Analysis of the Long Range Plan

The Texas Long Range Plan for Technology, 2006 - 2020 is a comprehensive plan designed to integrate technology into the classroom not just to enhance the educational experience of students, but to prepare them to lead in the 21st century. The recommendations of the plan are thorough and complete. The vision provides students, teachers, administrators and districts the guidelines to implement a plan that will enhance the learning of all students and prepare them to become leaders in a global digital marketplace. The plan recognizes that students today are not the students of even yesterday. Most students are more technologically savvy than their educators. Students use technology to communicate and access resources in every part of their lives. It is imperative that this technology become an integral part of classroom instruction. It is no longer sufficient to have a student workstation available for occasional use. The curriculum must seamlessly integrate technology into the everyday curriculum. Technology must be used for personal productivity, information, data analysis, community and public relations, professional development and leading our educational system into the 21st century. The long range plan for Texas outlines every aspect of this technological integration and provides directives for every individual needed to successfully implement this plan.
As a classroom educator, I find the plan to be impressive. But the reality is that is currently just words on paper from my viewpoint. I teach in Texas City, Texas. Texas City is a community of blue collar workers with a majority minority population. Most of the students in my school come from economically disadvantaged households and are classified as at risk students. Many of my students do not have access to technology in their homes and the access at school is extremely limited. As a Science teacher, I would love to integrate technology into my curriculum. I currently have one student work station in my classroom with no internet access. The computer lab is only available to the Math department. My computer at my desk is old, slow and outdated. The Texas Long Range Plan for Technology is a worthy goal. I am willing and ready. My students are willing and ready. My question is "where is the money to implement it?"