All students and teachers will have increased access to technology. All K-12 teachers will have a minimum of one current multimedia computer per classroom. A minimum standard will be determined annually with substandard units being culled and replaced with current technology. Currently the district has a big discrepancy in access to equipment, staff development, and teacher resources in the K-5 buildings. The largest of the K-5 buildings, South School has significant immediate needs. This Technology Plan addresses the inequity across the district in the first year of the plan.

The Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) brought one-to-one computing to grades seven and eight . The project provides an authentic "laboratory" setting for experiencing the enormous impact technology can have on teaching and learning. Using this laboratory, staff development will be designed and provided, best practices documented and staff encouraged to utilize these tools effectively. What we learn will drive technology integration to the K-6 and 9-12 staff/students.

Also during the next several years, MSAD #5 plans to take steps to increase the opportunity for entire classes to have a one-to-one computer-to-student technology experience. Many times the logistics of using a fixed lab present a problem in integrating technology in various curriculum area classrooms. Through a combination of fixed labs and mobile carts of computers, MSAD #5 hopes to provide the mechanism for K-6 classroom teachers to have this one-to-one technology experience when they need it. The technology plan will allow for a mobile cart to be shared with 4th and 5th grade teachers for the 06-07 school year. In grades 6 and at the High School we have seen the use increase to the point now that teachers are negotiating amongst themselves to make sure they have the carts available during especially critical periods or projects. The plan to move the high school to student centered one to one computing needs to be completed. Due to the multi-grade grouping at the high school, gradual implentation of this plan is not feasible. Therefore, year 2 of this plan seeks to address this issue.

Students with Special Needs:
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, a federal law passed in 1975 and re-authorized in1990, mandates that all children receive a free, appropriate public education regardless of the level or severity of their disability. It provides funds to assist states in the education of students with disabilities and requires that states make sure that these students receive an individualized education program based on their unique needs in the least restrictive environment possible. P.L. 94-142 also provides guidelines for determining what related services are necessary and outlines a “due process” procedure to make sure these needs are adequately met. In order to address the needs of these identified students, SELPA will evaluate and suggest software and hardware to help meet each child's unique needs.

This district, through the PET process and Chapter 504 meetings, keeps up to date with assistive technology access and use of technology in the following ways:
1. Programs through the Talking Books Program at the Maine State Library which lends tape players and recorded books for students both at home and the school setting.
2. The National Library Service for the Blind and Dyslexic is a service which provides texts and other recorded materials for students.
3. Within the PET process, students with disabilities, when cited in their IEPs, are provided with Alpha Smart word processors for in-class writing work.
4. Students with disabilities are also provided software, e.g. talking and word predicting word processing programs, which assist them with their written work.
5. Talking and visually oriented CDs which contain subject matter are available to students whose disabilities warrant it.
The district accesses the services of CITE to make the necessary adaptations to computers (switches and interfaces) to make them accessible for students who are physically disabled.
6. RDHS has a free subscripption to closed-captioned videos.

The following steps will ensure that teachers are prepared to integrate technology effectively into curricula and instruction.