Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs: FY2008

Priority will be given to high need districts or partnerships with at least one high need district that have demonstrated the:

• readiness to participate in the project; and

• ability to make data driven decisions to improve student achievement using the data warehouse tool.

(See details in Part III Program Narrative.)

1. Grant funds will be distributed to eligible high need school districts http://www.doe.mass.edu/edtech/grants/fy08/170_highneed.htmlor a collaborative partnership with a high need district.

2. To be eligible for funding, school districts must have received a letter approving their technology plan through June 30, 2008. The proposed project activities should align with the district's technology plan.

3. School districts must have certified that they have complied with the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) requirements. (If applicants have not done so, please contact bozols@doe.mass.edu for more information.)

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 $1,000,000 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).

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 applicants.

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 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.

3. Recommended use of funds may include the following.

   1. project management consultant(s)

   2. assistance with data extraction

   3. facilitation of needs assessment

   4. upgrades and/or enhancements to student information systems to improve data extraction or storage

4. Each grant recipient should set aside 10% of grant funds each year to procure the services of an external evaluator. The Department will coordinate the selection of an external evaluator for each pilot project.

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.

Upon Approval - 8/31/2008 Competitive for Year 1

9/1/2008 - 8/31/2009 Continuation for Year 2

(Subject to appropriation of adequate federal funds.)

Friday, June 29, 2007

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. FY2008 High Need Districts
      http://www.doe.mass.edu/edtech/grants/fy08/170_highneed.html.

   2. Technical Assistance Workshops:
      http://www.doe.mass.edu/conference/?ConferenceID=299

      1. Tuesday, May 22, 2007 10 a.m. to noon
         Springfield - Meline Kasparian Professional Development Center

      2. Thursday, May 24, 2007 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 2007-2008 through 2010-2011)

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

   4.  Recommended Criteria for Evaluating Instructional Technology Materials

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

Nicole Fazio Cirino
Office of Instructional Technology
Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education
350 Main Street
Malden, MA 02148-5023