Corrected: The information provided by Arizona state officials was incorrect as of press time. The online version of this page has been updated with the correct information.
State schools Superintendent Tom Horne introduced a new program to improve data-driven instruction in Arizona during his 2005 State of Education speech in January.
Integrated Data for Improving Arizona’s Learning, also known as IDEAL, will be “a single location on the Internet for all Arizona stakeholders to access an information system of educational data, resources, and services to increase student learning,” says Cathy J. Poplin, the acting director of instructional technology for the state depart-ment of education, and should be fully completed in two to three years.
So far, IDEAL contains online practice tests and preparatory courses for the state’s standardized assessments. It will eventually provide other educational resources, including Advanced Placement courses and online reporting of school improvement plans. Users of the IDEAL Web site will also have access to Arizona School Services Through Educational Technology, or ASSET, an online portal that provides profes-sional-development tools for K-12 educators.
In addition, a warehouse of integrated data, combining student demographic and enrollment information with achievement data, will be put together on the IDEAL site over the next year. Special security features will allow only teachers and administra-tors to access pages containing student records.
Meanwhile, state officials this school year started rewriting the 2002 Arizona Educational Technology Plan. The revised plan, which officials expect to complete by July 2006, will align with the third National Educational Technology Plan, released in January 2005.
