Education Technology State Grants (84.318)

Program

84.318 Education Technology State Grants

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Education
Office: Office Of Elementary And Secondary Education

Authorization

Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, Executive Order Title II, Part D, Subparts 1 and 2.

Program Number

84.318

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To provide grants to State educational agencies (SEAs) on a formula basis to (a) improve student academic achievement through the use of technology in schools; (b) assist all students in becoming technologically literate by the end of eighth grade; and (c) encourage the effective integration of technology with teacher training and curriculum development to establish successful research-based instructional methods.

Types of Assistance

FORMULA GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

At least 95 percent of awards to SEAs must be used to make subgrants to LEAs. Half of the subgrant funds (the 95 percent) must be used for formula awards to eligible local educational agencies (LEAs) that receive funds under Title I, Part A. The remaining one-half provides competitive awards to eligible local entities (see benificiary eligibility). In the fiscal year (FY) 2006 Appropriations Act, Congress also included language overriding this statutory provision and included language that provides SEAs with the flexibility to reserve up to 100 percent of their allocations for competitive awards to eligible entities. The Congress has continued to provide this flexibility in FY 2009 under the FYY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act. Each LEA and eligible entity receiving funds under this program must use at least 25 percent of its funds to provide professional development; the remaining funds must be used carry out other activities consistent with the purposes of the program and the district's local technology plan. This program is subject to non-supplanting requirements and must use a restricted indirect cost rate which is referenced under 34 CFR 76.564- 76.569. For assistance call the Office of the Chief Financial Officer/ Indirect Cost Group on (202) 708-7770.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

State educational agencies (SEA).

Beneficiary Eligibility

Elementary and secondary schools, students, and teachers will benefit.

Credentials/Documentation

No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Applications are distributed to the Chief State School Officer for all eligible SEAs. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. States have two options for applying for funds under this program. Option 1: An SEA may submit an individual program application that includes a new or updated statewide long-range strategic educational technology plan that considers the educational technology needs of LEAs in the State, and an application that addresses the following topics: (1) strategies for improving academic achievement; (2) goals using advanced technology to improve student academic achievement, aligned with challenging State standards; 3) steps to increase accessibility to technology; (4) accountability measures; (5) innovative instruction delivery strategies; (6) an assurance that financial resources provided under the Educational Technology program will supplement, and not supplant, State and local funds; (7) professional and curricular development; 8) a description of how the SEA will provide technical assistance to applicants seeking Ed Tech funds; (9) a description of technology resources and systems that the State will provide; 10)strategies for financing technology; (11) strategies for parental involvement; 12) competitive grant process description; 13) integration of technology with curricula and instruction; 14) teacher incentives; and 15) a description of how public and private entities will participate in the implementation and support of the plan. Option 2: States may apply for funds through a consolidated application, as provided for in ESEA Sec. 9301. Through a consolidated application, a State will not submit all of the information required for individual Educational Technology applications, but will submit only "descriptions, information, assurances, and other materials that are absolutely necessssary for the consideration of the consolidated State plan or consolidated State application" (ESEA Section 9302(b)(3)). The specific information that an SEA must include in a consolidated application that incorporates the Educational Technology program was detailed in the consolidated State application documents the Department published in the Federal Register.

Award Procedure

The Department reviews all State applications and plans.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

120 days from receipt of application.

Appeals

The Secretary shall not disapprove a State technology plan or State application, before offering the State an opportunity to revise the plan and a hearing. (See 34 CFR 76.202.).

Renewals

SEAs shall report annually to the Secretary regarding progress in meeting State goals and plans. Items such as: (1) a proposal of State activities for the succeeding year; (2) a summary of the progress of LEAs in meeting local goals; and (3) a plan to increase student learning are required. Renewals are subject to the availability of resources.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Awards are generally made for 1 year, continuation awards are subject to the availability of appropriations. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Electronic transfer.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

As required by the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) for State-administered programs (34 CFR part 76). Financial and performance reports are required annually. Cash reports are not applicable. Progress reports are not applicable. Expenditure reports are not applicable. Performance monitoring is not applicable.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

As required by EDGAR for State-Administered programs (34 CFR part 76). Generally, States and subgrantees must retain records related to grant funds and compliance for a period of 5 years.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: This program is designed to improve student academic achievement through the use of technology in elementary and secondary schools. It is also designed to assist every student - regardless of race, ethnicity, income, geographical location, or disability - in becoming technologically literate by the end of eighth grade. The program will facilitate the effective integration of technology resources and systems with professional development and curriculum development, resulting in research-based instructional methods that can be widely replicated. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

91-1000-0-1-501.

Obligations

(Formula Grants) FY 08 $267,494,000; FY 09 est $269,872,000; FY 10 est $100,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

State awards range: $1,305,843-$28,741,327.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

34 CFR 76, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85, and 86.

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Enid Marshall School Support and Technology Programs, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, District of Columbia 20202 Email: enid.marshall@ed.gov Phone: (202) 708-9499

Web Site Address

http://www.ed.gov/programs/edtech/index.html.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Local activities supported by these grants include continuing professional development programs and public-private partnerships focused on the integration of technology in schools. Activities also include: the use of new or existing technologies to improve academic achievement; the acquisition of curricula that integrate technology and are designed to meet challenging State academic standards; the use of technology to increase parental involvement in schools and the use of technology to collect, manage, and analyze data to enhance teaching and school improvement efforts. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Not Applicable.