The Tech Committee wants all MCPS families to be aware of several of our key projects, aligned with MCCPTA’s advocacy priorities, all of which would greatly benefit from your engagement in the next month! For ease of reference, below is a summary of these key projects.
Review the Draft Artificial Intelligence Resolution
Our draft resolution on AI in schools is now open for review and comment by all PTA members. At the next Delegates Assembly on January 27, delegates and presidents from each local PTA will be able to vote on the resolution as well as any suggested amendments. If the resolution passes, it will be adopted as the MCCPTA’s position. Note that the timing of the resolution aligns with the closure of the comment period for MCPS’s revised technology policy.
- MCCPTA Draft AI Resolution
- Tech Committee Resources on AI and Education
- Digital Education Resources (from a PTA partner at Howard County Public Schools)
Take the Chromebook Survey
Responses continue to stream in for the survey we launched on November 20 seeking families’ feedback on the use of school Chromebooks. We are now just shy of 700 responses! Top responding schools for each level: Wyngate Elementary (26), Tilden Middle (96), and Poolesville High (36).
Phones & Personal Mobile Devices in Schools
The Tech Committee has also been partnering with Distraction Free Schools Policy Project, a nationwide coalition of groups that have drafted model legislation for phone-free schools, social media free schools, and safe technology in schools for states to adopt, based on the best studies on phones in schools, including Angela Duckworth’s Phones in Focus study that was endorsed at the National Governor’s Association and in partnership with the Maryland State Dept of Ed. Although Maryland educators were #2 in volume of responses, Maryland is also one of the only states without any phones-in-schools legislation, earning an “F” grade. If you support schools free of the distraction of addictive personal mobile devices throughout Maryland, you can sign the Community of Letter of Support below, which is being shared with state legislators.
- Distraction Free Schools MD Community Letter of Support
- Duckworth’s Phones in Focus Survey (5-minute survey open to any K-12 educator)
Questions? Email technology@mccpta.org