The infusion of networked instructional technology in Missouri classrooms is continuing. Almost all our schools and more than 80 percent of our classrooms are "wired." As illustrated below the number of students per Internet connected computer continued to decline between 1999 and 2000.

Yet, overall in the state, additional networked computers are required to achieve instructionally significant levels of connectivity in our classrooms. Also, additional professional development among our Missouri teachers is necessary. Like knowledge workers everywhere, teachers need to learn how networked computers and other instructional technologies work. They also need to learn the new teaching strategies that, together with the technology, can create powerful learning environments for our children.

This Missouri "Census of Technology" is designed to assess our continuing investment in K-12 instructional technology and to help guide the efforts ahead. The 2000 Census of Technology shows that Missouri has come a long way in providing schools with new technology. More classrooms are wired, more schools are connected and student-to-computer ratios have declined.

There has also been dramatic change in who is involved in making decisions about the acquisition of instructional technology. In 1998 only 28% of superintendents and 11% of principals were involved. In 2000, 93% of superintendents and 90% of principals were involved. Moreover, administrative officers such as MIS directors and finance directors are much less involved and teachers, parents, technology teams and instructional technology directors are much more involved. This shift may represent an encouraging focus on the instructional, rather than merely the technological, dimensions of instructional technology.

• Over 97% of Missouri schools report connections to the Internet - up from 95% in 1999.
• Student to Internet-connected computer ratio is currently 6.6 to 1 - down from 8.6 to 1 in 1999, 14 to 1 in 1998, and 24 to 1 in 1997. This is a 72% reduction between 1997 and 2000.

Although the amount of technology available to Missouri's students has grown dramatically, there remains much to do. The evidence is that the impact of technology on student performance is most effective when there is:

• A student to computer ratio of 5 to 1 or less within the classroom
• A change in the way teaching is conducted using technology
• A teacher workstation for every classroom
• Professional development for teachers
• High-speed Internet connectivity

The section below provides a statewide summary of results by district and by building for key indicators regarding technology planning, training, hardware and Internet connectivity. It is followed by a review of the census methodology.

Detailed responses for the district and building census forms are provided in Appendix A and B.

Appendix C is a detailed review data processing procedures used for the on-line data collection forms.

Revised 19Sep00