Interim Evaluation Report of NH Schools Federally Funded Technology Projects

School districts throughout the state are participating in the US Department of Education Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) program, which strives to improve student achievement through the use of technology in elementary and secondary schools.

EETT program evaluators at Hezel Associates began activities in Spring 2010 to examine the impact on teachers and students. The study compares changes in instructional practice between teachers who received the new technologies and those who did not. While a final evaluation report will be released in Fall 2011, the interim report reveals promising signs of change.

At the end of the 2009-10 school year, teachers who received the new technology reported an increased frequency of technology use and increased diversity of instructional use when compared to the beginning of the school year. Teachers who received technology reported an increase in their technological abilities, while those teachers who did not receive the technology reported no change from the beginning to end of school year. The positive impact on teachers is expected to also have a positive impact on students. As teachers become more tech-savvy, they will challenge their students to use higher-level thinking skills by engaging them in interactive learning activities.

Through both EETT regular and ARRA grant funds, the New Hampshire Department of Education targeted grants to three technology-focused initiatives beginning in Fall 2009.

The Tech Leader Cohort (TLC) Program provided funding to offer high-quality professional development to school administrators and teachers. A total of 54 school teams from 33 districts participated. Each school team, consisting of two teacher leaders and one supporting principal per school, explored resources and approaches for creating 21st century learning environments that combined face to face learning with online learning.

Classroom Technology Mini-grants were distributed to 35 districts in order to create “exemplary projects” that use technology in core content areas and could be easily shared and replicated. The core content areas include: The Arts, English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and/or World Languages, and all projects must also address ICT literacy skills. Projects were to be carried out by teams of 2-4 educators from each school, and use project/problem-based learning with a constructivist approach.

ARRA 21st Century Classroom Initiative grants provided funding to 19 districts across the state to purchase and implement new technologies to create 21st century K-12 classrooms.

The following New Hampshire School Districts received funding:

Tech Leader Cohort (TLC) Program:

• Capital Area Center for Educational Support (CACES), sponsored by Merrimack Valley School District
• North Country Education Services Professional Development Center (NCESPDC), sponsored by Milan School District
• Seacoast Professional Development Center (SPDC), sponsored by Exeter Regional Cooperative School District
• Southwestern NH Educational Support Center (SWNHESC), sponsored by Keene School District

Classroom Technology Mini-Grants Initiative:

• Alton School District
• Amherst School District
• Ashland School District
• Barrington School District
• Bartlett School District
• Chester School District
• Concord School District
• Derry School District
• Dover School District
• Epping School District
• Fall Mountain School District
• Farmington School District
• Hampstead School District
• Interlakes School District
• Jaffrey Rindge School District
• Keene School District
• Laconia School District
• Lebanon School District
• Litchfield School District
• Littleton School District
• Merrimack Valley School District
• Milan School District
• Northumberland School District
• Oyster River School District
• Pittsfield School District
• Portsmouth School District
• Profile School District
• Prospect Mountain School District
• Raymond School District
• Rollinsford School District
• Shaker Regional School District
• Somersworth School District
• White Mountain Regional School District
• Winnacunnet School District
• Winnisquam School District

ARRA 21st Century Classroom Initiative:

• Alton School District
• Bartlett School District
• Chester School District
• Claremont & Unity School Districts
• Laconia School District
• Lafayette Regional School District
• Manchester School District
• Milton School District
• Nashua School District
• Northumberland School District
• Oyster River School District
• Pembroke Collaborative SAU 53 (includes Allenstown School District, Deerfield School District, Epsom School District, and Pembroke School District)
• Pittsfield School District
• Portsmouth SAU 52
• Profile School District
• Raymond School District
• Somersworth School District
• Timberlane Regional School District
• White Mountain Regional School District

A complete copy of the Statewide Evaluation of the New Hampshire ESEA Title II, Part D Grant Program: An Interim Report can be found at www.nheon.org.