Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs: FY2007

The purpose of this grant program is to support school districts to plan, implement, and evaluate effective projects that:

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

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

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

Priority will be given to projects that focus on using a one-to-one computing environment (with a wireless laptop computer for every student) and appropriate technologies (particularly tools in the Department's online learning system, MassONE) to support the teaching and learning of middle/high school mathematics, science, and English language arts.

Priority will also be given to projects that:

1. provide sustained and effective professional development activities to teachers, teacher support staff, and administrators in the use of technology for teaching and learning;

2. include professional development activities on universally designed and assistive technologies so that teachers and administrators will be able to provide the appropriate technologies so that every student - regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, income, geographical location, or disability - can access the curriculum;

3. partner with other school districts, higher education institutions, and public or private organizations that have demonstrated expertise in the selected focus area; and

4. have been identified for high-need districts that receive Title II-D Formula Grant awards (Fund Code: 160) that are of insufficient size to be effective.

1. Grant funds will be distributed only to eligible local entities. An eligible local entity is either a high-need school district or an eligible local partnership. (See definition of high-need school districts under Additional Information below.) A school district that is not listed as high-need must apply in collaboration with one or more high-need districts. Use Schedule C (Statement of Participation and Support) for this process.

2. To be eligible for funding, school districts must have received a letter approving the implementation of their 2005-2006 technology plan. The proposed project activities should align with the district's technology plan.

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

4. School districts must engage in timely and meaningful consultation with appropriate private school officials during the design and development of programs and continue the consultation throughout the implementation of these programs. The consultation should begin during the development of the local grant proposal.

Pending appropriation, approximately $900,000 will be awarded for this two-year grant program. Grant awards for the two years will not exceed the following amounts, which are based on student enrollment of the participating district(s).

*	Student enrollment of 50,000 and above	$250,000
*	Student enrollment of 20,000 - 49,999	$200,000
*	Student enrollment of 10,000 - 19,999	$150,000
*	Student enrollment of 5,000 - 9,999	$100,000
*	Student enrollment of 4,999 or less	$ 75,000

Up to half of the total grant funds may be used for Year 1 activities. The Year 2 request will be the balance of the total request for the two years. If applicable, additional funding for private school participation will be awarded to the funded district that is the applicant.

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

• At least 25% of the grant funds must be used for ongoing high-quality technology professional development. This may include payment for consultants, teacher substitutes, stipends, and materials for professional development. Although the following are 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 and food.

• 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.

Monday, July 3, 2006

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

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

   1. FY2007 High-Need Districts
      http://www.doe.mass.edu/edtech/grants/fy07/170_highneed.html

   2. Technical Assistance Workshops:
      http://www.doe.mass.edu/conference/?ConferenceID=195

      1. Thursday, May 18, 2006 10 a.m. to noon
         Springfield - Meline Kasparian Professional Development Center

      2. Wednesday, May 24, 2006 10 a.m. to noon
         Malden - Massachusetts Department of Education

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

   1.   Scoring Rubric

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

   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
      http://www.doe.mass.edu/edtech/toolkit/students/ATguide.pdf

   7. Massachusetts Technology Toolkit
      http://www.doe.mass.edu/edtech/toolkit/

Submit five (5) sets, each with an original signature of the Superintendent/Executive Director. Mail to:

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