This handbook for educators and officials in Texas school districts provides guidelines for planning, implementing, and evaluating technology use in order to improve student achievement. Intended for use in districts that are planning locally appropriate strategies, the handbook is divided into seven major sections: (1) Introduction (purpose, the planning process, local decision making, and the district's vision for students); (2) Technology in Texas Schools (a long-range plan for technology, a summary of technology-related legislative action, other major initiatives including networks and advisory committees, and state and regional agencies); (3) Planning Optimum Results (scope of district planning efforts, technology planning efforts, and a strategic planning model for the effective implementation of technology in both instruction and administration); (4) Components of a Plan (mission/philosophy statement, goals and objectives, action plans, and evaluation of the planning process); (5) Local Board Approval of Plan; (6) Other Planning Issues (research and development, partnerships, facilities planning, technology inventory process, sources of technology plan development, maintenance and support, technology obsolescence issues, licensing agreements, copyright and ethics, and the competitive bidding process); and (7) Technology Planning Checkpoints (an extensive check list designed to ensure that key components are considered in the planning process). Details of state legislation that directly affect educational technology and a list of 16 resources are appended. (ALF)