Forsyth County Schools Technology: An Introduction

The Forsyth County School system takes great pride in being on the cutting edge of educational technology. Forsyth County’s vision for technology use states
“Forsyth County Schools will maximize technology to positively impact student achievement and system level initiatives. Technology will be utilized by students and adults to produce quality work and to create an environment where there is excellence in student academic performance and where adults support the understanding that all work is related to creating a school district that is safe, caring and responsive to stakeholder needs. The school district will display a belief that technology is imperative to the work of students and adults and will provide the resources necessary for an effective and efficient operation to achieve results.” (Evans, 2009, p. 1)

Because of the great diversity of students within the Forsyth County school system, the county works diligently in utilizing its technology resources to enable and empower its diverse learners. Forsyth County has a population of 359,638 and a median household income of $47,318, with 14.9% of the county’s population below poverty level. Of the students in the Forsyth County school system, approximately 16% are students in special education, 16% are economically disadvantaged, 4.5% are Non-English speaking students, 15% are eligible for gifted services, and 89% of high school graduates receive a College Prep diploma. Approximately 17% of the students have qualified for the free lunch program and another 5% have qualified for the reduced lunch program. The ethnic demographics reveal that Forsyth County is 61% white, 26% black, 10.9% Hispanic, 1.3% bi-racial, 1.5% Asian, and 0.4% American Indian. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2009) Forsyth County wants all schools to be equipped with the technology resources necessary in order to accomplish its vision and to be able to provide equitable, beneficial, and safe use of these resources, within its diverse student population.
Forsyth County Schools operates a school system website, powered by Schoolwires, Inc. Through the county website, information concerning its vision and application of educational technologies is available to all stakeholders in the school system. In 2009, the county’s 2009 - 2012 Three Year Technology Plan was presented publicly to the Board of Education and subsequently shared with all administrators, Instructional Technology Specialists and Media Specialists. The technology plan is posted on the school website. (Evans, 2009)

Evans, B. (2009). Forsyth county schools: Three year technology plan. (2009). Retrieved on June 10, 2010 from http://forsyth.schoolwires.com/129410616215017890/lib/129410616215017890/ForsythTechPlan2009-2012-forweb.pdf?129410616215017890Nav=|&NodeID=5817

U.S. census bureau: State and county quick facts. (2009). Retrieved June 13, 2010 from http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37067.html