Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs: FY2010

PURPOSE: the purpose of this two-year federal grant program is to improve student achievement through the effective use of technology in elementary and secondary schools. Due to the historic opportunity, funding in this program will be invested in projects that will ensure sustainable and continuing commitments after the funding expires. This program will support projects that sustain four (4) priority areas.

Priority 1 will support projects that work collaboratively with the Department to create, implement, and evaluate online courses/modules for underserved high school students in alternative education, credit recovery, or credit acceleration programs.

Priority 2 will support projects that create effective technology-rich environments that support existing tiered-instruction in English language arts and mathematics.

Priority 3 will support projects that provide quality online professional development, support teachers in the integration of technology into curriculum and instruction, and share promising practices with teachers across the state.

Priority 4 will support projects that use appropriate technology effectively to implement formative, benchmark, and summative assessments, particular the Massachusetts English Proficiency Assessment (MEPA).

RESULT OF FUNDING:Funding from this program will support 69 school districts to implement 34 projects that will create robust, technology-infused environments to strengthen education; drive reforms; and improve results for students. These projects, under the four priority areas, will be sustainable and have continuing commitments after the funding expires:

Priority 1 - The funding will support the creation of online courses/modules for students most at risk, particularly for students not graduating on time. The courses/modules will align with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks or the Massachusetts High School Program of Studies (MassCore). Products created will be in a format that the Department can share with districts in Massachusetts. Approximately 1,100 students from the eight projects will benefit during the online course/module development and implementation. Grant funds will be used to support project coordinators, teacher stipends, consultants, professional development, and technology resources.

Priority 2 - The funding will support 14 projects to a total of 20 school districts, of which 15 are high need. This will affect 52 schools, approximately 625 teachers and more than 17,000 students. These districts will use technology to enhance their tiered instructional models that are designed to provide specific, targeted assistance to all students, especially those struggling in reading, English language arts, and mathematics. The professional development and technology included in these grants will sustain systems of tiered instruction and provide student support beyond the grant period.

Priority 3 - The funding will support teachers in 38 districts to learn how to integrate the Massachusetts Technology Literacy Standards into the curriculum. The implementation of this program will provide at least 76 promising practices to the Department to be shared via MassONE, the Department's learning portal.

Priority 4 - The funding will support teachers in four school districts to help meet the needs of approximately 12,000 limited English proficient (LEP) students. The teachers will receive professional development as well as the technology to individualize lessons and provide differentiated instruction so that their students will meet grade-level reading and writing requirements and improve their technology skills for online MEPA testing.

Grant awards range from $29,349 to $780,744.