A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n

Challenge Grants for Techonology In Education - FY95

Socorro Independent School District

El Paso, Texas

A Community of 21st Century Learners for El Paso

"A Community of 21st Century Learners for El Paso" is an ambitious program using technology to rejuvenate the schools in El Paso, Texas. The program goals are to produce within five years: 1) Ten restructured partner schools and a teacher preparation institution, fully connected to the Internet and its resources; 2) 120 teachers who integrate acquired technologies and national standards into the curriculum, and who serve as teacher trainers at 70 other schools; 3) 10,000 students from impoverished neighborhoods who bridge the academic performance gap in state and national standardized tests; 4) 1,000 Hispanic parents utilizing laptop computers in a program to provide technology knowledge and skills; 5) 100 business partners serving as mentors for 200 disadvantaged elementary and high school students; and 6) A "Community of Learners" development change model with emphasis on access to technology to be exported to the 55 schools that are members of the "El Paso Collaborative for Academic Excellence." The program has a strong School to Work component, integrates objectives of the Goals 2000 Act, and ensures ongoing professional development of teachers, administrators and university faculty. There are five major components of the program:

1) Connectivity

Through this grant, the consortium provides computer network connections in 110 classrooms in 10 partner schools. These connections are supported by appropriate software and hardware which includes CD-ROM capability, scanners, color printers, LCD projection panels, video cameras, VCRs, Newton notebook computers, and QuickTake cameras. Additional laptop computers are borrowed by low-income parents for use at home. Technical support is provided by two educational technology experts employed as non-tenure faculty.

2) Staff Development

The program provides resources for 120 teachers to obtain university certification in either of two programs: the Texas Technology Endorsement, or the Instructional Specialist Master's Degree program with emphasis on educational technology and curriculum integration. Each participant will train at least three other teachers in the effective use of educational technologies to improve academic achievement. Funding from this grant will enable the University of Texas at El Paso to provide a course of study uniquely structured for the needs of the participants.

3) Technology Access for Low Income Parents

Each participating school is developing a Parent Center designed to provide parents with training opportunities in English speaking skills, parenting skills, computer use, and instructional support skills. Families may borrow computers for extended periods of time in order to stimulate student achievement, promote parent awareness of the education process, enhance job potential for parents, and involve parents in school activities.

4) E-Mail Business Mentors

The consortium has organized a "Community and Business Liaison" project that is developing a business mentor program at each participating school. Each school is assigned 10 mentors from local businesses, and each mentor is assigned two students. Mentors will demonstrate the many uses of electronic communications, and will maintain E-mail contact with students throughout the year, providing assistance with school work, and serving as a role-model example of the value of a good education.

5) Sustainability

At the end of five years, all participating schools will have established an advanced level of network connectivity that will remain useful long after the project has ended. The program's post-graduate instruction opportunities will continue to be available at the University of Texas El Paso, and university faculty will continue the integration of technology and standards into their course curricula. Parent development activities will continue, including the role of parents as trainers of teachers for home visits. The El Paso Collaborative for Academic Excellence will disseminate information about the program.

The project provides for a detailed assessment of participants' performance within the university training programs, teacher performance in the school faculty development programs, and student achievement within the core curricula. Student performance is measured against national content standard guidelines for the arts, civics and government, English, foreign languages, geography, history, math and science. The project also provides for evaluations of parent participation and business mentoring support.

The El Paso Challenge Grant consortium is part of a city-wide collaborative for academic excellence, taking advantage of school, home, government and business resources. The program promotes a major systemic reform agenda for education in the El Paso region.

Consortium Partners

El Paso Chamber of Commerce
El Paso Collaborative for Academic Excellence
El Paso Community College
El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
El Paso Independent School District
El Paso Interreligious Sponsoring Organization
Region XIX Education Service Center
University of Texas at El Paso
Ysleta Independent School District

PROJECT DIRECTOR:: Ben DeBellis
Director of Elementary Education
Institution:: Socorro ISD
12300 Eastlake Drive
El Paso, TX 79927
Telephone:: 915-860-3438
Fax:: 915-858-1520

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[Black Hills Special Services Cooperative]

[Southeast Education Service Center]