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![[STLP - Student Technology Leadership
Program]](/am/images/publications/LL/27/2/10h/stlp.gif)
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Background
on STLP
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Why STLP?
After
the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KRS 156.670) was
launched in
1990, teachers throughout the state were expected to
change the
way they teach. How best could the department of education
help
schools and teachers make those changes? One solution was
through
the use of technology. Kentucky created a structure that
not only
allowed students and teachers access to new technology,
but also
addressed equity of access: the Kentucky Education
Technology System
(KETS). KETS allows school districts to match funds to
purchase
technology so all students can access the Internet and use
e-mail
and educational software. Kentucky set standards for
hardware and
bid prices that allowed more buying power for the entire
state.
The state was divided into regions, each with a service
center and
a technology coordinator. Each district and school also
appointed
district and school technology coordinators. Was this
enough? No.
What
could help these coordinators, schools, community members,
and teachers
deal with KETS hardware while preparing students for the
technological
future? The Student Technology Leadership Program (STLP),
of course.
Who Created
STLP?
The
people who first created the STLP in 1993 became the STLP
State
Advisory Council. Members included educators, students,
and community
members. The council created the mission statement and the
six goals
and then decided how the program would begin. The Kentucky
Department
of Education gave grants ($1,000 per year) to the initial
STLP schools
for the 1994–95 and 1995–96 school years.The
schools used
the grants to purchase hardware and software for classroom
instruction
or supplemental items such as printer ribbons, t-shirts,
and certificates.
How Many
STLP’s
Are There?
As of
1999, 540 schools have state-recognized STLPs (out of 1,371 total
schools in
Kentucky); that means 39% of the schools in Kentucky believe in the
program.
We believe that the increased numbers today tell us the program is
moving forward.
The regional and district technology coordinators are a force behind
how the
district addresses STLP. Out of 176 school districts, 146 (83%) have
at least
one STLP.
Back
to “Student Technology Leadership Program”
Copyright © 1999, ISTE (International Society for Technology
in Education).
All rights reserved.
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