American Reinvestment and Recovery Act/Federal Stimulus

Welcome to the Ohio Board of Regents (OBR) Federal Stimulus Web site. This site provides information on American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) programs being tracked and monitored by OBR.

OBR is monitoring two education programs under the ARRA: Enhancing Education Through Technology and the State Longitudinal Data Systems Program.

ODE Accepting Applications for ARRA Education Technology Grants

The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) will receive approximately $11.4 million for education technology competitive grants from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). The Recovery Act provides states $650 million for Education Technology State grants to be used to create technology-rich classrooms for America’s students to boost the U.S. economy in the short term and prepare students for the global knowledge economy.

ODE has posted the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the 21st Century Learning Environments Technology Grant (ARRA Title II-D Competitive Grant) online at http://www.etech.ohio.gov/go/arra. The application is now open for eligible grantees. The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. (EST) June 12, 2009.

Interested applicants also will need to submit a separate project proposal form on Recovery.Ohio.gov. This form must be completed by 5 p.m. (EST) May 15, 2009. In addition, a Letter of Intent (Appendix A of the RFP) must be received at the eTech Ohio Commission, Attn: ARRA Title II-D, 2323 W. Fifth Ave., Suite 100, Columbus, Ohio, 43204, by 5 p.m. (EST), Friday, May 15, 2009. Submit original documents with signatures only. Faxes or emails will not be accepted.

Additional information about the 21st Century Learning Environments Technology Grant (ARRA Title II-D Competitive Grant), including a listing of eligible buildings, can be found at http://www.etech.ohio.gov/go/arra.

Enhancing Education Through Technology Grant Program

The Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) Grant is funded through Title II (D) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. This program provides funding to State Education Agencies for improving instruction through the use of technology in Title I eligible schools. Under the EETT program, 50 percent of the funds provided to states must be distributed to local school districts through a pre-determined formula. The remaining funds are distributed through competitive grants to Title I eligible schools. If you are not a Title I eligible school or district, you are not eligible for funding under this program.

The Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio eTech Commission are jointly developing the criteria that will be used to award the competitive grants. The criteria will be based upon the 21st Century Learning Grants Program recently established in HB2 of the 128th General Assembly. Once the criterion are developed, a Request for Proposal (RFP) will be published through the Ohio Department of Education's Comprehensive Continuous Improvement Plan (CCIP). The published RFP will contain the grant criteria and timelines for submission. After the submission timeline have passed, proposals will be evaluated by independent readers and recommendations for award will be made. The goal is to have the RFP ready for publication by the end of April and receive responses prior to the end of the school year.

Additional information about EETT funds and the posting of the competitive grant RFP will be posted on this site and on the Ohio Department of Education Web site (keyword: stimulus) as it becomes available.

State Longitudinal Data Systems Grant Program

The State Longitudinal Data Systems (SDLS) program is administered through the United States Department of Education, Institute for Education Sciences. The program provides grants – on a competitive basis – to State Education Agencies (SEA) to enable them to design, develop, and implement statewide, longitudinal data systems to efficiently and accurately manage, analyze, disaggregate and use individual student data. As provided for under ARRA, funding is to be used for statewide data systems that, in addition to K-12 data, also include postsecondary and workforce information.

The IES has indicated that a SEA is the only entity eligible to receive funding under this program. The grant language does permit a SEA to use a portion of awarded funds to hire a public or private Data Coordinator. The Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Board of Regents are in discussions regarding the development of a joint proposal for SLDS funding. The timeline for submitting an application for funding has not yet been determined. This site will be updated when more information is available.

American Reinvestment and Recovery Act/Federal Stimulus

ODE Accepting Applications for ARRA Education Technology Grants

Enhancing Education Through Technology Grant Program

State Longitudinal Data Systems Grant Program

Additional Resources