Department of Education Releases Ed Tech Guidance

Today, the U.S. Department of Education released guidance on EETT ARRA funds; a notice Notice of Proposed Priorities, Requirements, Definitions, and Selection Criteria for Race to the Top grants; grant announcement for the State Longitudinal Data Systems and information on Title I School Improvement: SFSF Phase II dollars and other ARRA programs.

Race to the Top Notice for Comment and other ARRA Items

1. The $650 million in ARRA ed tech funds will be released no later than this coming Monday, July 27th (as will regular FY09 EETT funding). States can send out all ARRA ed tech funds to LEAs by competitive grants — and USDE encourages this — but states can send to LEAs up to 50% of the ARRA funds via formula grants. 2. Ed tech ARRA funds may be used to cover obligations that occurred as of February 17, 2009, the date that ARRA was enacted. ARRA funds must be obligated by September 30, 2011. Regular EETT funds can be used for obligations that occurred as of July 1, 2009 but are also available for obligation through September 30, 2011. 3. There are significant reporting and accountability requirements that USDE is imposing on recipients of ARRA ed tech funds, including:

a. All LEAs, SEAs and other eligible entities must “maintain accurate, complete and reliable documentation of all Ed Tech ARRA expenditures.”

b. Accountability: SEAs “must develop a process and accountability measures that the state will use to evaluate the extent to which activities funded under the program are effective in integrating technology into curricula and instruction. These accountability measures should evaluate the impact that ed tech activities have had on student achievement.

c. Reporting: SEAs must report LEA performance using the following 4 measures:

1) Percentage of districts receiving ed tech funds that have effectively and fully integrated technology.

2) Percentage of classrooms with Internet access in high and low poverty schools.

3) Percentage of teachers who meet their state technology standards.

4) Percentage of students who meet state technology standards by the end of the eighth grade. 4. The guidance also provides four categories of eligible uses of ed tech funds and examples. The categories are:

a. Teaching effectiveness and school improvement

b. Data and learning management systems

c. 21st Century college and career readiness standards

d. Effective interventions and intensive support

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