in order for us to be ready for the future,” said Dr. Blincoe, BISD Superintendent.
This is the third technology grant that BISD has received in 3 years. In 2008, they received $500,000 in the 20/20 Grant, and in 2009 they received $300,000 of the $1 million dollar T-3 Collaborative Grant. The 2010 Connections Grant is $850,000 entirely for BISD.