FAQ
General Information
- What does LEA stand for?
LEA is an acronym for Local Education Agency. This is a reference to your local school district.
- How did the schools qualify for the new grant list?
Eligibility for the 2009-2010 EETT grant was based upon the criterion listed in the Request for Proposal (RFP) located on the EETT program webpage at www.etech.ohio.gov/eett/. If a building did not meet the criteria listed, then they were not eligible. Previous eligibility does not guarantee eligibility in future years.
- Can buildings apply if they do not have a technology plan?
No. All applicants must have an approved or pending approval district technology plan prior to the application deadline date in order to apply.
- Some Public Schools may be involved in a staff reduction because of a budget crisis. Does that mean that the amount published for the school may be reduced?
We are aware of staff reductions and situations that occur. Relative to the allocations, the building allocations are set and are based upon the 2007-2008 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) count. Based upon those counts, the allocations were locked in at that number. You will not be in jeopardy of losing dollars in the event of a staff reduction. However, in the event that there are buildings that close or consolidate, the state cannot award funds to buildings that do not exist. That is something that needs to be dealt with at the district level prior to applying for the grant.
- If we do not have private schools within the boundary lines of our school district, are we required to involve a private school in our EETT project?
If private (or non-public) schools do not exist in your school district, you are exempt from this requirement. Simply submit Appendix C with your district/building information completed and state "N/A" in the Partner School section.
- Please clarify the Scientific Based Research (SBR) component of project.
Because there is a plethora of research on teaching and learning strategies that have been proven successful, consider what your district's beliefs and priorities are in terms of teaching and learning, and determine which SBR supports these beliefs and priorities. Additional resources will be provided to assist in understanding how to conduct experimental projects.
- What are the different types of EETT competitive grants?
There are two different types of EETT competitive grants. The first grant is a new grant for the list of 2009-2010 eligible buildings and the second grant is a continuation grant for recipients of the 2008-2009 EETT grant.
Use of Funds
- How should my district align our building plans with EETT funds?
Start with your district technology plan to determine which direction your district is moving towards. Next, look at the EETT project as a resource to meet your building's needs and strategies.
- If more than one building is eligible for EETT funding, the budget that you build for your grant can only reflect the award for one building. Further, if two or three schools (of the same district) receive the grant, there could be volume discounts. If you want to change budget figures do you have to submit a new budget to the State of Ohio?
Yes.
- Explain what is meant by funds not being guaranteed for year two? Does that mean for those starting out this year do not have guaranteed funds?
Question 1 - The first question deals with funds not being guaranteed. As with the last year's grant, these are federal grants and subject to change. These changes are provided to us on a year-to-year basis. Thus, the funding is not guaranteed.
Question 2 - There may a change in the direction from the state as far as how the grant is administered; therefore, the funds or funding levels may not be guaranteed for year two. As stated in the RFP, year two funding is contingent on multiple factors.
- If more than one building in a district is a recipient of the grant, can a portion of the 25% set aside professional development (PD) funds from the various buildings be put together to support a full time trainer?
Yes, funds can be used in that way. However, each awarded building is still mandated to meet the 25% PD mandate. For example, if each building subtracted 5% to cover the cost of the trainer, each building would still be required to utilize 20% of their building funds for a PD totaling 25% of the grant award allocation.
- How can I use my funds?
You must use the funds to select a web-based Learning Management System (LMS). The tool set technical specifications are outlined in Appendix A. Please note, 25% of the total allocation must be spent on professional development. The remaining funds are to be used to carry out other activities consistent with the goals of the EETT project. The funds must be used to create and sustain a project that will ultimately improve student achievement, including technology literacy, of all students attending schools served by the Local Education Agency (LEA) and improve the capacity of teachers teaching in schools served by the LEA to integrate technology effectively into curricula and instruction. Finally, the funded projects must also promote parental involvement, increase communication with parents and include a method of delivery to parents of information on technology used in the education of their children.
Eligibility
- How do we know if we are eligible for this funding?
The eligibility list has been posted on the eTech Ohio webpage and the ODE CCIP page (in the documents library for the Title II-D competitive grants project). Only those schools listed on the eligibility list may apply for this grant funding.
- Is my building eligible to apply for an EETT competitive grant?
If your building received an EETT competitive grant during 2008-2009, then your building is eligible to receive the EETT competitive continuation grant.
Buildings eligible to apply for an EETT new grant are listed on the eTech Ohio website, http://www.etech.ohio.gov/eett. In order for a building to be eligible to apply, all of the following criteria must be met: Title I status, Report Card Status (Academic Emergency/Academic Watch in grades 4 and 6 for mathematics and English/language arts) and technology capacity.
Application Process
- In the needs assessment section of the Comprehensive Continuous Improvement Plan (CCIP), where do I find the information necessary in the Biennial Educational Technology Assessment (BETA) survey?
You should be able to obtain information for the needs assessment from the Biennial Educational Technology Assessment (BETA).
- When I go to the CCIP, my district's unsuccessful EETT grant application is still there. Should we delete the information that is there to enter the new grant information?
Make sure you have selected the 2009 competitive grant year and are not looking at last year's grant application. The application should be blank, and you shouldn't need to delete any information.
- What do I have to submit in order to apply for the new or continuation grant?
New Buildings: Must submit a letter of intent to the eTech Ohio office. The dates and specifics are outlined in the RFP, which is located on the eTech Ohio website, http://www.etech.ohio.gov/eett. In addition, the Commitment and Support Signature Page and Federal Assurances Page must be received by eTech Ohio. Finally, the application for EETT must be submitted through ODE's Comprehensive Continuous Improvement Plan (CCIP) funding application. No exceptions shall be made to state grant deadlines.
Continuation Buildings: Must submit a letter of intent to the eTech Ohio office. Specifics are outlined in the RFP. In addition, the Commitment and Support Signature Page and Federal Assurances Page must be received by eTech Ohio. Finally, the application for EETT must be submitted through ODE's Comprehensive Continuous Improvement Plan (CCIP) funding application. No exceptions shall be made to stated grant deadlines.