Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs: FY2010

Priority will be given to partnerships between school districts led by high-need districts and professional development providers. The content of the professional development must incorporate the Department's technology literacy standards into the various curricula. Participating districts must demonstrate the following.

1. There is at least one technology-rich-classroom or lab (e.g., an up-to-date laptop or desktop computer for every student) in each participating middle and high school. Each school must have a well-maintained technology infrastructure to support the technology-enhanced instruction.

2. Participating teachers have the appropriate level of technology literacy skills (at least Level II of the Department's Technology Self-Assessment Tool for online professional development).

3. The professional development providers are qualified to teach the content. The professional development activities are based on research-based successful models (i.e., models that are supported by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education).

Special priority will be given to the FY2009 grant recipients that have successfully implemented their FY2009 projects and have demonstrated the need to continue working with their educators in order to continue making progress in closing the achievement gap.

(See the detailed definition and description of a technology-rich-classroom and successful models of professional development in Part III Program Narrative.)

1. Grant funds will be distributed to eligible high-need school districts or collaborating districts with at least one high-need district.

2. To be eligible for funding, participating school districts must have received a letter from the Department approving its technology plan through June 30, 2010. The proposed project activities should align with the district's technology plan.

3. Each participating school district must have certified that it has complied with the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) requirements. (If applicants have not done so, please contact Baiba Ozols at bozols@doe.mass.edu for more information.)

Pending appropriation, approximately $1,200,000 will be awarded for this one-year grant program. Grant awards will not exceed the following amounts, which are based on total student enrollment of the participating districts for each project.

If applicable, additional funding for private school participation will be awarded to the funded applicants to support private schools' technology enhancement projects.

1. Funds received shall be used to supplement, not supplant, state and/or local funds that would otherwise be used for the proposed activities.

2. At least 25% of grant funds are to be used for ongoing quality technology professional development. This may include payment for consultants, teacher substitutes, stipends, and materials for professional development. Other acceptable expenditures may include project coordination, dissemination, etc.

3. Each grant recipient is to set aside 10% of grant funds to procure the services of an external evaluator. The Department will coordinate the selection of an external evaluator for a consolidated evaluation of the entire program (all of the funded projects).

All budgets and budget descriptions must be aligned with the activities described in the proposal narrative and reflect any coordinated use of funds from other funding sources.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Competitive proposals must be received at the Department by 5:00 p.m. on the date due.

1.      Part I - General - Program Unit Signature Page - (Standard Contract Form and Application for Program Grants)

2.      Part II Budget Detail Pages (Include both pages.) - Instructions

3.     Part III - Required Program Information

4.     Statement of Assurances

5.     Schedule C - Statement of Participation and Support (if appropriate)

1. Prior to developing proposals for this program, districts should refer to the following items.

   1.     FY2010 High-Need Districts

   2. Technical Assistance Workshops:

      1. Tuesday, June 9, 2009 - 9:30 a.m. to noon
         Springfield - Meline Kasparian Professional Development Center

      2. Wednesday, June 10, 2009 - 9:30 a.m. to noon
         Malden - Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

      3. Thursday, June 11, 2009 - 9:30 a.m. to noon
         Duxbury - Alden School (Performing Arts Center)

      To participate, please register online at
      http://www.doe.mass.edu/conference/?ConferenceID=666.

2. When developing proposals for this program, districts should refer to the following resources.

   1.     Scoring Rubric

   2. Local Technology Plan Guidelines (School Year 2007-2008 through 2010-2011)
      http://www.doe.mass.edu/edtech/techplan/07-10guidelines.doc

   3. Technology Self-Assessment Tool
      http://www.doe.mass.edu/edtech/standards/sa_tool.html

   4. Recommended Criteria for Evaluating Instructional Technology Materials
      http://www.doe.mass.edu/edtech/standards/tech_mat.PDF

Submit four (4) sets, each with an original signature of the Superintendent/Executive Director. Mail to: