| This study of technology in education sought to discover whether local school districts use total cost of ownership (TCO) to analyze the costs needed to fund technology for the classroom. Using a flexible research design which correlates survey data, published technology plans, and interviews, the study creates a picture of the methods used by district administrators to fund technology for the classroom. It is concluded in the study that district administrators agree that TOC can add efficiency to the budgetary process. The data collected in this study shows that district personnel do not normally use TCO in the budgetary process while creating budgets for technology in K-12 school for many complex reasons. It is concluded in this study that differences in the definition of TCO found in published documents makes the use of TCO difficult to apply in school districts as suggested by funding agencies. |
