Rural School Leaps District to Online Assessments

Fannett-Metal School District

Challenge

Fannett-Metal School District (FMSD) is a very small district with very big challenges. The district is located in a rural area with limited resources. Its already stretched budgets add to the challenge of raising student assessment performance. In 2013 the district leadership, with full support of district teachers and students, took an aggressive step to improve student academic achievement by marrying online assessments with new instructional practices.

The Rest of the Story

Behind-the-scenes is a story of district leadership and teachers joining with internal and outsourced technology experts to permanently change FMSD academic achievement performance. This dedicated team is using classroom diagnostic test data to advance student achievement, and after-hours time to build and pilot more engaging digital curricula.

About Fannett-Metal School District

Current Enrollment: 530 students, 35-38% on free or reduced lunch

Download the full story

Action

After a device inventory identified 100 units over 10 years old, the district consulted students on preferred replacement devices. Beyond device and wireless upgrades FMSD is moving forward with the formal installation of new help desk and device tracking procedures. Very importantly the district is now moving all grade levels towards online assessments.

Results

Students are noticing that technology, instructional and administrative staffs are pulling together, giving of their own time, stretching budgets and beginning the technology and culture changes needed to permanently impact student achievement. FMSD looks ahead to a future 1-to-1 initiative as a goal, so students can continue digital learning at home. Also on the horizon, the district hopes to leverage the installation of a KINBER funded high-speed network.