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The Digitally Nurturing Academics (DNA) 1:1 Initiative was successfully implemented at Mission Early College High School in 2005. In the summer of 2014, Socorro ISD hosted a DNA camp to prepare incoming freshmen for the 1:1 Initiative. During the Fall semester of the same year, all Socorro High School freshmen received a laptop. The district has now extended the DNA Initiative to the second year Socorro High School’s incoming freshmen and year one for Pebble Hills High School.

The WIN Academy Initiative will target at-risk students in one classroom at 2nd-5th grade at 9 elementary campuses, and 6th grade at one middle school. These classes will have 1:1 mobile devices, the use of digital curriculum, and project-based learning as a central part of its implementation to promote digital skills.

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Socorro ISD commits to extending the DNA 1:1 Initiative for all high school freshmen in phases. Moving forward, all Socorro High School students will be active participants of the DNA 1:1 Initiative in 2018-2019. All comprehensive high schools in Socorro ISD will partake in the DNA 1:1 Initiative by 2020-2021.

The WIN Academy Initiative will extend to all 2nd-5th grades, campus-wide by 2016-2017. In subsequent years, additional grade levels and campuses will be added to the WIN Academy Initiative.

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Socorro ISD provides a comprehensive curriculum that is aligned to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills and the Texas College and Career Readiness Standards. Students build a foundation of content knowledge and critical thinking skills through rigorous courses. Opportunities are provided for all students to expand their learning through academic enrichment, problem-based learning, research-based strategies, remediation, etc. SISD is in year two of Operation College Bound (OCB) which ensures that every student in SISD is provided with rigorous instruction, meaningful interventions, and a college-bound culture that will enable them to succeed in post-secondary institutions, in the workforce, and in life.

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Socorro ISD instructional stakeholders will build an enriched, blended-learning environment that enhances the standards-aligned curriculum to help teachers deliver rigorous, relevant, and differentiated instruction. The DNA Initiative and WIN Academy will serve as pilot programs that will support the development of 21st century learners into college-ready students. Educators will create a new curricular scope and sequence that leads to 21st century skills and deeper learning. Educators will have access to digital tools and resources that will help produce global competitive students who will be critical thinkers, problem solvers, creators, and innovators. With continuing OCB efforts and best practices, SISD will continue to incorporate 21st century skills through the digital conversion for the upcoming school years.

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Socorro ISD utilizes a variety of data driven educational programs and pedagogies to improve academic achievement. District and campus stakeholders continuously identify and provide professional learning opportunities for educators to best support student needs. Instructional leadership teams meet routinely to investigate current district initiatives and instructional best practices. Professional Learning Communities are implemented at campuses to collaborate by disaggregating data and sharing researched-based strategies. Educators are striving to provide students with authentic learning environments that promote 21st century skills and college career readiness.

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Socorro ISD will identify pedagogical and instructional technology gaps to guide discussions regarding student achievement. SISD Instructional stakeholders will build an instructional framework that will create innovative learning opportunities in a technology rich, blended-learning environment to help prepare students for global competitiveness. Instructional specialists will provide professional development opportunities to build capacity in teachers, so that they are able to integrate technology with best practices. Project Based Learning, the SAMR Model and the Depth of Knowledge Wheel will enhance instruction, empower personalized learning, and create effective and engaging 21st century classrooms.

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Currently, Socorro ISD students are assessed via teacher created exams, checkpoints, Thrive assessments, district benchmarks, state assessments, and college-level entrance exams. Teachers also utilize real-time formative assessment tools to guide instruction. Data analysis and customization is provided for teachers using the Eduphoria School Objects application suite. Using such data, teachers evaluate teaching practices, improve their pedagogy, identify and differentiate instruction to serve the needs of all students. Furthermore, the Tyler Student Information System provides teachers with a district wide grading platform as well as student academic and demographic information. Students and parents can monitor student progress in real-time utilizing the Tyler SIS Portal.

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Socorro ISD will empower all teachers to be active evaluators and monitors of student learning using digital assessment platforms and data. The district will support teachers with opportunities to explore assessments that are online, performance based, and embedded throughout the learning process. Teachers will utilize real-time formative assessment tools in identifying students' needs. Teachers will analyze formative assessment data to ensure individualized learning and promote student success by providing on-the-spot interventions.

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Provided in multiple modalities, Socorro ISD delivers professional development by identifying campus needs and analyzing assessment data. SISD's Instructional Specialists collaborate to formulate relevant, researched-based professional learning experiences which ensure student success and empower all stakeholders.

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Socorro ISD will continue to build capacity through professional learning opportunities. SISD's Instructional Specialists will investigate both current and future professional learning practices to establish on-demand, diverse, and authentic learning opportunities for all stakeholders. Support structures, to include an embedded coaching model and digital tools, will empower educators to personalize their professional learning and transform their teaching.

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Socorro ISD promotes student achievement through the implementation of cutting edge infrastructure. The network infrastructure will provide scalable, modern, efficient, and reliable service that will deliver data, integrated voice, and video applications to support college and career ready standards. The district participates in the E-rate program annually.

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The Department of Technology Service’s mission is to provide quality technology support and services in a timely, seamless, and efficient manner, while ensuring that technology is accessible to all SISD students, staff, and community. Under the strategic direction: (1) A Safe and Supportive Learning Environment and (2) College and Career Readiness, the following initiatives have been implemented, are works in progress, or are in the planning stages:

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The E-Rate program is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) under the direction of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Its purpose is to provide discounts to assist most schools and libraries in the United States to obtain affordable Telecommunication Services, Internet access, and network equipment to support the network infrastructure. The E-Rate program is intended to serve the less fortunate school districts under the Free and Reduced Lunch applications that are sent to the parents of all the students in a district. Currently our district's economic disadvantage percentage is at 71%, which places the district to receive an 80% discount through the E-Rate program.

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In June of 2013, President Obama announced the Connect Ed Initiative. The initiative will, within five years, connect 99% of America’s students to next-generation broadband and high-speed wireless in their schools and libraries. The FCC and many other companies are collectively pledging to connect more than 20 million more students over the next two years. With this pledge, the FCC approved to modernize the E-Rate program. One of their main goals is to ensure affordable access to high speed broadband sufficient to support digital learning in schools and robust connectivity. The FCC increased the E-Rate Program budget by $1.5 billion as well as setting an additional $1 billion to close the Wi-Fi gap. This will bring the program’s budget to $4.9 billion.