FAQ

This list will be updated as questions are asked.
Updated 04/08/08

Do we submit one proposal or two proposals if we have a partner?
If TWO public school corporations are submitting a proposal as a partnership you need to submit ONE(1) proposal and TWO(2) budgets (each corp. will be their own fiscal agent) - Two grants will be issued
If ONE public school corporations and ONE Non-public school are submitting a proposal as a partnership you need to submit ONE(1) proposal and ONE(1) budgets (the public school corp. will serve as the fiscal agent) - One grants will be issued - the public school corp. will administer the funds.

Is open source a requirement of this grant?
Yes.  The topic under study is the efficacy of using low cost computers with open source software in high school English/LA classrooms to increase student academic performance and engagement.

Is the PD amount $44,000 or $44,000 per year - $88,000?
The maximum PD amount is $44,000 for the grant. Under federal guidelines 25% of grant funds must be used for professional development. Fifty-percent of the PD funds should be spent in the first year and all PD activities must be completed September 30, 2010 and all funds must be liquidated by December 31, 2010.

Can we use PD funds for coaches in the English classroom?
Yes. The coaches must work with the teachers using modeling and other coaching techniques. PD funds cannot be used to pay for coaches to teach students.

Can substitutes be paid with these funds
Yes. However, under federal guidelines non-public schools cannot use Title II, Part D to pay for substitute teachers.
 

Can the budget for professional development page detailing activities be more than one page?
Yes. You may use as many as needed.
 

Can a school be a collaborative partner only? Do they have to have 1:1 technology? What if they have strong test scores and use technology in their teaching of writing. Is this possible?
You could contract with them to provide professional development, they would not be a grant partner as they would be unable to partner in the grant process.

In terms of the PD, should we include the other English, or should we focus this on the 5 grant teachers?
The grant must serve the 5 teachers but the PD does not need to exclude anyone. So, you may invite all the English teachers, any other teacher, media specialists, admin etc to a workshop that focuses on a topic appropriate to the grant. You cannot use these funds for PD that does not serve the grant teachers, admin, and support. You cannot send non-grant teachers to a workshop with these funds. However, anything held in-house is open to all teachers, media specialists, and administrators.
 

Is an outside evaluator required?
No

Can professional development money be spent to get the technology staff trained on open source installation, support & maintenance?
Under NCLB Title II, Part D legislation PD fund to provide ongoing, sustained, and intensive, high-quality professional development. The recipient shall provide professional development in the integration of advanced technologies, including emerging technologies, into curricula and instruction and in using those technologies to create new learning environments, such as professional development in the use of technology—
1a.) to enable educators to access data and resources to develop curriculum and instructional materials;
1b.) to enable teachers to use the Internet and other technology to communicate with parents, other teachers, principals, and administrators; and to retrieve Internet-based learning resources;
1c.) to lead to improvements in classroom instruction in the core academic subjects, including increasing student technology literacy,
So if you were training someone on the use of Moodle so that they could conduct workshops/training to ...1c. it would be covered. If the training would fit under one of these three items (see budget) if could be expended from PD. To learn how to set up a server would be covered under the Implementing, repairing, and maintaining equipment (Up to $12,500 based on the proposed plan)

Is there a grant application form?
No, there is not an application form. However, there are forms for the cover pages, the budget, and the project goals. In addition, the rubric describes the sections and the corresponding points that each section will be evaluated on; your district may choose to have other components in the plan.

When are applications due?
Applications are due in the Office of Learning Resources by 4pm on May 1, 2008 – NO EXCEPTIONS. If they are hand delivered, they need to be delivered to 151 W. Ohio. Applications that are sent through regular US Mail need to be postmarked by May 1, 2008 and sent to:
Laura Taylor
Office of Learning Resources
Room 229, State House
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2798

Should we pay more attention to the RFP or the rubric?
The RFP provides a general description of each section but the rubric provides the specifics on how your proposal will be evaluated. Please use the rubric to evaluate your proposal. The reason we posted the rubric, the RFP, and have the Frequently Asked Questions pages are our attempt to help clearly define what is generally outlined in the RFP.

On what curricular areas should the application focus?
High school English/language arts should be the focus of the applications.  Focus should be on providing a quality program, which will extend and enhance student learning through the use of technology as a tool in the classroom.

Are there any other areas of focus on which the application should focus?
You need to target students and teachers who are most in need. Specific grade levels can be targeted; you do not need to target all 9-12 English classrooms. You do need to target classes that serve low achieving students. For example, if you decide to target 9th grade students in a particular building, then ALL of those students – regardless of gender, race or educational status (i.e. special ed, limited English) would be included in the project.

Do private schools need to be contacted?
Yes, per federal legislation, private schools that serve high school students are eligible to participate. They need to be part of the planning process, and they too need to address low achieving, low performing students and teachers who are most in need. Ownership of equipment remains with the LEA. In the past, it was acceptable to create a plan and then invite the non-publics to attend the professional development sessions; this is no longer acceptable. Non-public schools must be able to actively participate in all areas of the plan that you are proposing.

If I just send a letter and they do not respond, are we meeting federal guidelines?
No. You either need a letter from the non-public declining to participate, or you need to include in your letter “If you do not respond by (insert date), we understand that you are declining to participate in the program.” It is recommended that you send a certified letter.

Do we have to form a partnership?
No, but up to 10 points are awarded for partnerships.

Can the grant funds provide salary for personnel to administer the project?
Stipends may be paid to personnel who will administer the grant outside of the contracted hours. For example if a teacher is working in the summer (off-contract) they may be paid from the grant for the work.

Can we use the grant to create a new position in our school for someone would provide curriculum development, professional development, and teacher support?
You may use 5% of the funds for a new position to administer the project. Those duties might include implementation of project, coordination of project with schools and consortia members, curriculum development, teacher support, and professional development. It would not include actual teaching duties in a classroom. If this position is already in place and the duties include administration of all technology projects and grants, then you would not be able to pay the salary.

What about tech support – can this be paid for out of the grant?
You can pay someone for a specific service, like networking services. You cannot pay for a tech position that already exists; this is supplanting and is not allowed.

Is there a minimum of professional development expenditure?
Twenty-five percent (25%) of the funds must be used for ongoing, sustained professional development.

Can restricted/indirect funds be taken from this grant?
Yes. This can be taken in addition to the 5% for administration.

If we take the 5% for administration, on what exactly can we spend those funds?
The 5% administrative fee can be used for anything that is not directly related or integral to the program, but is a cost that the LEA incurs as a result of the program. Cost of the copying, postage, or anything that’s not directly related to the cost of the program.

Can technology equipment needed for special needs students be paid for out of the grant?
Yes, adaptive technologies such as foot switches, magnifying screens, etc. can be paid for out of the grant.

If someone is working directly with teachers (a pd coach), can they be paid out of the grant?
If it is a brand new position, the answer is “yes”; this would fall under professional development. You cannot pay salaries out of this program for a position that already exists; this is supplanting and is not allowed.

Are matching funds a requirement?
Matching funds are not required for this grant.

What is the project implementation/funding period? When will the recipients receive funds?
Notification letters should be ready the third week of June and will include a Cash Request Form, to indicate how much money you need for each distribution period. (Total Federal funds are not distributed in one lump sum.) You should begin implementation in July. All hardware purchases and wiring activities must be completed by September 30, 2009; all professional development activities must be completed by September 30, 2010.

Are all schools automatically entitled to receive $177,990 for their project?
The $177,990 is a maximum number. The size and scope of the project will determine the amount of funding a school district will receive.

Do we need to have a 3-year tech plan to receive federal funds?
Yes, in order to be considered for Ed Tech funding you must have a current approved 3-year tech plan on file at our office. Information on the tech plan can be found at www.doe.in.gov/olr.

Who will be evaluating the proposal?
Multiple people will read each grant. Technology specialists, higher education, and curriculum specialists will be involved in grant reading. Proposals will be read by a minimum of two people; if there is a discrepancy of more 10 or more points on the rubric, then the proposal will be read by a third person. Rubric scores are averaged.

Does the project goal sheet need to be in a 12-point font?
No – this page is not scored in the rubric, but is a tool to help you in the planning process. It will also help the reader of your application to clarify your goals and activities.

Is the project goal sheet limited to one page?
No, you can add additional pages as needed.

Is the project goal sheet scored in the rubric?
This page is not scored in the rubric, but is a tool to help you in the planning process. It will also help the reader of your application to clarify your goals and activities.

 

 

   
 

Indiana Department of Education  
Questions or comments contact:
ltaylor@doe.in.gov
Policies and Disclaimers
Updated Wednesday, April 9, 2008 12:46 PM

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