The goal of the NSD Technology Department is to prepare NSD students to be lifelong learners in a future digital World; we can only imagine now what that future digital World will look like. It takes money to accomplish this goal.

The state of Washington does provide limited funding for Technology; the amount is governed by RCW 28A.150.260 (see photo below). For the 2024-2025 school year, the NSD received $182.72 per full-time equivalent K-12 student* and an additional $44.97 per full-time equivalent 9-12 student*. With an NSD enrollment of 22,000 students, these funds total to about 4 million dollars.

The Technology Capital Projects Levy will provide the NSD with an additional 35.5 million dollars per year.

This funding is used for:

• Student learning such as integrating instructional technologies into standards-based curricula, and purchasing instructional software, digital curriculum, and software licenses. Curriculum is increasingly being offered in only one format, digitally. Digital curriculum and software licenses account for 30% of this levy funding.
• Classroom technology such as smart whiteboards and communications equipment for teachers.
• School technology such as communications systems that provide alerts and announcements, operational systems, and security systems.
• District-wide technology that supports schools, such as operational systems for transportation and food service.
• Education in digital citizenship and literacy.
• Device updates and replacements for students and staff.
• Cybersecurity i.e. modernizing systems and infrastructure, to keep NSD and student data safe and manage access.
• Support for career and technical skills development and emerging technologies, such as AI.
• Professional development for NSD staff so that the digital curriculum and technology purchased can be used to its maximum potential.

Imagine if the NSD only received the state allocation of funds. These funds would need to be used for about 22,000 students across 34 school buildings. How would you spread those funds out? Could you still meet the NSD goal, to prepare NSD students to be lifelong learners in a future digital World?

*Table 4: Budgeted Materials, Supplies, and Operating Costs (MSOC)