Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
Q&A
Transition to online testing and funding for school technology devices
6:33:09
ยท
124 sec
Emma Vadehra, Deputy Chancellor for Operations and Finance, discusses the DOE's progress in transitioning to online testing and the challenges of funding technology devices for schools. The conversation covers the timeline for implementation and the shift in funding responsibilities.
- Grades 5 and 8, along with SAT and PSAT, have already transitioned to online testing
- Grades 4 and 6 are shifting this year, with the transition completing next year
- Central funding for devices has expired, shifting responsibility to individual school budgets
- DOE is implementing a new process to assess school-level device needs and potential support requirements
Rita Joseph
6:33:09
You noticed that wasn't, I
Emma Vadehra
6:33:10
did.
6:33:11
Did notice that very much.
6:33:12
And so I would say this.
6:33:13
So that was grades five and eight, and that was about 250,000 tests.
6:33:18
This year, four and six are shifting, and then next year we're finishing that off.
6:33:22
So that is going smoothly to date.
6:33:24
And of course, PSAT and SAT have as well.
6:33:28
Going into that process and more broadly, we have various ways that DIIT and DSL work with our schools together to make sure we are prepared.
6:33:36
We do have a central inventory of data, but schools are doing the school by school inventory of what's working and what isn't and ensuring they're ready both for testing days and for the possibility of remote transition days.
6:33:48
When Shaquille was saying we handed this over, we're still tracking.
6:33:51
We still have data.
6:33:52
But one of the challenges is we no longer have central funding for devices anymore.
6:33:57
So while we had COVID relief money that was put towards devices, that money has expired.
6:34:04
There is not money or it's spent, not expired.
6:34:07
There's not money in the capital plan.
6:34:09
So in terms of as schools need to get more devices, that's something that's now happening through the school budget process.
6:34:16
We ensure they have contracts available.
6:34:18
We support them.
6:34:19
They're good contracts, but schools are the ones doing that side of it now.
Rita Joseph
6:34:23
Is the funding who's providing the funding for them for that to happen?
6:34:27
Is that already in SAMS or in NetGalaxy?
6:34:29
How is that happening?
Emma Vadehra
6:34:30
That funding is generally coming from school budgets and will continue to going forward.
6:34:36
We're setting up a new process this year actually as a part of the school budget process itself to say to schools, what does your inventory look like?
6:34:44
What do you think you need for next year?
6:34:46
Do you have it?
6:34:47
Is that something you can support?
6:34:48
And I think that school by school process will help us see how much greater
Rita Joseph
6:34:51
that needs.
6:34:51
And if they can't support us a smaller school, the school budget is smaller, is that where you come in and support?
Emma Vadehra
6:34:58
It is certainly something we will be looking at as we get this data coming in this year as we transition this over, yes, and whether it's appeals or something else like that.
Rita Joseph
6:35:05
And have you been doing test runs for a potential remote day, a potential have you been testing the system?
Intekhab Shakil
6:35:13
Yes.