Office of Curriculum, Technology, & Assessment

Title II, Part D - Request for Proposal

Notice: Grant Application deadline June 06, 2008

Application

• Word | PDF

If you have questions regarding the Title II, Part D Request for Proposal, please contact Peg Henson at 605.773.2489.

Topic Guide:

• Project Description
• SD Project Goal
• SD Project Scope
• Project Requirements
• LEA/District Expectations
• Project Evaluation

Project Description

Competitive Funds are available to provide comprehensive professional development opportunities to K-12 public school districts who demonstrate both need and innovative strategies for their use, including the development and implementation of comprehensive professional development that can be widely replicated by others.  Making these funds available is a focus of the South Dakota Department of Education’s ongoing effort to promote technology as a foundation to ensure South Dakota students leave school prepared for the 21st century.

Under the Ed Tech program, the U.S. Department of Education provides grants to state educational agencies (SEAs).  One-half of the allocations must be distributed competitively to eligible local entities.  http://www.ed.gov/programs/edtech/guidance.doc

The Ed tech program in South Dakota provides competitive funds to improve student achievement in the core subject areas through the use of 21^st Century skills and tools with an emphasis in utilizing technology in the acquisition of those skills in elementary and secondary schools.  Awards will be made to K-12 public school districts and their eligible partners for the purpose of developing and implementing comprehensive professional development projects which maximize existing local technology, focus on improving academic achievement, and develop greater instructional capacity for teaching students 21^st

Local Educational Agencies responding to the RFP should focus on a professional development project which is of sufficient size, scope and duration to be effective and that meets the eligibility requirements under the ED Tech competitive grant program. Districts which received small Ed Tech formula grant awards (through LEA consolidated applications) are encouraged to take advantage of the grant’s flexibility in order to address local needs more effectively.

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SD Project Goal

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SD Project Scope

The purpose of this comprehensive professional development project is to:

• Support initiatives that enable educators to integrate 21^st Century skills and tools effectively into curriculum and instruction which are aligned with state standards, and are delivered through such means as high-quality professional development programs (see attachment A for definition).

• Support the development and use of electronic networks and other innovative methods, such as distance learning, online collaboration, and/or online instruction to provide specialized or rigorous courses or curricula to students who would not otherwise have access to such information, particularly of those in geographically isolated regions.

• Support the rigorous evaluation of programs funded under the Educational Technology Act, particularly regarding the impact of these programs on student academic achievement, and to ensure that the results are widely accessible through electronic means.

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SD Project Requirements

• be scientifically research based

• be related to and supported by the district’s mission and vision;

• be consistent with the district’s long-range technology plan;

• be designed around South Dakota content standards with any direct alignment noted;

• provide quality, sustained, intensive, and classroom-focused 21st Century professional development for teachers, principals, administrators, and/or school library media personnel to further the effective use of technology in the classroom or library media center throughout the grant cycle;

• utilize innovative strategies for improving 21st Century teaching and learning;

• utilize adult learning strategies which engage participants;

• incorporate appropriate assessment; and

• when appropriate, be delivered utilizing video and data interfaces such as the internet and/or video conferencing.

LEA/District Expectations

• communicate and work with the SD Department of Education employees or designees during the development and implementation of the grant activities;

• provide information and data to the SD Department of Education upon request for purposes of evaluating and documenting implementation of the grant;

• submit the professional development model to the South Dakota Department of Education for its use and dissemination;

• participate in state-wide data collection to evaluate the technology intervention associated with this program;

• submit a final report including recommendations based on findings of the instructional strategies, curriculum and technologies utilized in the professional development.

• assure good faith commitment and support of the administration and the school board in the future development and implementation of curriculum activities involving technology.

Project Evaluation

Evaluation is a crucial component to a project. If evaluations show that planned activities are successful, educators’ participation and commitment may increase. Conversely, less promising results, if utilized in the ongoing decision making process, can lead to changes in professional development that could make future efforts more effective.

An independent evaluator will be subcontracted through this grant to provide a formal aggregate evaluation for the Title II, Part D 21st Century competitive projects. Each grant applicant will budget 4% of the total grant to pay for contracted services of the evaluator.  The evaluator will provide a comprehensive program evaluation plan, technical assistance to the local evaluator and a data reporting system.  A memorandum of agreement will be sent to successful grant applicants.