650 Million for Enhancing Education Through Technology
The purpose of this program is to improve student achievement through the use of technology in elementary and secondary schools. Additional goals include helping all students become technologically literate by the end of the eighth grade.�� This funding can be spent on the school library.
The funds under the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF) and Title I, Part A will be available in two stages. Funds from these very large programs are to be delivered by formula from the US Department of Education to the states.
- The Department of Education will release 50 percent of Title I, Part A before the end of March 2009, without requiring new state applications.
- Streamlined, user-friendly applications for the initial 67 percent of the SFSF will be available to governors by the end of March 2009, and funds will be made available by the Department of Education within two weeks after receipt of an approvable application.
- The Department of Education will award SFSF funds to governors
in two phases. To receive its initial SFSF allocation, a state must
submit to the Department of Education an application that provides (1)
Assurances that they are advancing the four reforms described in the
statute and maintenance of effort; (2) Baseline data on their current
status in each of these areas; and (3) Basic information on how the
funds will be used.
- Within two weeks of receipt of an approvable SFSF application, the Department of Education will provide a state with 67 percent of its SFSF allocation.
- A state will receive the remaining portion of its SFSF
allocation after the Department of Education approves the state's plan
detailing its strategies for addressing the education reform objectives
described in the assurances. This plan must also describe how the state
is implementing the record-keeping and reporting requirements under
ARRA and how SFSF and other funding will be used in a fiscally prudent
way that substantially improves teaching and learning.
- In the near future, the Department of Education will issue
guidance on the specific requirements that a state must meet to receive
its phase two allocation. The Department of Education anticipates that
the phase-two funds will be awarded beginning July 1, 2009, on a rolling basis.
- For these programs, the Department of Education expects to make available the remainder of the funds during the period July 1 to September 30, 2009, conditioned on states providing additional information.
Funds for Educational Technology State Grants ($650 million) will be made available beginning in fall 2009, and will be conditioned upon receipt of further information that will be outlined in future guidance.