Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs: FY2007

The purpose of this federal continuation grant program is to encourage participating school districts to plan, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of their projects in order to:

1. improve student academic achievement through the use of technology;

2. assist every student - regardless of race, ethnicity, income, geographical location, or disability - in becoming technologically literate; and/or

3. provide high quality professional development that uses research-based instructional strategies to integrate technology effectively into instruction.

Priority will be given to districts that have participated in Year 1 implementation in one of the following focus areas:

1. using a one-to-one computing environment (with a wireless laptop computer for every student) and appropriate technologies (particularly tools in the Massachusetts Online Network for Education, MassONE) to support the teaching and learning of middle/high school mathematics, science, and English language arts;

2. using technology to assess student learning, report results, and support the analysis of student performance to inform instruction and programmatic decision-making;

3. participating in the state sponsored Educational Data Warehouse Pilot Project; or

4. using appropriate online distance learning technologies (e.g., the tools in the Massachusetts Online Network for Education, MassONE) for the delivery of specialized or rigorous courses and curricula (with focus on mathematics, science, English language arts, and foreign languages) for students and teachers, particularly in areas that would not otherwise have access to such courses or curricula due to geographical distances or insufficient resources.

1. Only those school districts that received Technology Enhancement Competitive Grants in FY2006 (Fund Code: 170-B) may apply for continuation grants in FY2007. Use Schedule C (Statement of Participation and Support) for partnership with other school districts.

2. School districts must have submitted their 2004-2005 technology plan electronic forms online in order to be eligible for the funding.

3. School districts must certify that they have complied with the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) requirements.

4. If appropriate, school districts must engage in timely and meaningful consultation with appropriate private school officials and continue the consultation throughout the implementation of these programs.

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 the grant funds must be used for ongoing high quality professional development. Acceptable expenditures may include: payment for consultants; teacher substitutes; stipends; and materials for professional development. Although the following are also acceptable expenditures, they may not be included as items identified for professional development: project coordination; purchase of hardware and software; program evaluation; dissemination; etc. Grant funds may not be used for space rental or food.

3. 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 resources.

4. If the project is under Focus Area 3: Data Warehouse Pilot, each grant recipient should 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 the Data Warehouse Pilot Project.

Friday, August 25, 2006

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

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

1. Local Technology Plan Guidelines: School Year 2004-2005 through 2006-2007
   (http://www.doe.mass.edu/edtech/tplanguide04_07.html)

2. Recommended PreK-12 Instructional Technology Standards
   (http://www.doe.mass.edu/edtech/standards/itstand.pdf)

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)

5. Massachusetts Recommended Criteria for Distance Learning Courses
   (http://www.doe.mass.edu/edtech/news03/dl_letter.html)

6. Assistive Technology Guide for Massachusetts Schools
   (http://www.doe.mass.edu/edtech/toolkit/students/ATguide.pdf)

Submit two (2) sets, each with an original signature of the Superintendent/ Executive Director. Mail to:

Nicole Fazio Cirino
Instructional Technology
Massachusetts Department of Education
75 Pleasant Street
Malden, MA 02148-4906