South Brooklyn and Staten Island

OET is a branch of the NYC DOE whose primary function is to provide schools with ongoing professional and technical support in South Brooklyn and Staten Island. Our mission is to ensure that all students have access to a 21st century education that includes the use of appropriate tools of technology. In order to achieve this goal, our office engages schools in professional development strategies that support educators and supervisors in best practices for successfully integrating technology into classroom instruction and how these tools can best enhance school administration. Our office has successfully applied for three rounds of Title IID funding to offer these services to high-need public schools in our geographic area along with partnering non-public schools.

NCLB, Reform, and Technology

The reauthorization of ESEA represents a clear commitment to transforming the Federal role in education so that “No Child is Left Behind.” At the heart of this effort is a commitment to focus on students, equip teachers, empower parents, and inform decision makers to ensure every child receives a quality education. The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 advances this commitment by providing a number of exciting reforms, tools and programs, many of which are reliant on the appropriate and effective use of technology. In a target effort to improve student achievement through the use of technology, an new educational technology program, namely, Enhancing Education Through Technology is outlined in Title II D of NCLB.

Besides EETT Educational Technology Program, technology has been recognized in the NCLB Legislature as a powerful tool to connect the dots and enhance teaching and learning capacities in various ways in different program areas:

Focus on Student Academic Achievement: NCLB has placed an unmistaken focus student academic achievement and translated that priority throughout various education programs and initiatives. The Ed Tech Program (EETT) is designed to improve student academic achievement through expanded learning opportunities, innovative teaching and learning environment, effective teaching and learning process as a result of integrative use of technology by teachers and students.

Integrative Approach to Education Programs: Besides targeted funding for technology, many of the education programs, such as Reading First, Teacher Quality Assurance, etc., allow recipients to acquire and integrate technology resources to accomplish various program’s goals and objectives.

Emphasis on Professional development: A range of programs offer funds for professional development to ensure teachers understand how to integrate appropriate technology tools effectively with their curriculum and into their classroom teaching and learning. Encouragement of partnership between K-12 and higher education communities will bridge the gap in teacher preparation between in-service and pre-service boundaries. Additional resources are made available for teacher preparation initiatives.

Evidenced Based Education: Throughout the No Child Left Behind Act is a commitment to funding strategies that have been proven to work based on research-based models and promising practices. A commitment to researching what works along with measuring the impact technology has on instruction and learning is evidenced by the focus placed on state evaluations along with a national multi-year study intending to explore the conditions needed for effective use of technology.