Schools' tech grade so-so

Utah schools were graded Thursday as average for technology in schools, but state leaders say with a hefty appropriation from the Legislature earmarked for putting more computers in schools, that grade should be improving.

And some officials say a portion of the report is erroneous, and had it been correct, the state would be ranked higher.

"Utah's public school teachers and students are making great use of technology in classrooms all over the state every day," said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Patti Harrington. "When we combine our existing practices with the sorely needed technology funding the Legislature provided us for next year, we're sure our score will rise in 2008."

Education Week Thursday released its annual Technology Counts report, awarding Utah an overall grade of C and placing the state exactly in the middle of all 50 states for the use and availability of technology in its public school classrooms.

The average state grade was C+.

Mark Peterson, spokesman for the State Office of Education, said the state's high marks in use of technology stem from things like the availability of the Electronic High School, which has the largest enrollment in the nation, online testing practices and state technology standards for students.

Only Utah and three other states — Arizona, Georgia and North Carolina — had perfect marks in the use of technology category, which includes state standards for technology, testing students on technology, operating a virtual school and offering computer-based assessments.

Utah earned one F grade, however, because the state has no specific written standards for teacher licenses and renewals that would require teacher candidates to take technology courses.

Ray Timothy, associate superintendent for the State Office of Education, said that is an error, since every teacher preparation program in the state requires candidates take technology courses.

"I believe they are getting inaccurate information in that area," Timothy said. "Perhaps it is not written in policy, but approved teacher preparation programs require technology objectives in the programs."

But he said Utah's D+ in access is pretty accurate and can be pinned on the lack of computers in regular classrooms instead of just computer labs.