CITES: Developing Comprehensive & Sustainable Systems for the Effective Use of Technology

Project Name
Center on Inclusive Technology & Education Systems (CITES)

Project Description

CITES provides local education agencies (LEAs) with a menu of high-quality technical assistance that focuses on systemic integration of assistive technology, educational technology, and information technology (AT, EdTech, and InfoTech). CITES collaborates with a wide range of stakeholders and works closely with 8 LEAs across the country to create a framework that any LEA can use to build or enhance inclusive technology ecosystems of their own.

CAST and our primary partner, AIR, collaborate with LEAs to achieve three central goals:

Building the capacity of LEAs to use an evidence-based framework to develop, implement, and refine comprehensive, equitable technology ecosystems that include AT, EdTech and InfoTech;
Increasing the knowledge of educators in how to apply principles of UDL and evidence-based practices to maximize integrated use of technology throughout instruction; and
Supporting more effective and inclusive implementation of AT, EdTech and InfoTech for the benefit of all students, including students with disabilities and their families.

In addition to developing the CITES Framework, the CITES Team provides universal technical assistance that is available to all. Have a question or a comment? CITES is here for you.

Timeline

2018 – 2023

Funder

Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education

Primary Partner

American Institutes for Research (AIR)

Partners

State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA)
SPAN Parent Advocacy Network
Evergreen Evaluation & Consulting, Inc.

Project Leadership

Joy Smiley Zabala, Ed.D., PI
Janet Peters, M.Ed., Project Director

Technical Assistance Specialists

Maggie Pickett, M.A.
Luis Pérez, Ph.D.

Contact

For more information about this project, please contact Joy Zabala or Janet Peters.