Advanced School Automation Project (ASAP)

History of ASAP

The Advanced School Automation Project (ASAP) is Anne Arundel County Public Schools' technology plan to help students acquire Maryland's Skills for Success by using, in instructional settings, computers with special capabilities. An ASAP school has a minimum of a local area network (LAN) connected to the Internet with a high speed telephone line that is part of the school system's wide area network (WAN).

The 1994 ASAP Task Force report called for placing technology in schools As Soon As Possible for students to develop skills needed in the workplace. The report described school connections to the information highway and necessary instructional and technical support systems. The plan featured the formation of an integrated wide area network (WAN).

In school year 1994-95, the school system instituted the ASAP pilot dedicated entirely to instructional use. Within the pilot, the school system examined a variety of instructional models. Students used integrated learning systems and commercial software on the LAN, and students had access to the Internet and World Wide Web on the WAN. Participating schools included Arundel High School, Arundel Middle School, Odenton Elementary, and Crofton Elementary Schools.

In school year 1995-96, the pilot was concluded. Pilot results showed that:

In the same year, ASAP expanded the network with the addition of 10 high schools. ASAP funding provided each additional high school with eight networked computers, software,professional development, and instructional and technical support for the pilot schools and the additional high schools.

As of 1998 all high schools have at least 30 computers and all middle schools have 15 networked multimedia PC's. Additional elementary schools continue to be added to the ASAP initiative through technology grants, new school construction or renovation funds and business partnerships.

As a new initiative this year, the instructional infrastructure will begin to incorporate business and management services in the WAN to Central Office for the exchange of data such as purchasing information and student record information.