Resource Guide to Federal Funding For Technology in Education March, 1996 U.S. Department of Education National Challenge Grants for Technology in Education Awards grants to consortia including at least one local education agency with a high percentage of children living below the poverty line and may include other local educationagencies, State educational agencies, institutions of higher learning, businesses, academic content experts, software designers, museums, libraries, or other appropriate entities. Promotes the integration of the acquired technologies into curriculum to help the local educational agency enhance teaching, training, and student achievement; promotes ongoing, sustained professional development for teachers, administrators, and school library media personnel served by the local educational agency to further the use of technology in the classroom or library media center; and ensures the successful, effective, and sustainable use of technologies acquired. Approximately $27 million was appropriated for this program in FY '95. For more information, call (202) 208-3882. Star Schools Program Supports telecommunications partnerships to provide telecommunications equipment and programming to underserved students including those living in rural and urban areas. Through support from the Star Schools Program, more than 50,000 teachers along with a host of administrators, parents, and policy makers have participated in staff development and community awareness activities produced via satellite, compressed video technology, fiber optics, videodisc, and microcomputer-based networks. Each year the number of schools participating in live, interactive, instructional programs offered via distance education nearly doubles. The Star Schools program also supports four dissemination grants to establish clearinghouses of information about distance learning. The next round of competitions for Star Schools grants is in the spring of 1996. Approximately $25 million was available in FY '95. Star Schools, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, 555 New Jersey Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20208; Contact Cheryl Garnette at (202) 219- 2116 or Joseph Wilkes at (202) 219-2186. Public Library Construction and Technology Enhancement -- (State Program) Provides grants to States for facilities and technology enhancements to improve the provision of public library services. States may approve local projects for construction, remodeling, or alteration of existing buildings. Funds may also be used for technology enhancement purposes apart from any construction project. States have combined funds provided for the Public Library Services Program and the Interlibrary Cooperation and Resource Sharing Program to support the purchase of equipment and network connections for libraries. U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, 555 New Jersey Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20208. Contact: Donald Fork. State library administrative agencies may apply by contacting the State Programs Division at (202) 2l9-l303. Technology, Educational Media, and Materials for Individuals with Disabilities Funds projects and centers for advancing the use of new technology, assistive technology, media, and materials in the education of children and youth who are disabled and the provision of related services and early intervention services to infants and toddlers with disabilities. State and local education agencies, institutions of higher education, and profit and nonprofit public and private agencies and organizations may apply. U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Division of Innovation and Development, 330 C Street, SW, Room 3523, Washington, DC 20202-2641, (202) 205-8193. Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) Seeks to help meet federal R&D needs and to stimulate technological innovation in small businesses, while requiring private sector commercialization of developed products. The Department of Education's SBIR program has focused on the development of products which use computers and other high tech equipment for teaching and learning basic skills, science and foreign languages such as software programs; and providing the physically disabled opportunities to function more easily in society. During fiscal year 1993 the US Department of Education awarded $3.5 million in FY '95, received 163 proposals and awarded 45 of them. For more information contact Lee Eiden, SBIR Program Coordinator, at (202) 219-2004. Additional Funding Sources for Software and Hardware TITLE I, ESEA Funds almost one-third of all software and hardware used primarily for basic skills instruction by schools. Amount of funding available pending FY '96 budget talks. Chapter 2, ESEA In FY '94 approximately $125 million of Chapter 2 funds were spent on software and hardware purchases. A total of $347 million has been appropriated for FY '95. FY '96 funds pending budget talks. School-to-Work Provides grants to states and communities for the implementation of School-to-Work programs integrating academic and vocational learning with work-based learning. Software and related technology-based applications can be supported through these programs. In FY '95 $125 million was appropriated by both Departments of Education and Labor. FY '96 funds pending budget talks. Goals 2000 Provides a planning grant to each state to integrate technology into overall state education improvement plans. $403 million was appropriated in FY '95 to help implement the overall state improvement plans, and FY '96 funding is pending budget talks. Eisenhower Professional Development The majority of Eisenhower Professional Development Program funds are intended to support sustained and intensive, high-quality professional development for teachers and other school personnel in the core subject areas. LEAs may use Eisenhower funds to purchase computers and other telecommunication equipment in support of professional development and educational technology needs as outlined in the LEA's overall professional development plan. $275 million has been appropriated for FY'96. Even Start Provided pre-K - 1 schools with $102 million in FY '95. FY '96 funds pending budget talks. National Science Foundation (NSF) Applications of Advanced Technologies Program Provides grants to examine the strengths and weaknesses of new, innovative applications of advanced technologies, and to lay the foundation and knowledge necessary for the use of new, revolutionary computer and telecommunications systems and related technologies for teaching and learning science and mathematics. Deadline for applications is January 15 and September 15 of every year. Applications of Advanced Technology Program, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230; For information call (703) 306-1651 or to request publications, (703) 306-1130. The Networking Infrastructure for Education Program (NIEP) Provides grants to alliances of academic institutions, school districts, professional societies, state agencies, and others concerned with education reform to complete policy studies and research, development and demonstration projects related to the role of electronic networks in support of education reform. FY '96 focus is on evaluation of the impact of technology. dissemination of outcomes, and electronic library prototypes. Deadline is March 15, 1996 for preliminary applications. Full proposal deadlines TBA. National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA 22230; (703) 306-1651, or to request publications, (202) 306-1130 and request publication number 96-13, or send e-mail to nie@nsf.gov. Teacher Enhancement Program (TE) Seeks to improve, broaden, and deepen the interdisciplinary and pedagogical knowledge of teachers, administrators, and others who play significant roles in providing quality mathematics, science, and technology education for students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12. To this end, TE promotes systemic change, in-service teacher development, dissemination, and other activities. National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230; (703) 306-1620, Contact: Michael Haney. The Department of Energy, (DOE) The Department of Energy's 10 national laboratories and 30 specialized technology centers and research facilities provide educational experiences for students, training, and curriculum materials for pre-service and inservice teachers, and literacy programs for the general public. DOE also supports statewide systemic initiatives to reform math, science and technology education in 13 states. DOE serves hundreds of thousands of teachers and students each year through science and technology education programs. DOE's technology offerings range broadly from equipment loan and donation programs to long-term research studies on the overall effectiveness of specific educational technologies for classroom instruction. Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) Seeks to increase private sector commercialization of technology developed through DOE supported R&D in any scientific or engineering activity which is a systemic, intensive study directed toward greater knowledge or understanding of the subject; a systemic study directed specifically toward applying new knowledge to meet a recognized need; and/or a systemic application of knowledge toward the production of useful materials, devices, and systems or methods, including design, development, and improvement of prototypes and new processes to meet specific requirements. Awards approximately 200 grants to small businesses. For more information contact the SBIR Program manager, ER-33, U.S. Department of Energy, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, MD 20874-1290, (301) 903-5867. The Department of Commerce The Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Application Program (TIIAP) Awards matching grants to state and local governments and nonprofit organizations for the planning and construction of telecommunications networks for the provision of educational, cultural, health care, public information, public safety and other social services. Approximately $60 million was available for the program in FY '95. National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 4096, 14th and Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20230; For more information call (202) 482-5802, email tiiap@ntia.doc.gov, or visit the homepage at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/otiahome.html The Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP) Awards matching grants to non-commercial entities to purchase telecommunications equipment with the stipulation that the equipment be used for educational or cultural purposes. PTFP also provides smaller grants to assist these entities in planning for the purchase and use of telecommunications equipment. In FY '95 (beginning October 1, 1994) approximately $29 million was available for both types of grants. Public Telecommunications Facilities Program, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 4096, 14th and Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20230; For more information call (202) 482-5802, or visit the homepage at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/otiahome.html National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Small Business Innovation Program (SBIR) Seeks to develop innovative technologies by providing competitive research contracts to US owned small businesses to develop leading-edge technologies. In FY '95, $124 million was available. SBIR Program Manager, Code XC, NASA, Washington, DC 20546-0001; For more information call (301) 918-8150. U.S. Department of Defense - Advanced Research Projects Agency Defense Technology Conversion, Reinvestment, and Transition Assistance - The Technology Reinvestment Project (TRP) TRP is a six agency technology investment effort that includes the Departments of Defense, Commerce, Energy, and Transportation, the National Science Foundation, and NASA. The program requires participation in partnerships and focuses on cost sharing between the partnerships, assisting small businesses and defense-dependent businesses. TRP seeks to develop dual-use technologies, to deploy manufacturing and technology assistance to small firms, and to establish education and training programs that enhance the US manufacturing skills and target displaced defense industry workers. For more information call 1-800-DUAL-USE, or email Dual-Use@arpa.mil U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) The Agricultural Telecommunications Program Provides funding for the use of telecommunications in rural and urban areas, and may fund proposals if done jointly with land grant institutions. Contact the Agricultural Communications Program, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 14th and Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250, (202) 720-6084. Contact, Cathy Bridwell. The Rural Utilities Service Telecommunications Loan Program RUS financing is used by rural telecommunications providers to build new and modernize existing telecommunications networks, connect new subscribers in unserved areas, and provide the transmission and switching facilities necessary for economic development, distance learning and telemedicine applications, and Internet access. As of September 1995, 218 borrowers provided access to the Internet, resulting in 2.7 million users. For more information contact Rural Economic and Community Development, 14th and Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC, 20250. (202) 720-1007. The Rural Utilities Service Distance Learning Grant Program Since 1993 this program has provided 90 grants totalling $27.5 million to rural schools, hospitals and medical clinics in 39 states. RUS' Distance Learning grant program provides grants directly to rural schools, libraries, and other educational institutions for the development of advanced telecommunications systems. For more information contact Rural Economic and Community Development, 14th and Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250. (202) 720-1007. The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) For all NEH programs listed here, for more information contact the Division of Research ad Education at (202) 606-8380, education@neh.fed.us, research@neh.fed.us, http://www.neh.fed.us, or write to Division of Research and Education, National Endowment for the Humanities, 1100 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20506. Development and Demonstration Development and Demonstration funds projects related to software development and field testing. There is approximately $1 million available through this program. Humanities Focus Grants These grants are small awards, up to $25,000, which go to specific projects in the humanities, including the use of technology. Deadlines for application are January 15th and September 15th of each year, and have approximately a 2 month turn around time. Teaching with Technology This program funds three types of projects: materials development, field testing and classroom applications, and teacher preparation for integrating technology into the classroom. The deadline for application is April 15, 1996. National Summer Institutes and Seminars Seminars are small groups of teachers who want to receive teacher training from a scholar in their field of interest. Institutes are groups of 25 teachers who study work with a faculty of scholars to explore in depth materials related to the subjects they teach. For more information call (202) 606-8463 and ask to speak with a program officer. Deadlines are March 1st, 1997 and March 1st, 1998 for the following summers. Challenge Grants The challenge grant program helps academic institutions and cultural organizations to secure long term support for, and improvements in their programs, activities and resources related to the humanities, including the use and applications of technology. The matching requirement challenges institutions to raise non-federal funds to match and/or exceed the federal award. In recent years, the federal portions of the grants have ranged from $25,000 to $1 million. Application deadline is May 1, 1996. For more information call (202) 606-8309, or email challenge@neh.fed.us Other Funding Guide Sources The USDLA Funding Source Book for Distance Learning and Educational Technology The USDLA Funding Source Book is a 400+ page reference publication complete with electronic and print references of funding sources for technology. It is available for $42.50 plus $4.00 shipping. To order contact Kendall Publishing at 1-800-228-0810. To obtain information electronically, visit http://www.technogrants.com Directory of Building and Equipment Grants This directory lists funding sources for equipment, building and renovation and innovative procedures to secure funding for computers and free computer software. The cost is $57.50 + $6.00 shipping and handling. For information call (407) 795-6129, and to order fax a mailing label or order form to (407) 795-7794. Federal Register This daily publication contains notices of new grants from federal agencies, grant application guidelines, and regulations and requirements for federal grant programs. To order contact: Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, PO Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. For phone orders and general publication inquiries, call (202) 512-1800. In addition, Check with your State Department of Education or contact Frank Withrow at the Council of the Chief State School Officers to obtain the name of your state's technology coordinator, (202) 336-7003. Final Note: It is important to point out that this guide is by no means complete. It is intended to provide some of the resources available throughout the Federal government for educational technology. Hopefully, this list, in conjunction with resources in your area, will provide the assistance necessary for locating funding sources in the area of educational technology. -###- [Back to the Technology Page] Last update June 6, 1996 (eal). ---------- End of Document