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EETT: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) Formula and Competitive Grant questions pertaining to application, eligibility, technology plans, and private schools. |
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Application and Eligibility
- Is the
Enhancing Education Through Technology
(EETT) Formula Grant a school-based or local
education agency (LEA)-based grant?
Answer: Both the EETT Formula and Competitive
Grants are LEA-based grants established to assist LEAs in
improving student academic achievement through the use of
technology. The Competitive grant targets eligible districts
that serve grades 4-8; there is no grade restriction on the
Formula grant. At least 25 percent of the funds for both types
of grants must be used to provide ongoing, sustained, and
intensive, high-quality professional development in the integration
of advanced technologies, including emerging technologies,
into curricula and instruction and in using those technologies
to create new learning environments.
- Can our LEA apply for both the formula and competitive
grants?
Answer: Yes. Eligible applicants may apply
for both formula and competitive grants.
- Are charter schools eligible for EETT funding?
Answer: Yes. However, only direct-funded
charter schools may apply directly for EETT funding and those
schools must also meet the education technology plan requirement.
Locally funded charter schools are included in their funding-district's
application and cannot apply directly for funding.
- Will LEAs approved and granted funds in one year need
to re-apply in subsequent years?
Answer: If an LEA is awarded EETT-Formula
funding in one year and remains eligible for funding the next
year, the LEA will only need to sign and return the Grant
Award (AO-400) to the CDE.
EETT Competitive grants are multi-year awards, but require
additional program documentation at the end of each grant
award period.
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Education Technology
Plans
- What are the certification requirements for LEA technology
plans under EETT?
Answer: LEA education technology plans must
meet EETT education technology plan requirements before an
LEA can receive funding. LEAs that have education technology
plans that have passed state-level review for compliance with
the State Board approved guidelines need only address two
additional EETT criteria in order to meet the education technology
plan requirements for the EETT grant programs. LEAs with only
local governing board certification and/or E-rate certification
must submit their plans for state-level review in order to
be considered for funding.
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Is a technology plan required to receive technology-related funding?
Answer: Yes. A county office of education, school district, or direct-funded charter school must have an approved education technology plan in order to receive education technology funds administered by the California Department of Education (CDE). (Education Code Section 51871.5.)
- My LEA is a member of a consortium, but not the lead
LEA. Must our LEA also have an approved education technology
plan?
Answer: Yes. Whether applying as individual
applicants or as members of a consortium, all LEAs must have
an education technology plan approved at the state level.
Please note that if a consortium member LEA does not have
an approved education technology plan, the entire consortium
will not be funded until that LEA has received their approval.
- Our LEA education technology plan was reviewed and
approved by the California Department of Education, but we have
subsequently revised that plan. Does the entire plan have to
be reviewed again for EETT funding approval?
Answer: If an education technology plan
is updated and only minor revisions are made to the plan scope,
strategies or goals and all the plan components are addressed,
the technology plan does not need to be re-submitted for review.
If the revisions to the technology plan are significant then
the plan must be re-submitted to the CDE for review and approval.
LEAS must indicate that the plan has been revised and identify
in which plan area(s) revisions were made.
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Formula Funds
- How do I apply for EETT Title II, Part D formula funding?
Answer: If you previously received EETT Title II, Part D formula funding, and you have a currently approved technology plan and are eligible to receive Title I Part A funding, no action is required. Each year, grant award documents will be automatically sent to your superintendent, typically in a September timeframe.
- When will the EETT Title II, Part D formula funds be received?
Answer: Approximately eight to ten weeks
after the CDE receives the signed grant award documents.
- How much will my LEA receive under the formula funding?
Answer: Funds will be allocated based upon
the LEA's proportionate share of Title I Part A funding.
- How will consortium members that do not receive Title
I, Part A funding be funded?
Answer: Members of consortia will share
the resources of the qualified LEA. For example LEA 1 (the
qualified school LEA) will share its professional development
activities with LEA 2 (the non-qualified school LEA). The
shared resources will support both LEAs education technology
plans.
-
What is the final date to spend and/or obligate 2006-07 EETT formula
funds?
Answer: The final date to obligate 2006-07
EETT formula funds is June 30, 2008. Obligate means
the commitment of funds, not the actual expenditure of funds.
The deadline for submission of the End-Of-Grant Expenditure
Report Form to the CDE
is September 12, 2008.
-
How do I obtain the EETT Formula End Of Period Expenditure
Report Forms?
Answer: Hard copies are mailed to the program contact and are also available at your local CTAP office. You can also contact the Education Technology Office via e-mail at edtech@cde.ca.gov or at (916) 323-5715.
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Competitive Funds
-
Are there significant changes from the Round 1 and
the Round 2 EETT Competitive grant applications?
Answer: Yes. Based on certain sections of
legislation (AB 2706 (Berg)) effective this year, there are
four changes from previous funding rounds. Changes are reflected
in the revised Request for Application based on the following
bill sections:
- SEC. 8, Section 52295.35, b, removes the funding priority
by school type requirement. Grants shall be awarded to a
local educational agency (LEA) for schools serving students
in grades 4-8 based on the LEA priority ranking specified
in their application.
- SEC. 8, Section 52295.35, c, requires that the grant award
($300 per grade 4-8 students) be issued in one award, not
$200 the first year and $100 the second.
- SEC. 5, Section 52295.20, c, changes the definition for
a formula grant of insufficient size from $10,000 to $6,000.
- SEC. 7, Section 52295.30, b, requires that the scoring
process give priority to small school districts based upon
the size of the school district, its current access to technology,
and the pupil population served by the district.
- What will this mean for small school districts?
Answer: An application submitted from a
small school district or an application submitted from a consortium
of small school districts may receive up to an additional
three (3) bonus points awarded by the CDE based on responses
to Form 3a: Project Summary Small School District Addendum
(see Page 12 of the RFA). "Small school districts"
have been defined as follows (consistent with Education Code
Section 44046):
- A unified school district having an average daily attendance
(ADA) of less than 1,501.
- An elementary school district having an ADA of less than
901.
- A high school district having an average daily attendance
of less than 301.
An eligible direct-funded charter school may receive up to
three (3) bonus points awarded by the CDE, based on responses
to Form 3a: Project Summary Small School District Addendum
and qualifying ADA. "Small direct-funded charter schools"
have been defined as follows:
- A direct-funded charter school that serves students in
grades K-12, having an ADA of less than 1,501.
- A direct-funded charter school that serves students in
any grades K-8 only, having an ADA of less than 901.
- A direct-funded charter school that serves students in
grades 9-12, and no grades below 7, having an ADA of less
than 301.
- If a large school district partners with a small school
district, will the application be eligible for the additional
bonus points?
Answer: In keeping with the intent
of AB 2706 (Berg), an application submitted by other than a
defined small school district or a consortium of small school
districts will not receive bonus points. Scoring consideration
for an application that includes partnerships is already part
of the Scoring Criteria.
- Which districts are eligible to apply for the Enhancing
Education Through Technology (EETT) Competitive grant?
Answer: Eligibility is restricted to school
districts (or a consortium of school districts), county offices
of education, and direct-funded charter schools, that serve
students in grades four through eight and meet the following
criteria:
Those that are among the school districts in the state with
the highest number or percentage of children from families
with an income below the poverty line established by the federal
Director of the Office of Management and Budget and meet
either of the additional criteria:
They operate one or more schools identified for improvement
or corrective action under Section 1116 of the federal
No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-110
);
OR
They have a substantial need for assistance in
acquiring and using technology, defined as having an average
of 10:1 student-to-multimedia computer ratio or greater in
schools serving grades 4-8 in the district or an
average of less than 50 percent of classrooms connected to
the Internet in schools serving grades 4-8 in the district
as determined by the California School Technology Survey for
the year prior to the grant award.
For a list of eligible districts.
-
What is meant by "highest percentage of families
in poverty?"
Answer: For purposes of this program,
the term "poverty line" means the poverty line (as
defined by the Office of Management and Budget and revised
annually in accordance with Section 673(2) of the Community
Services Block Grant Act) applicable to a family of the size
involved (ESEA Section 9101(33)). (See the U.S. Census Web
site. (Outside Source))
For purposes of this program, eligible districts are those
within the top third based upon the percentage of students
in poverty or the number of students in poverty according
to census data.
-
May eligible school districts apply for both formula
and competitive EETT grants?
Answer: Yes. Eligible districts
may apply for both grants. Applications from an LEA that received
less than $6,000 in formula grant funding will be given funding
priority for the competitive grant.
-
Is this a district or a site-based application? Do
the grant award funds have to be divided equally among all
the eligible sites in the application?
Answer: The EETT Competitive grant
is a district grant that funds individual eligible sites.
The grant award does not have to be divided equally among
all the eligible sites in the application. The district sets
the priorities for funding the sites in the application.
-
How will grant awards be determined if application
is made on behalf of a consortium?
Answer: Grant awards will be based
on the total allocation for all eligible school districts
within the consortium. Grants will be awarded to the lead
school district on behalf of all eligible school districts
applying within the consortium.
-
Can my district apply as both a single district and
part of a consortium?
Answer: No. Eligible districts
may be part of only one application, either a single district
application or as part of a consortium application.
-
How does the district know which private schools(s)
should be included as part of the equitable participation
requirement of the grant?
Answer: For purposes of this grant,
private schools must be located within the service area of
the district and serve students in grades four through eight.
Eligible private schools are usually identified on the Consolidated
Application.
-
Can private schools benefit from these funds?
Answer: Services and goods are
shared with a qualified private school or schools. No funds
can be directly given to private schools. The goods and/or
services that are shared with private schools are agreed upon
through a consultation between the private school(s) and the
local educational agency (LEA). The LEA receives no extra
funds for private schools.
-
What is meant by a partnership, as referenced in
the application?
Answer: A partnership is an alliance
that involves the school district and at least one of the
following:
- A LEA that can demonstrate that teachers in its schools
are effectively integrating technology and proven teaching
strategies into instruction, based on a review of relevant
research, and that the integration results in improvement
in classroom instruction and in helping students meet challenging
academic standards.
- An institution of higher education that is in full compliance
with the teacher quality reporting requirements of Section
207(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, and
that has not been identified by the state as low performing
under that act. For more information about this requirement
see the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended,
Title II, Section 207(f).
- A for-profit business or organization that develops, designs,
manufacturers, or produces technology products or services
or has substantial expertise in the application of technology
in instruction.
- A public or private nonprofit organization with demonstrated
expertise in the application of educational technology in
instruction.
It is important to note that the partnership relationship
should be mutually beneficial. The strength of the partnership
relationship will have a bearing on the scoring of the application.
- How will the reviewers know if the partnership has
been established and if the partner was involved in the application
development?
Answer: The application must contain
a completed EETT Form 9, Consortium, and/or Partnership Applicants,
listing all consortium members and partners. A one-page partnership
letter should support any partnerships listed on this form.
Partnership letters should be written on the partner's letterhead,
summarize how the partnership supports the comprehensive program
and is mutually beneficial to the partner and the LEA. The letter
must be signed by the lead contact for each partnership.
- If the district has many partners, must they all provide
the letter specified in the RFA?
Answer: Yes, each partner must provide
a copy of the specified letter on the letterhead of the partnering
agency to receive maximum points on the scoring rubric.
- What is meant by partnership expertise?
Answer: Partnerships formed for the
purpose of this grant will be considered as having expertise
if they have a proven track record and/or history of success
in working with schools and/or districts to incorporate education
technology to help enhance teaching and learning.
- In regard to Form 9, if the district partners with
an entity that does not have a County District School (CDS)
code (such as an IHE, non-profit, etc.), what should be listed
as the CDS code?
Answer: In this case, leave the space
for the CDS code blank.
- Can a district choose a program other than the two
example programs included in the RFA, Environmental and Spatial
Technology (EAST) and the enhancing Missouri 's Instructional
Networked Teaching Strategies (eMINTS) models? If a program
other than EAST or the eMINTS model is selected, will there
be a competitive disadvantage?
Answer: The district does not
have to choose either the EAST program or eMINTS, as described
in Appendix C of the RFA. These models were included only as
examples to assist districts in developing an appropriate model
for this grant. Districts should choose a program that is based
on a review of relevant research and meets the needs of their
students.
There is no competitive advantage to the selection of any one
model. The scoring of the grant will be based on the criteria
in the EETT Scoring Rubric.
- Can a school district choose more than one program
at different sites within one application? If so, how does the
district explain that in the application narrative?
Answer: Yes. Districts may choose
more than one program within a single application, depending
on individual school site needs. The district should write the
application to show a cohesive, comprehensive plan that includes
all of the application components.
- If the district chooses EAST as the model for their
comprehensive program, must they apply directly to the EAST
program prior to submission, or can they just select EAST in
their application? If EAST is selected in the EETT application
and the application is funded, will the district's school(s)
automatically become an EAST site(s)?
Answer: Districts do not need to apply
directly to the EAST program. To list EAST as a partner, however,
districts must contact EAST to request a letter of support to
include in their EETT application. It is highly recommended
that any districts considering EAST as an option would have
attended one of the vision-building meetings to fully understand
the program or would have partnered with an existing EAST site.
Those applicants that select EAST as a program option and are
funded would sign the grant assurances, and enter into a service
agreement with EAST. Grantees will then become official EAST
schools.
- What defines a "research-based program?"
Is there a standard for what counts as "research based?"
Answer: A program that is considered
to be research based can be any in which research by an independent,
qualified entity has been conducted, is currently available,
and the findings support the program selection. A minimum amount
of research has not been established.
- How often does the California Technology Assistance
Project California Technology Assessment Profile (CTAP2)
assessment have to be completed?
Answer: Teachers participating in
the professional development program at each site funded by
this grant will complete the CTAP2
Technology Assessment annually during the following time period:
July 1, 2005 - June 30, 2006.
- Can the grant funds be used to support specific software
that allows analysis of student assessment data?
Answer: Yes, as long as software purchased
is part of the comprehensive program that has been clearly articulated
in the application.
- If during plan evaluation, the district recommends
modifications to the approved application, must they be approved
by the CDE?
Answer: If significant changes are
made to the plan, CDE must be contacted for approval prior to
implementation.
- May grant funds be used for programs that benefit
non-target classrooms or non-target staff?
Answer: Targeted classrooms and staff
must have first priority for any professional development funded
through the EETT Competitive Grant. All professional development
is to be selected with the targeted groups in mind. If space
and access permits, non-targeted classrooms and/or staff may
be included.
- How will grant funds be awarded?
Answer: Funds will be competitively
awarded on a geographic basis conforming to the 11 California
Technology Assistance Project (CTAP) regions.
- How is the student-to-multimedia computer ratio measured?
Answer: The
student-to-multimedia computer ratio is measured by funded school
site.
- I have heard that there is a federal provision to
allow transfer of funds within specific programs. Do the federal
principal flexibility provisions affect the EETT competitive
grant funds?
Answer: No. This provision does not apply to the competitive portion of the grant.
Funds for this grant must be utilized in accordance with the
approved application.
- May grant funds be used for grant administration?
Answer: Yes. However, any costs to
be included for grant administration must comply with federal
regulations (Education Department General Administrative Regulations
(EDGAR) 34 CFR76.560-76.569).
- Our district applied for and received EETT Competitive
grant funding for eligible schools in a previous funding round.
Can we re-apply for funding in Round 3?
Answer: Districts (or consortiums)
that applied for and received full funding for all eligible
schools in Round 2 of this grant are not eligible to apply for
Round 3 funding. However, districts (or consortiums) that:
(1) previously received partial funding for a school or schools;
(2) did not include all eligible schools in the Round 2 EETT
competitive application; or (3) included a school or schools
in the application that were not funded, may re-apply for those
schools in the Round 3 application.
Districts that applied for and received funding in the Round
1 EETT Competitive grant cycle may re-apply for funding in Round
3.
- The EETT-Competitive Grant Conditions and Grant Assurances require the LEA to meet at least 70 percent of each required benchmark included in the grant application, as well as any additional benchmark(s) added by the Local Education Agency (LEA), to be eligible to receive one-time follow up funding. How is the 70 percent calculated?
Answer: The performance benchmark for each required program subsection of the Request for Application (RFA) as defined within the Accountability Measure/Evaluation form is the percentage or number increase over the baseline in the program year.
For example if the baseline is 80 and the target is 100, this would yield a benchmark of 20. Thus, to meet 70 percent of the benchmark of 20, an increase of at least 14 would need to be attained for a total of at least 94.
A similar calculation is required for each benchmark within each program section, such as:
Program for Students Benchmark
The percentage of students in the target group that demonstrate an increase in their use of technology in year one as a tool to support meeting or exceeding academic content standards will increase from <insert number>% in the 2005-06 school year to insert number>% by 6/29/07.
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Private Schools
- Do the equitable participation requirements in Subpart
1 of Part E of Title IX of the ESEA apply to the EETT formula
and competitive grant programs?
Answer: Yes. The equitable participation
requirements apply to both of the EETT programs. (See ESEA
Section 9501(b)(1).). (Also see Provisions for Private Schools
(No Child Left Behind Act Implementation).
No funds can be directly given to private schools and the
LEA receives no extra funds for private schools. Private schools
are eligible to share services and/or benefits that are equitable
in comparison to services and benefits for public school children,
and must be provided after timely and meaningful consultation
with appropriate private school officials. Simply an offer
to provide service or an invitation to participate in a program,
without sufficient follow-up or additional dialogue, does
not satisfy the consultation requirement. More information
on the consultation requirements.
- How can private schools benefit from these funds?
Answer: Services and goods are shared with
qualified private school. No funds can be directly given to
private schools. The goods and/or services that are shared
with private schools are agreed upon through a consultation
between the private school(s) and the local education agency
(LEA). The LEA receives no extra funds for private schools.
- How does the district know which private school(s)
should be included as part of the equitable participation requirement
of the grant?
Answer: For purposes of the EETT grant,
private schools must be located within the service area of
the district and serve students in grades 4-8. Eligible private
schools are usually identified on the Consolidated Application.
- What do the equitable participation provisions require
LEAs and eligible local entities to do?
Answer: LEAs and eligible local entities
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. Therefore, for both EETT formula and competitive
awards, the consultation should begin during the development
of the local grant proposals. Eligible LEAs that seek both
competitive and formula funding under EETT may engage in consultations
that simultaneously involve the EETT competitive and formula
grants.
- What types of services or benefits must an LEA provide
to private schools?
Answer: LEAs and local entities must provide,
on an equitable basis, special educational services or other
benefits that address the needs under the program of children,
teachers, and other educational personnel in private schools
in areas served by the LEAs and local entities. Expenditures
for educational services and other benefits for private school
children, teachers, and other educational personnel must be
equal, taking into account the number and educational needs
of the children to be served, to the expenditures for participating
public school children.
- Does a county office of education have to consult
with all of the private schools in their service area if school
districts within that service area are already engaged in consultation
with the appropriate private school officials?
Answer: No. The district of residence is
responsible for providing services to eligible students in
private schools, as long as the residence has been determined
and established within a district's boundaries that would
be responsible.
- If a private school asks for staff development support
from the LEA, but does not want to utilize the LEA's trainer,
who is ultimately responsible for paying the outside trainer?
Answer: The size and scope of services is
decided through the consultation process. If it is determined
that the needs of private school students will be best met
through staff development activities for the staff working
with the eligible students, then the two parties decide on
"who, what and where" of the services. It is not a unilateral
decision by either party. The LEA makes the final decision.
- Should the LEA consider poverty as a factor when determining
the level of service and benefits to private schools under Title
II Part D?
Answer: The No Child Left Behind (NCLB)
Act provides for the participation of private schools in a
number of programs. (NCLB Section 9501), including Title II
Part D. This section of the law requires LEAs to conduct "...timely
and meaningful consultation with appropriate private school
officials..." to provide, on an equitable basis, services
and other benefits that address their needs. LEAs, in the
consultative process, must consider the enrollment and needs
of private school students, and may consider the incidence
of poverty. The consultation process normally includes discussions
on how children's needs are identified, services to be offered,
the delivery methods of services, and assessments to determine
results of the service. The consultation with private schools"...shall
occur before the LEA makes any decision that affects the opportunities
of eligible private school children, teachers and other educational
personnel..." In most areas throughout the state there exist
private school associations and consortiums that can facilitate
the dialogue. For additional information please refer to NCLB
Section 9502. For general information please contact Marleen
Allin at mallin@cde.ca.gov.
For NCLB Title II, Part D (Enhancing Education Through Technology)
questions, contact the Education Technology Office at edtech@cde.ca.gov.
- Which private schools must be consulted during the
consultation process for Title II Part D?
Answer: The consultation process must inform
private schools of all services they are eligible to receive
under NCLB, including those funded under Title II Part D.
The Consolidated Application includes a list of appropriate
private schools that LEAs are to involve in the consultative
process. The CDE Web site also maintains a list of private
non-profit schools that may enroll students who are eligible
for services under the federal No Child Left Behind program.
- If the only private schools in the district boundaries
are high schools that do not have students in grades 4-8 (the
targeted grades for the competitive EETT grant), does the district
still need to include these high schools in the private school
consultation process?
Answer: Yes. the consultation process must
inform private schools of all services they are eligible to
receive under NCLB, including those services that might be
available under the competitive grant program under Title
II Part D. The law requires LEAs to conduct "...timely and
meaningful consultation with appropriate private school officials..."
to provide, on an equitable basis, services and other benefits
that address their needs. To the extent that public schools
in the district have 9th grade students that receive services
from the EETT competitive grant program (this could be schools
that did not receive Digital High School funds), then 9th
grade private school students may also qualify to receive
services on an equitable basis. The Consolidated Application
includes a list of appropriate private schools that LEAs are
to involve in the consultative process. The CDE Web site also
maintains a list of private non-profit schools that may enroll
students who are eligible for services under the federal No
Child Left Behind program.
- If private schools refuse to provide the LEA with
information on their free and reduced lunch counts, do they
still need to be included (receive services) as part of the
EETT grant?
Answer: Yes. private schools are still entitled
to services; LEAs should not deny services to private schools
simply for not providing free and reduced price lunch data.
Regarding private school participation in NCLB Title II Part
D, the size and scope of services is decided through the consultation
process and the consultation process may consider the incidence
of poverty. LEAs may choose from several different methods
to calculate the number of eligible children.
Expenditures for educational services and other benefits
for private school children, teachers, and other educational
personnel must be equitable to the expenditures for participating
public school children, taking into account the number and
educational needs of the children to be served.
- What type of documentation is required regarding the
private school consultation process for EETT Title II Part D?
Answer: NCLB, Section 1120 (b)
requires that each LEA must maintain, in the agency's records,
written affirmation signed by officials of each participating
private school that the required consultation has occurred.
When CDE conducts a district coordinated compliance review,
they will check these documents for appropriate signatures.
The assurances for both the EETT competitive and formula grants
under Title II Part D require that each LEA must, only upon
request, provide CDE with a copy of written affirmation that
the required consultation has occurred. Refer to Assurance
#23 in the EETT Competitive Grant RFA and Grant Condition
#8 in the EETT Formula Grant RFA.
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