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

Q: How can I find non-public schools in my area?
A: Under the Department's Grant Finance website are lists by county and public school district of registered non-public schools. Go to http://www.oms.nysed.gov/cafe/ and click on "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: Any school is 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: Is it a requirement that early literacy be part of a proposal that centers on ELA? 
A: No

Q:  Can we partner with a SINI/SURR school even if that school belongs to a district which is applying for its own Learning Technology Grant?
A:  Yes.  A SINI/SURR school can be part of more than one grant application as long as the project focus is different.

Q:  If a school missed its State target of 150 and has to do a State improvement plan is the school eligible for a Learning Technology Grant?
A:  All public schools are eligible to apply for the Learning Technology Grant; however, a SINI or SURR school must be an integral part of every application.  If there are no nonpublic schools within the district or no nonpublic schools choose to participate in the grant, the application does not need to include a nonpublic school.

Q:  Are there any public schools in my area applying for the Learning Technology grant that our nonpublic school can partner with?
A:  This is a competitive grant, the State Education Department does not know in advance who will apply for the grant.  Try contacting the public schools in your area to see who is applying.

Q:  A district may submit multiple applications for the Learning Technology Grant, but only one of the applications needs to involve a SURR or SINI school.  Is this correct?
A:  No.  Each application must involve a SURR or SINI school.

Q:  Are Section 4410 programs that serve pre-school age children with disabilities eligible to apply for the Learning Technology Grant Program?
A:  No.  A 4410 program is an approved private placement to serve preschool students with disabilities. They are not considered public schools.  A 4410 program acting in the capacity of a nonpublic school may partner with a public school with the purpose of applying for a Learning Technology Grant.

Q:  Please clarify which research-based programs for English/Language Arts can be implemented using the Learning Technology Grant for Enhancing Teaching and Learning?
A:  The Department does not recommend particular programs.  Each school district is different and must determine what approach they need to use, based on the needs of their students.  What you need to do is look at current research, either in journals or on the web, and determine what is applicable for your situation.  One site you might find helpful is http://www.iste.org/.  In addition, any software that may be purchased for early literacy should be consistent with the findings of the National Reading Panel Report in regard to scientifically based research on the development of reading ability.

Q:  In the past, individual schools could apply for the Learning Technology Grant.  The language in the new announcement seems to indicate that this should be a district level application.  It is unclear whether individual schools can apply.
A:  Individual schools within a school district may apply for a Learning Technology Grant.  Each application must include a SURR or SINI school and a nonpublic school as an integral part of the application. If there are no nonpublic schools within the district, or no non public schools choose to participate in the grant, the grant does not need to include a nonpublic school.

Q:  Our school is an alternative high school, located on a college campus.  Are we eligible to apply for the Learning Technology Grant? 
A:  If you are considered a part of your local public school district, or are a BOCES secondary program, you are eligible to apply for the grant.  You must follow all grant guidelines.

Q:  Can a special act school district apply for a Learning Technology Grant?
A:  Yes.  As a public school, a special act school district may apply for a grant.  All guidelines must be followed.

Q:  Can a district enter into a consortium with their BOCES in order to submit an application for the Learning Technology Grant, and at the same time submit an application on their own?
A:  Yes, a district may do this. The focus of the two grants must be different and all guidelines must be followed for both grants.

Q:  If a district is a “District in Need of Improvement” can we submit an application from a non-SINI or non-SURR school?
A:  Even if you are a “District in Need of Improvement”, a SINI or SURR school must be included as an integral part of the grant application.

Q:  In the LTG RFP, it does not indicate if the document must be double-spaced, nor does it specify a requirement for the margin. Does this mean one can single-space the document and use half-inch margins?
A:  Yes.

Q: Who is eligible to apply for a Learning Technology Grant?
A: While only public school districts and Boards of Cooperative Education (BOCES) are eligible to receive funding under the Learning Technology Grant Program, State legislation requires applicants to include nonpublic schools of all denominations within a district or BOCES boundaries as substantial and equitable partners. If a district or BOCES has no nonpublic school within its boundaries or no nonpublic school that wishes to participate the district or BOCES may still apply for the grant. The district or BOCES will not be penalized if they have no nonpublic school within their boundaries.

Q: If a school has previously been awarded a Learning Technology Grant, is that school eligible to reapply? 
A: Yes, such a district may apply. This is an annual competitive grant; as long as the guidelines are met a district is eligible to reapply for a grant.

Q: Are there any specific guidelines as to what constitutes "equitable participation" by nonpublic schools in an LTG grant in terms of numbers of participants from the nonpublic school?
A: Yes. A school district or BOCES must provide nonpublic schools within the district or BOCES with access to equipment on an equitable basis.  This would involve the same per pupil expenditure for both public and non public school students. For example in a grant targeting third grade math, per pupil expenditure should be the same for third graders in both the public and nonpublic schools.  Teachers at the grade level being served in both the public and nonpublic school should be involved in the grant.

Q:  Are charter schools considered Public or Nonpublic Schools?
A: For the purposes of the Learning Technology Grant, charter schools are considered public schools. However they are not school districts and therefore are not eligible for funding directly. They are part of the public school district in whose boundaries they are housed and as such may apply under the auspicious of the district.

Q:  We are interested in applying for the 2005-06 Learning Tech Grant for Enhancing Teaching and Learning but none of the nonpublic schools in our district want to participate.  Are we still qualified for the grant?  If so, will we be penalized?
A:  Yes you may apply. You must respond to section  (a) of the fourth criteria by describing the process followed to consult with all nonpublic schools of all denominations and nonsectarian private schools in your service area.  Points will not be taken off for section  (b) or (c) of the fourth criteria in the Proposal Narrative and Rating Criteria. 

Q:  Does each district that is participating have to have their superintendent sign a statement of Assurances page?
A:  No. The Superintendent of the agency receiving the funding must sign the assurance page.

Q:  Who do I put on the Application Cover Page, the BOCES because we are coordinating it or the LEA?
A:  The agency receiving funding should be identified on the cover page.

Q:  May a grant take an interdisciplinary approach to learning?
A:  Yes. An agency may develop interdisciplinary approaches to learning provided that the primary area of focus is in Mathematics PreK-12 and/or ELA including early literacy. Such approaches should focus on improved student performance through the use of educational technology.

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 partner with a SURR or SINI school building. You may partner with one from another district.

Q:  Does the 14-page limit on the grant include the FS-10 and other forms?
A:  No. The 14-page limit does not include the FS-10, Assurances, the Participation Form-Public School Buildings, Participation Form - Nonpublic Schools or the Participating School Data Form.

Q:  Is there any way in which former SURR, NYC District 75 schools, or other public schools may participate in the Learning Technology Grant Program?
A:  These schools may participate as partners. However, there MUST be a SURR or SINI designated school in each application, and there must be a nonpublic school partner unless the situation is as described in # 5 above.

The following questions and answers were posted on 5/26/05: