The Consortium of School Networking (CoSN) has recognized the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) for exemplary use of technology in education by designating the school system as the first recipient of its Team Award.

The award, sponsored by Inspiration Software, Inc., and Scholastic Administrator magazine, was presented on March 3 at CoSN's 9th Annual K-12 School Networking Conference, Personalization & Empowerment: No Child Left Behind and Technology, held at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City Hotel in Arlington, Virginia.

The inaugural Team Award recognizes MCPS for the recent implementation of the Integrated Quality Management System (IQMS). The system provides a central source of data and other information to monitor system and school performance goals and to provide ready feedback to teachers and principals on student progress. Development of the IQMS was led by the team of John Q. Porter, chief information officer, Office of Global Access Technology, and Dale Fulton, associate superintendent, Office of Curriculum and Instructional Programs.

CoSN is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance the kindergarten through Grade 12 education community's capacity to use technology effectively. It seeks to improve learning through advocacy, policy, and leadership development. CoSN's members represent school districts, state and local education agencies, nonprofits, and commercial companies.

The IQMS and other technology efforts of Montgomery County Public Schools also were honored recently by the National School Boards Association (NSBA) with the Technology Leadership District Salute. In addition, the NSBA selected the school system as a Site Visit district to showcase innovative uses of technology that can be replicated by other districts.

A series of workshops and site visits at ten schools will take place from March 14 through 16. A range of topics will be covered, including the IQMS, technology support and security, staff development, technology modernization, and collaboration development. More information about the site visits is available on the MCPS web site link below.