2006-2009 Learning Technology Grants
Three-Year Application

Questions and Answers

Note: Many of the questions posed have been generalized to be of benefit to the greatest number of interested parties.

Q: Who is eligible to apply for a Learning Technology Grant?

A: Public school districts and Boards of Cooperative Education (BOCES) are eligible to receive funding under the Learning Technology Grant Program. At least one SINI or SURR school building must be included in the application. State legislation requires applicants to include nonpublic schools of all denominations within a district or BOCES boundaries as substantial and equitable partners.

Q: What schools are eligible to serve in the capacity of a SINI/SURR school for the purpose of applying for the Learning Technology Grant?

A: We have provided a link to the SINI and SURR schools that are eligible for the purpose of applying for the grant. These schools will remain eligible for all three years of the grant period. However, SINI or SURR school buildings that will be implementing a plan to close or phase out any time during the three year period from 2006 to 2009 will be ineligible to serve in the capacity of a SINI/SURR school for the purpose of this grant.

Q: On September 12, 2006 NYSED issued a new list of SINI and SURR high schools. Can a district partner with one of them, even if it is not on the original list provided on the Learning Technology Grant website?

A: No. The SINI and SURR schools list provided on the Learning Technology Grant website are the schools that will remain eligible for all three years of the grant

Q: If there is no SURR or SINI School building in the district must I partner with one to be eligible for the grant?

A: Yes, to be eligible for the grant you must include a SURR or SINI school in your application. You may include one from a neighboring district.

Q: We are very interested in applying for the Learning Technology Grant we have not yet been designated as a SINI school but anticipate going on the list this year due to our low performance. Do you know when the list for elementary and middle schools is coming out?

A: In this scenario, the school building would not serve as the needed SINI/SURR School. The only buildings eligible to serve as the SINI/SURR buildings for this grant are those listed http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/funding/ltg0609.htm.  However, this building may apply for a grant in partnership with a SINI/SURR school on the list.

Q: Our school is not a SINI/SURR school, but we receive students from a SINI/SURR building when they are promoted. Are we eligible for a grant?

A: Any school district or BOCES may apply for a Learning Technology Grant. At least one of the school buildings included in the application must be one of the SINI or SURR buildings listed at http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/funding/ltg0609.htm.

Q: How can I find non-public schools in my area?

A: The Education Department's Grant Finance website provides a list of schools by county. Go to http://www.oms.nysed.gov/cafe/ and click on "Reports" and look at Local Agency Reports.

Q: The difference between a SINI school and a SRAP school seems to be slight, one is a Federal designation and the other State. In this light, would a SRAP school be eligible to apply for the Learning Technology Grant?

A: Public school districts and BOCES are eligible to apply for the grant. A SURR/SINI school must be an integral part of the application. A school designated as a SRAP school cannot be substituted for a SURR/SINI School.

Q: If our school (a non-SINI public school) partners with a SINI school, would we write the grant to receive both hardware and share the staff development?

A: Yes. The sharing of the necessary resources and staff development should be determined collaboratively as the grant proposal is developed with the SINI/SURR school and the nonpublic school partner.

Q: The district wants to apply for a Learning Technology Grant. There is no nonpublic school, nor SINI school in our district. If we partner with a nonpublic school that is located in a neighboring district, can we apply? Do we also have to partner with a SINI school from another district?

A: If a district has no nonpublic schools within its boundaries it does not have to partner with one. However it must include a SURR or SINI school from a neighboring district.

Q: Please provide some clarification regarding the 2006-2009 Learning Technology Grant funding. The RFP states $3,285,000 of which $1,785,000 is set aside for NYC, $750,000 is set aside for the Big Four and $750,000 is set aside for the Rest of State. Is this the total amount of the funding for 2006-09 or is this the amount
released each year?

A: Grant winners will get $50,000 per year in '06, 07, and '08 for a total of $150,000 over the three-year period.

Q: Does supplemental software for English language arts, mathematics and science have to be listed on the What Works Clearinghouse?

A: No. Grantees are to use recognized model programs that are based on research and have shown promise of significantly increasing student academic achievement. We suggest the clearinghouse as one resource they might get information from.

Q: What is the minimum number of schools necessary to participate when applying for this grant?

A: Every application must include at least one SINI or SURR school in the application. If there are nonpublic schools within the boundaries of the district, the district must engage them in meaningful consultation to determine their participation.

Q: If my school building is a SURR school building, may we apply for the Learning Technology Grant without going through our district?

A: No. Only Public School Districts and BOCES are eligible to apply for the grant. The grant may be written by people in a specific building and may benefit specific buildings but the district or BOCES must serve as the applicant. Furthermore, the sign-off of the superintendent is required in the assurances section.

Q: What exactly constitutes a nonpublic school?

A: Part 144.8 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education focuses on the students attending nonpublic schools. It states “Nonpublic school students” mean students entitled to attend the public schools without payment of tuition who are enrolled in a nonpublic elementary, middle or secondary school located within the area served by the school district.

Q: Sometimes there are citywide or BOCES programs that serve students from SINI and SURR schools and students from nonpublic schools. Are these citywide programs fundable under this grant program?

A: A citywide or BOCES program may apply for the grant. They would still need to partner with a SINI or SURR school building and give nonpublic school buildings within the service area an opportunity for meaningful consultation on participation.

Q: Is it possible through the Learning Technology Grant to fund only staff development?

A: Yes

Q: Does “applying for more than one grant” mean by content area?

A: The RFP states that an applicant may apply for more than one grant, but each grant must have a different focus or include different schools. First remember that all grants must follow all grant requirements. The grants might include different subjects, different grade levels or different buildings.

Q: If we are proposing a project for students in grades 9-12 and the only nonpublic school in the area serves K-8, are we required to include them in the project?

A: The question cannot be answered until you confer with the nonpublic school. You must see if they want to participate, and if they have any similar needs that can be met through your planned activities. The grant calls for collaboration and meaningful consultation with your nonpublic school partner.

Q: Now that the grant is a three year grant, the Mathematics Department at our central office would like to apply for a grant. May we?

A: A central office has always been able to apply for a grant as long as they follow all the requirements of the grant. That is, the grant must include a SINI or SURR school building, involve nonpublic school teachers and not exceed $50,000.

Q: Could you please tell me how many applications you receive per year and how many you fund each year?

A: The number of applications received varies from year to year. Last year we received 107 applications and funded 64 grants. Of the 64 grants funded, 24 were funded in New York City and 42 in the rest of the state. The amount of money that the Legislature gives us remains consistent so we generally fund about 64 grants. The money split changes from time to time, so the areas that receive the funds changes.

Q: If we apply for the grant, we would like to cluster professional development in the first year of the grant; with all of the technology purchases in years 2 and 3. Can we do that? Technology purchases would at no time exceed 45 percent of the grant.

A: After careful consideration, we have decided not to allow this. One of the purposes of the grant is to integrate technology into classroom practices. As technology is acquired, teachers need to become familiar with it and learn to integrate it into instructional practice. This grant program supports time spent mentoring, and supporting teachers, as well as increasing the number of teachers involved the grant.

Q. What is the funding cycle for year two and three of the grant?

A. The funding cycle for the grant is July 1 – June 30, provided funding for the Learning Technology Grant program is appropriated in the budget during the next two budget cycles and the legislature passes a budget in a timely manner.