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AWARDS & RECOGNITION

2001 Awards: Accessibility

WINNER North Carolina: NC Classes On-Line
[Download Nomination - Word]
NC Classes On-Line is an initiative to encourage North Carolina teachers to develop their own classroom Web page. Teachers can develop their classroom Web site in 13 easy steps using a standard template. This template and the resulting teachers’ Web pages that are built can be accessed through the State's NC @ Your Service portal at www.ncgov.com. The page building template and the resulting Web pages are accessible to those with disabilities who may be using assistive technologies to navigate the Web, thus ensuring that teachers are able to easily meet these requirements without spending additional time, effort, or money.

NC Classes On-Line grew out of a conversation via video conference between former Governor James B. Hunt and students during the State Fair in October 2000. During this conversation, ideas were traded among the Governor and students at four North Carolina high schools utilizing the North Carolina Information Highway. Students asked how they could have a Web site for their classes so they could get vital information that pertains to them. They wanted to be able to look up homework assignments, schedules, lunch menus, and events. The state took this idea to heart. The NC @ Your Service Project Office, part of ITS in the Governor's Office, and the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) developed a plan for NC Classes Online. The NC @ Your Service Team, comprised of ITS, Accenture, and Yahoo! personnel, is making this initiative a reality.

Over 700 teachers in Asheboro, Asheville, Brunswick, Edgecombe, Macon, Moore, Pamlico, and Washington Schools are participating in the pilot of NC Classes Online that began in February 2001. Teachers attend training to learn how to develop and maintain classroom Web sites; both students and parents will then be able to access this information. These classroom Web sites can be updated and modified easily. Assuming the pilot continues to go well, this program will be made available to every school in North Carolina.

Pictured (top row left to right) - Campbell Price (DPI), Mary Lou Daily (DPI), Petra Rijdes (NC @ Your Service), & Janelle Alston (NC @ Your Service) Pictured (sitting bottom row left to right) - Wynn Smith (DPI), Ellen Kendall (DPI), Annemarie Timmerman (DPI), Amy Watson (NC @ Your Service), & Barbara Levine (NC @ Your Service)

This project is significant to the operation of government as it easily improves communications among students, parents, and teachers. It provides an on-line avenue for public school teachers to exchange information with students and parents. The page building template and the resulting completed classroom Web pages are accessible to those with disabilities who may be using assistive technologies to navigate the Web. This furthers the State's effort to provide equal services and information to all people. It also demonstrates the state's continued focus on e-government opportunities that are responsive to citizen demands and that improve the communication lines between people and government.

An example of a Web site designed by a program participant is available at http://www.geocities.com/nck12bortonp/ nck12explorers.html. The site provides students with access to information about their class and their homework assignments.

Contact Information: Sharon Hayes, Project Director, Office of Information Technology Services, State of North Carolina, 2728 Capital Boulevard, Raleigh, NC 27605, (919) 733-6556, Fax: (919) 733-6570, sharon.hayes@ncmail.net

Other Nominations:
Click on the link to download program submission.

California
MyCalifornia

Connecticut
State of Connecticut Web Accessibility Initiative

Illinois
Building an Accessible Virtual Case Manager

Indiana
Next Generation Portal Redesign

Kansas
State of Kansas Web Site Accessibility Program

New Mexico
eChild Support

Pennsylvania
Accessible PA