AUTHORIZATION:

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

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 Place Cursor Here for Definition

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.

Pre-application 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.

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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.

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.

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.

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