Program Overview
The eTech Ohio Commission and the Ohio Department of Education are pleased to announce the recipients of the Synchronous Interactive Video Conference Distance Learning Grant (SIVDL). Approximately $ 2.5 million in federal funds will be awarded through the SIVDL grant to Ohio public high schools.
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Ohio Revised Code section 3353.20, passed by the Ohio General Assembly in July 2009, directs that the eTech Ohio Commission develop and implement an interactive distance learning pilot project. The EETT Synchronous Interactive Video Conference Distance Learning Pilot Project will provide interactive distance learning Advanced Placement (AP) courses and foreign language courses to Ohio public high schools. Under this program, the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) and the eTech Ohio Commission, working collaboratively, will award federally funded grants to school districts/buildings that meet eligibility criteria - PDF.
Ohio's EETT Synchronous Interactive Video Conference Distance Learning Pilot Project is a state and federal initiative with the goals of ensuring that funded projects are of sufficient scope and quality to efficiently meet the purposes of the No Child Left Behind Legislation. The State of Ohio will award grants in a manner that ensures diversity among grant recipients according to geographical regions, economic scale, and school district size.
Funding will be awarded through a competitive application process to eligible Ohio public high schools for the SIVDL that meet specific eligibility identified in the Request for Proposal. Ohio anticipates releasing awarded funds to the selected buildings in March 2010. Awarded schools will receive implementation funding in the amount of $50,000 per building.
List of eligible buildings - [PDF]
List of SIVDL Letter of Intents Received - [PDF]
Project Goals
The primary goals of the competitive Synchronous Interactive Video Conference Distance Learning Pilot Project are to: connect students and educators through real-time communication; and provide funding to enable eligible Ohio public high schools to provide AP academic courses and foreign language courses in grades 9-12, meeting or exceeding the state academic content standards adopted by the State Board of Education and College Board.
The federal and state program goals supported by this grant are:
- To support the development and utilization of electronic networks and other innovative methods, such as distance learning, for delivering specialized or rigorous academic courses and curricula for students in areas that would not otherwise have access to such courses and curricula, particularly in geographically isolated regions.
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To provide challenging, high-level course work, disseminated through technologies (including distance learning), for students in schools or Local Education Agencies (LEAs) that would not otherwise have the resources for such course work.
History
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965, to provide increased flexibility and local control to states and school districts, emphasizes strong accountability for results, offers expanded options for parents and supports teaching methods that have a solid scientific research foundation. In an effort to improve student achievement through the use of technology, the U.S. Department of Education established state grants under the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) Ed Tech program -- ESEA Title II, Part D, and Subpart 1.