SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today announced that the California Department of Education (CDE) has made available $41 million in federal funding through the Enhancing Education through Technology (EETT) Competitive Grant Program.

"Access to education technology is vital for our students if they are going to successfully compete in tomorrow's work force," said Jack O'Connell. "Without this federal funding, fewer children, and especially those children in lower-performing schools, would have the opportunity to learn essential computer skills that will help them advance in school and eventually on the job."

This program was established as part of the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (P.L.107-110, Title II, Part D). In addition to the federal law, the grant program is governed by California Legislation, Senate Bill 192 (O'Connell), the Education Technology Grant Program of 2002 (Education Code Sections 52295.10-52295.55 and state regulations Title 5, Division 1, Subchapter 20.5, Sections 11971-11979.5).

Eligible applicants include school districts, county offices of education, and direct-funded charter schools serving grades four through eight that meet additional eligibility criteria specified in the grant application. Locally funded charter schools may receive EETT funding if included within an application filed by a school district or county office of education.

Eligibility criteria include targeting school districts with a high percentage or number of students living in poverty according to federal census data. Districts also must have either one or more schools identified for improvement or corrective action under Section 1116 of the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 or have a substantial need in acquiring and using technology. A list of eligible districts can be found on the EETT Web page at Education Technology - Learning Support.

According to the 2002 California School Technology Survey, the statewide student-to-multimedia computer ratio was 9.1-to-1. However, for schools that had 81 percent or more of their students eligible for free or reduced price lunch, the ratio was 11.45-to-1.

The purpose of this grant is to provide funding for grades four through eight to assist eligible districts to use technology to enhance teaching and to promote learning. In addition to the focus on academic achievement, SB 192 (O'Connell), emphasizes that the funding should be used to prepare elementary and middle school students to enter high school with the academic and technology literacy skills to support success in high school. It also should be used to assist in the acquisition, development, and maintenance of an effective educational technology infrastructure that expands access to technology, particularly for disadvantaged pupils, and their teachers.

The funds will be distributed through a competitive grant program. The grant requires that successful applicants meet specified goals through the implementation of a comprehensive program based on current, relevant research. Grantees generally will receive $300 per eligible student, unless eligible to receive the small school funding formula. Contingent on the availability of funding, grantees may qualify for a one-time follow-up grant.

The Request for Applications (RFA) for the EETT Competitive Grant is posted online at the EETT Web page Education Technology - Learning Support. School superintendents in California also will be notified of this funding opportunity via a letter from CDE. The grant applications are due to CDE on May 14, 2003. CDE expects to make the first implementation grant awards in June of 2003.