Education Technology State Grants
Published on AidPage by
IDILOGIC on Jun 24, 2005
Purpose of this program:
To provide grants to State Education 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.
Possible 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). 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.
Who is eligible to apply...
All States, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Northern Marianas, Guam, Virgin Islands, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs may apply.
Credentials/Documentation
None.
Note:This is a brief description of the credentials or documentation required prior to, or along with, an application for assistance.
About this section:
This section indicates who can apply to the Federal government for assistance and the criteria the potential applicant must satisfy.
For example, individuals may be eligible for research grants, and the criteria to be satisfied may be that they have a professional or scientific degree,
3 years of research experience, and be a citizen of the United States. Universities, medical schools, hospitals, or State and local governments may also be eligible.
Where State governments are eligible, the type of State agency will be indicated (State welfare agency or State agency on aging) and the criteria that they
must satisfy.
Certain federal programs (e.g., the Pell Grant program which provides grants to students) involve intermediate levels of application processing, i.e., applications
are transmitted through colleges or universities that are neither the direct applicant nor the ultimate beneficiary. For these programs,
the criteria that the intermediaries must satisfy are also indicated, along with intermediaries who are not eligible.
How to apply...
Application Procedure:
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 Ed Tech 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 14) 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 Ed Tech applications, but will submit only "descriptions, information, assurances, . . . and other materials that are absolutely necessary 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 Ed Tech program was detailed in the consolidated State application documents the Department published March 22, 2002 in the Federal Register.
Note: Each program will indicate whether applications are to be submitted to the Federal headquarters, regional or local office, or to a State or local government office.
Award Procedure:
Not available.
Note: Grant payments may be made by a letter of credit, advance by Treasury check, or reimbursement by Treasury check.
Awards may be made by the headquarters office directly to the applicant, an agency field office, a regional office,
or by an authorized county office. The assistance may pass through the initial applicant for further distribution by
intermediate level applicants to groups or individuals in the private sector.
Deadlines and process...
Deadlines
Contact the program office for information on deadlines.
Note:
When available, this section indicates the deadlines for applications to the funding agency which will
be stated in terms of the date(s) or between what dates the application should be received.
When not available, applicants should contact the funding agency for deadline information.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
120 days from receipt of application.
Preapplication Coordination
Applications are distributed to the Chief State School Officer for all eligible SEAs. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Note:
This section indicates whether any prior coordination or approval is required with governmental or nongovernmental units
prior to the submission of a formal application to the federal funding agency.
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.)
Note:
In some cases, there are no provisions for appeal. Where applicable, this section discusses appeal procedures or allowable rework time for resubmission
of applications to be processed by the funding agency. Appeal procedures vary with individual programs and are either listed in this section or
applicants are referred to appeal procedures documented in the relevant Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
Renewals
SEAs shall annually report 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.
Note:
In some instances, renewal procedures may be the same as for the application procedure, e.g., for projects of a non-continuing nature renewals will be treated as new, competing applications; for projects of an ongoing nature, renewals may be given annually.
Who can benefit...
Elementary and secondary schools, students, and teachers will benefit.
Beneficiaries
About this section:
This section lists the ultimate beneficiaries of a program, the criteria they must satisfy and who specifically is not eligible. The applicant and beneficiary will generally be the same for programs that provide assistance directly from a Federal agency. However, financial assistance that passes through State or local governments will have different applicants and beneficiaries since the assistance is transmitted to private sector beneficiaries who are not obligated to request or apply for the assistance.
What types of assistance...
Formula Grants
Allocations of money to States or their subdivisions in accordance with distribution formulas prescribed by law or administrative regulation, for activities of a continuing nature not confined to a specific project.
How much financial aid...
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
For fiscal year 2003, State awards range from the minimum $3,215,000 to $89,960,000.
Note:
This section lists the representative range (smallest to largest) of the amount of financial assistance available. These figures are based upon funds awarded in the past fiscal year and the current fiscal year to date. Also indicated is an approximate average amount of awards which were made in the past and current fiscal years.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 03 $695,947,000; FY 04 est $691,841,000; and FY 05 est $691,841,000.
Note:
The dollar amounts listed in this section represent obligations for the past fiscal year (PY), estimates for the current fiscal year (CY), and estimates for the budget fiscal year (BY) as reported by the Federal agencies. Obligations for non-financial assistance programs indicate the administrative expenses involved in the operation of a program.
Account Identification
91-1000-0-1-501.
Note:
Note: This 11-digit budget account identification code represents the account which funds a particular program.
This code should be consistent with the code given for the program area as specified in Appendix III of the Budget of the United States Government.
Examples of funded projects...
No examples are currently available.
About this section
This section indicates the different types of projects which have been funded in the past. Only projects funded under Project Grants or Direct Payments for Specified Use should be listed here. The examples give potential applicants an idea of the types of projects that may be accepted for funding. The agency should list at least five examples of the most recently funded projects.
Program accomplishments...
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.
Criteria for selecting proposals...
None.
Assistance considerations...
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Not applicable.
Formula and Matching Requirements
Funds are allocated to States proportionate to their share under Part A of Title I of ESEA but with a minimum allocation to any State of one-half of one percent of the amount appropriated.
Note:
A formula may be based on population, per capita income, and other statistical factors. Applicants are informed whether there are any matching requirements to be met when participating in the cost of a project. In general, the matching share represents that portion of the project costs not borne by the Federal government. Attachment F of OMB Circular No. A-102 (Office of Management and Budget) sets forth the criteria and procedures for the evaluation of matching share requirements which may be cash or in-kind contributions made by State and local governments or other agencies, institutions, private organizations, or individuals to satisfy matching requirements of Federal grants or loans.
Cash contributions represent the grantees' cash outlay, including the outlay of money contributed to the grantee by other public agencies, institutions, private organizations, or individuals. When authorized by Federal regulation, Federal funds received from other grants may be considered as the grantees' cash contribution.
In-kind contributions represent the value of noncash contributions provided by the grantee, other public agencies and institutions, private organizations or individuals. In-kind contributions may consist of charges for real property and equipment, and value of goods and services directly benefiting and specifically identifiable to the grant program. When authorized by Federal legislation, property purchased with Federal funds may be considered as grantees' in-kind contribution.
Maintenance of effort (MOE) is a requirement contained in certain legislation, regulations, or administrative policies stating that a grantee must maintain a specified level of financial effort in a specific area in order to receive Federal grant funds, and that the Federal grant funds may be used only to supplement, not supplant, the level of grantee funds.
Post assistance requirements...
Reports
As required by the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) for State-administered programs (34 CFR part 76). Generally, financial and performance reports are required annually.
Note:
This section indicates whether program reports, expenditure reports, cash reports or performance monitoring are required by the Federal funding agency, and specifies at what time intervals (monthly, annually, etc.) this must be accomplished.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Note:
This section discusses audits required by the Federal agency.
The procedures and requirements for State and local governments and nonprofit entities are set forth in OMB Circular No. A-133.
These requirements pertain to awards made within the respective State's fiscal year - not the Federal fiscal year,
as some State and local governments may use the calendar year or other variation of time span designated as the fiscal year period,
rather than that commonly known as the Federal fiscal year (from October 1st through September 30th).
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.
Note:
This section indicates the record retention requirements and the type of records the Federal agency may require.
Not included are the normally imposed requirements of the General Accounting Office.
For programs falling under the purview of OMB Circular No. A-102, record retention is set forth in Attachment C.
For other programs, record retention is governed by the funding agency's requirements.
Regulations...
Authorization
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, Title II, Part D, Subparts 1 and 2, as amended.
Note:
This section lists the legal authority upon which a program is based (acts, amendments to acts, Public Law numbers, titles, sections, Statute Codes, citations to the U.S. Code, Executive Orders, Presidential Reorganization Plans, and Memoranda from an agency head).
Regulations, Guidelines, And Literature
34 CFR 76, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85, and 86.