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Questions & Answers (posted 9/27/06)
Purpose of Program
The New York State Learning Technology Grant Program promotes collaboration between public school districts/BOCES and nonpublic schools of all denominations to:
Increase the use of learning technology to improve student academic performance in relation to the New York State learning standards, process and content strands, key ideas and performance indicators in grades pre-kindergarten through 12.
Provide high quality professional development focused on increasing a teacher’s knowledge and skills in the use of learning technology.
Provide ongoing support for students to become technologically literate by 8th grade.
Legislative Authority
Commissioner’s Regulations, Section 144.8.
Eligible Applicants
Public school districts and BOCES, or consortiums thereof.
Applicants must give nonpublic schools within their boundaries the opportunity to participate. Applicants must also include at least one SURR or SINI school building in the application to be considered for funding. Charter schools are not eligible to receive a grant but may be included as a participating school in an application. Eligible applicants may apply for more than one grant. A separate application is needed for each $50,000 grant. If an applicant applies for more than one grant it must include a different focus and/or different schools. Each application must include a SINI or SURR school building.
Funding
$3,285,000 for 2006-07.
Maximum Grant Awards
$50,000 per year.
Due Date
Postmarked by October 11, 2006
Project Period
July 1, 2006 - June 30, 2009
Additional Information
Questions about this RFP must be sent to emscltg@mail.nysed.gov by September 18, 2006. Answers to these questions will be posted by September 25, 2006 at www.emsc.nysed.gov under Funding Opportunities.
SED Contacts
New York City - Ken
Chieu at (718) 722-2778 or
emscltg@mail.nysed.gov
Rest of State (including Big Four) - Connie Centrello at (518) 474-5922 or
emscltg@mail.nysed.gov
Please adhere to the following instructions or your application will not be considered for review.
Required Signature(s)
The original signature of the Chief School Administrator/Officer must appear on the Application Cover Page in blue ink.
Number of Copies
Submit one (1) original and three (3) copies of the complete application to the address provided on the Application Cover Page.
Due Date
Applications must be postmarked by October 11, 2006.
Checklist
Use the Application Checklist to ensure that you send a complete application package. Incomplete applications will not be considered for review.
Page Limits and Standards
The Proposal Narrative should contain no more than 14 pages. A page is 8 ½ x 11 (one-side only) with one-inch margins on top, bottom and sides. Use Times Roman or Arial font in 12-point size. The application must be assembled and submitted in the following order:
Application Checklist
Application Cover Page
Participation Form(s) – Public School Buildings
Participation Form(s) – Nonpublic Schools (if applicable)
Participating School Data Form
Proposal Narrative for Three-Year Program
Budget Category and Narrative Forms for the first year only, 7/1/06 to 6/30/07
Budget Summary Form (FS-20) for the first year only, 7/1/06 to 6/30/07
Budget Category and Narrative Forms and Budget Summary Form (FS-20)
The application must include a Budget Category and Narrative Form for each category of expenditure and a Budget Summary Form (FS-20). The narrative should include sufficient detail to allow reviewers to understand what the funds will be used for and the relationship between the proposed expenditures and project activities and goals. The totals from each of the Budget Category and Narrative Forms must correspond to the amounts shown on the Budget Summary Form (FS-20).
Only equipment items with a unit cost that equals or exceeds $5,000 should be included under Equipment, Code 20. Equipment items under $5,000 should be included under Supplies and Materials, Code 45.
The proposed budget will be reviewed for the appropriateness of the expenditures. The budget will be adjusted for any items deemed to be non-allowable or inappropriate. NYSED staff will inform the applicants of any adjustments. Grants Finance will return an approved copy of the Budget Summary Form (FS-20) to the contact person and address on the Application Cover Page.
Program Purpose/Goals
The New York State Learning Technology Grant Program promotes collaboration between public school districts/BOCES and nonpublic schools of all denominations to:
Increase the use of learning technology to improve student academic performance in relation to the New York State learning standards, process and content strands, key ideas and performance indicators in grades pre-kindergarten through 12, with a particular focus on mathematics, English Language Arts, including early literacy and science;
Provide high quality professional development focused on increasing a teacher’s knowledge and skills in the use of learning technology to help students attain higher levels of performance in relation to New York State learning standards;
Provide ongoing support for students to become technologically literate by 8th grade;
Make use of recognized model programs that are based on research and have shown promise of significantly increasing student academic achievement. For further information on researched based programs see the What Works Clearinghouse at http://www.w-w-c.org/.
Learning Technologies include:
Information delivery systems or services used to provide distance learning.
Interactive telecommunications, including equipment and services.
Computer technology integrated into classroom instruction.
Networking among schools, including network equipment.
Multimedia equipment and data storage.
Services to access the Internet.
Education related materials, services and software.
While a wide range of technologies may assist with instruction, the key to improving student academic achievement is a qualified teacher. Grant recipients must provide high quality professional development on the integration of technologies, including emerging technologies, into curricula and instruction, and must use these technologies to create new learning environments.
Program Priorities
To improve student academic performance in mathematics (pre-kindergarten through grade 12), English Language Arts, including early literacy and science.
To use technology in the classroom, not in computer labs.
To coordinate activities with other federal and State educational programs (e.g., E-rate).
Project Period
Projects are expected to operate for three years, from July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2009. However, a budget for the first year only should be submitted with this application. Budgets will be renewable for the next two years contingent upon the State legislature appropriating funds, satisfactory performance in the previous year and timely receipt of the annual report. No extension or carryover of funds from year to year is allowed.
Project Funding
Grant awards are up to $50,000 per year.
Eligible Applicants
All public school districts and BOCES, or consortiums thereof, are eligible to receive a grant. If a consortium applies, the consortium lead member will be designated as the payee/fiscal agent. All consortium members, as well as grant participants (defined below) will be the recipient of grant services. The consortium lead cannot subgrant funds to any of the consortium members or grant participants (as defined below). The lead will contract for services on behalf of all consortium members and grant participants.
Eligible applicants may apply for more than one grant. A separate application is needed for each $50,000 grant. If an applicant applies for more than one grant it must include a different focus and/or different schools. Each application must include a SINI or SURR school building.
Grant Participants
Nonpublic schools of all denominations within the boundaries of public school districts and BOCES must be given the opportunity to participate. Applicants must also include at least one SURR or SINI school building in the application to be considered for funding. Charter schools may be included as a participating school in an application. No other entities are permitted to participate (community-based organizations (CBO’s), etc.).
Allowable Activities and Costs
A minimum of 45 percent of the project budget must be used for high quality professional development, including mentoring and/or in-classroom coaching of teachers to support instruction using technology.
No more than 5 percent of the funds may be used for program administration.
No more than 5 percent of the funds may be used for evaluation.
No more than 45 percent of the funds may be used for equipment (e.g., computers, PDA’s, smart boards, alpha smarts, etc.).
Budgets cannot exceed $50,000.
Non-Allowable Activities and Costs
Repairs, minor remodeling or construction
Extension or carryover of funds
Review and Rating of Applications
Complete proposals will be reviewed by at least two reviewers and scored according to the point criteria indicated on the Proposal Narrative and Rating Criteria chart. If the scores for a proposal are more than 20 points apart, another reviewer will rate the proposal. The two scores closest in numeric value will be averaged and used to rank the application.
Proposals will be separated into three categories, those from New York City Public Schools, those from the Big Four and those from all other public school districts, BOCES and consortium thereof. Proposals will be placed in the appropriate category according to score from highest to lowest. $1,785,000 will be set aside for New York City schools and $750,000 will be set aside for the Big Four, and $750,000 will be set aside for the schools in the rest of the state.
SED will review the budgets and eliminate any items that are deemed unallowable or inappropriate including repairs, minor remodeling or construction.
Funds in the amount of the adjusted budget, not to exceed $50,000 per grant, will be awarded to proposals in each category in order of score from highest to lowest until the total amount of funds set aside for that category are insufficient to fund the next ranking proposal in that category in full. That applicant will be given the option of partial funding for a reduced program.
Once all applicants in a particular category are funded, if any funds remain, those funds will be distributed proportionately to the remaining funding categories. For example, if the New York City category had $100,000 in funds remaining, those funds would be moved to the Big Four and Rest of State categories in equal amounts ($50,000 each), since those categories were funded at an equal amount. Then awards in each category would be made to the next highest ranking proposal.
In the event of a tie score, the proposals will be ranked according to the following:
- 1st: highest number of nonpublic school partners
- 2nd: highest number of SURR and/or SINI school buildings served
Entities’ Responsibility
Projects must operate under the jurisdiction of the local board of education, or other appropriate governing body, and are subject to at least the same degree of accountability as all other expenditures of the local agency. The local board of education, or other appropriate governing body, is responsible for the proper disbursement of, and accounting for, project funds. Written agency policy concerning wages, mileage and travel allowances, overtime compensation, or fringe benefits, as well as State rules pertaining to competitive bidding, safety regulations and inventory control must be followed. Supporting or source documents are required for all grant related transactions entered into the local agency’s recordkeeping systems. Source documents that authorize the disbursement of grant funds consist of purchase orders, contracts, time and effort records, delivery receipts, vendor invoices, travel documentation and payment documents, including check stubs.
Supporting documentation for grants and grant contracts must be kept for at least six years after the last payment was made unless otherwise specified by program requirements. Additionally, audit or litigation will “freeze the clock” for records retention purposes until the issue is resolved. All records and documentation must be available for inspection by State Education Department officials or its representatives.
For additional information about grants, please refer to the Fiscal Guidelines for Federal and State Aided Grants, http://www.oms.nysed.gov/cafe/guidelines.html.
Required Reports
All grant recipients must submit an annual report no later than August 15 of each project year. The report may not exceed five pages in length and shall demonstrate progress made towards achieving project goals and objectives, the project’s impact on the use of technology in the classroom, and any specific concerns or issues encountered in program implementation. Receipt of this report will be necessary to receive continued project funding. Reports are to be mailed as indicated below:
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New York City Schools |
Rest of State; Big Four |
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Project Monitoring
The State Education Department is responsible for monitoring the activities of the award recipients to ensure that the funds are used for authorized purposes in compliance with the appropriate program laws, regulations and grant agreements and that performance goals are achieved. Monitoring can include document reviews, telephone calls and /or meetings. Award recipients are required to provide State Education Department staff and State auditors with access to records and financial statements as necessary to perform their monitoring responsibilities.
The State Education Department does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, religion, creed, disability, marital status, veteran status, national origin, race gender, or genetic predisposition or carrier status, or sexual orientation in its educational programs, services and activities. Portions of any publication designed for distribution can be made available in a variety of formats, including Braille, large print or audiotape, upon request. Inquiries regarding this policy of nondiscrimination should be directed to the Department’s Office for Diversity, Ethics, and Access, Room 152, Education Building, Albany, NY 12234.
09/27/2006