Electronic Transfer: Oklahoma

Ed Week
May 5, 2005
By Jessica L. Tonn

State spending on educational technology, which has not been available for the past two years due to persistent state budget deficits, is increasing in Oklahoma.

Revenue from a new education lottery and expanded gaming revenues from Indian reservations, are expected to generate around $150 million, which will fund a variety of education initiatives in the 2005-06 school year, including spending on school technology.

Meanwhile, all 7th graders in Oklahoma are scheduled to take the state geography test online in spring 2005, making the effort the first statewide program for online testing in the Sooner State.

The 7th grade tests will serve as an indicator of the Oklahoma Department of Education’s readiness to eventually conduct all state assessments online, says J.P. “Phil” Applegate, the department’s executive director of instructional technology and telecommunications. San Antonio-based Harcourt Assessment Inc. will administer the tests.

For entire article http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2005/05/05/35ok.h24.html