School Technology Services Program

What is the School Technology Services Program? 

The School Technology Services program is a comprehensive approach to the challenges associated with governing and managing information technology (IT) investments and assets.  School Technology Services will support school authorities in self-assessing their current status and developing competencies in the three key areas of IT Governance, IT Management and Information Security Management.

IT Governance

IT Governance is defined as how decisions about IT are made within an organization, and is concerned with ensuring that IT is aligned with organizational goals and strategies and delivers value to the organization.  Good IT governance in the K-12 education system will result in a greater degree of maturity and ensure that organizations understand the value of their IT investments.

IT Management

The IT Management stream focuses on using service management principles and good practices to lower the communication barrier between the IT staff and senior leadership.  This creation of mutual understanding of the day-to-day information technology needs of school authorities will improve the overall technology services available. 

Information Security Management

Information Security Management is a critical process that helps school authorities minimize information security risks and provides stakeholders with visible assurance that action is being taken to protect information.  An effective framework for Information Security Management provides school authorities with the ability to balance access and security.

For further information about the overall School Technology Services program, please contact Angie Tarasoff, Senior Manager, Technology Planning & Management, School Technology Branch, by e-mail at Angie.Tarasoff@gov.ab.ca or by phone at 780-427-0253 (toll-free in Alberta by first dialing 310-0000).

What’s New

School Technology Services Program Website

The School Technology Services Program provides detailed information for school authorities about identifying the critical capabilities required to support effective decision-making about technology investments and technology-related risk (IT Governance), managing and supporting technology and IT services (IT Service Management) and information security management.  

The website features information in the School Technology Services Self-Evaluation Guide, that was developed between 2008 and 2010 in conjunction with technology specialists in the K-12 environment, the College of Alberta School Superintendents (CASS) and IT industry experts.  The Guide is based on leading international IT services best practices and adapted for the K-12 education context.  For a print copy of the Guide, please click here.

If you have any questions, please contact Angie Tarasoff, Senior Manager, Technology Planning & Management, School Technology Branch, by e-mail at Angie.Tarasoff@gov.ab.ca or by phone at 780-427-0253 (toll-free in Alberta by first dialing 310-0000).

School Technology Services Courses

Alberta Education, in conjunction with ISACA Edmonton, is offering courses from 2011 to 2013 that support the three areas of the School Technology Services Program – IT Governance, IT Management and Information Security Management – for school authority senior leaders and IT staff.   The courses are offered at no cost to school authority personnel.  However, individuals will be responsible for any exam costs should they choose to take them for certification purposes.

The training calendar provides the schedule of courses and a detailed overview of the course offerings.

Updated April 2013