Learning Technology Grant Program Overview: Olean CSD
Award Years: 2018-2021
In order to meet the unique needs of students in an increasingly technology driven society, the Olean City School District is proposing to create a system of web-based Personalized Learning Plans (PLPs) for at-risk students. These PLPs will motivate students to set challenging goals for themselves and take ownership of their individual learning.
Target Population:
This proposal will serve 885 students who are enrolled in one of three support programs at the district, and 40 teachers of those students. These students are considered ‘at-risk’ and are enrolled in one of three key support programs: Special Education, Title 1, and the Liberty Partnerships Program. These support programs provide more time for individualized support, however a better framework is needed to ensure that teachers and students understand and can access the wide variety of technology-based supports.
Description of the District:
Olean City School District is located in Western New York about 75 miles south of Buffalo. It is the largest city in Cattaraugus County, but is still considered a small city, with a population of approximately 15,000 people. The student enrollment at the district is 2,250 students. The district has four school buildings: East View Elementary, Washington West Elementary, Olean Intermediate Middle School, and Olean High School. The district is classified by 鶹 as a “High Needs to Resource Capacity District” among urban-suburban districts. This means that the district has very limited fiscal resources to support students’ diverse learning needs. In 2016, the median household income was $40,707[1], as compared to $55,322 statewide. The district has high needs as evidenced by eligibility for bonus points as part of this grant proposal. The rate of students with disabilities is 16%, and the rate of economically disadvantaged students is 63%.
Description of the Program:
OCSD is proposing to use technology to implement a comprehensive program of Personalized Learning Plans (PLPs) for individual students who are ‘at-risk’ in grades K-12 across four school buildings. The district has implemented 1:1 devices for all students, and is committed to developing a systematic model that enhances technology-based learning using these devices. OCSD intends to shift the school’s instructional focus to be more student-driven using technology as an integrated and essential tool.
The primary goals of this proposal are as follows:
- Increase district capacity to implement Personalized Learning Plans using educational technology.
- Increase teacher competency in the areas of Technology and Personal Learning Plans.
- Improve student achievement and engagement by implementing web-based Personalized Learning Plans for at-risk students.
- Serve as a model to other schools (locally, regionally, and statewide) who may be interested in implementing PLPs.
The district will implement a three-phase program to achieve these goals, with one phase completed each year. The first year will include a comprehensive needs assessment, creation of the PLP template and supports, and initial teacher training. The second year will be an initial rollout to at-risk students and their teachers in grades 4-7. The third phase will expand the program to all at-risk students in grades K-12 and their teachers.
[1] U.S. Census Bureau. (2016). American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates 2012-2016. Retrieved from American FactFinder.
Contact Information
- Jennifer Mahar,jmahar3@olean.wnyric.org