Loudoun County Public Schools was selected to serve as a Knowledge Development District for the Center on Inclusive Technology & Education Systems (CITES). CITES, a technical assistance center funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, is a collaborative effort between CAST and American Institutes for Research. The goal of CITES is to develop a framework to be used by U.S. school districts to build and sustain inclusive ecosystems that break down the barriers between assistive technology, educational technology, and information technology. The CITES Framework is being co-developed with a select group of districts and built on research and evidence-based practices that enhance educational opportunities for all students, including students with disabilities and their families. The work is grounded in promising practices experienced by districts that are making progress toward building an inclusive technology ecosystem.

Specifically, LCPS was recognized for contributions in many area(s), including all of the following:

• Building a teaching force skilled in online, distance/remote, and/or blended instruction, especially for students with disabilities
• Implementing a common set of technology competency expectations for all staff, which include the use of accessible digital materials and assistive technology
• Selecting and evaluating high quality accessible educational materials
• Aligning assessment accommodations and technologies with accommodations for teaching and learning.
• Ensuring inclusive and accessible formative assessment practices.
• Designing and/or implementing formative assessment practices that measure competencies across academic disciplines, as well as addressing critical non-academic competencies (e.g., collaboration, critical thinking).

The Center on Inclusive Technology & Education Systems at http://cites.cast.org