Appendix H
Sources of Federal Technology Funds
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 education
agencies. Promotes the integration of the acquired technologies into the curriculum.
Approximately $27 million was appropriated in FY '95. (202) 708-6001
- Star Schools Program
Supports telecommunications partnerships to provide telecommunications equipment and
programming to undeserved students. More than 50,000 teachers have participated in staff
development and community awareness activities produced via satellite, compressed video
technology, fiber optics, video disc, and micro -computer based networks.
Approximately $25 million was available in FY '95. (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. 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.
(202) 219-1303
- Technology , Educational Media, and Materials for Individuals with Disabilities
Funds projects and centers for advancing the use of new technology, media, and materials in
the education of children and youth who are disabled.
(202) 205-8193
- Small Business Innovation Research Program
Seeks to help meet federal R&D needs and to stimulate technological innovation in small
business, while requiring private sector commercialization of developed products. The
program has focused on the development of products which use computers and other high
tech equipment for teaching.
- During the FY 1993 the U.S. Department Of Education awarded $3.5 million in FY '95,
received 163 proposals and awarded 45 of them. (202) 219-2065
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.
- 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.
- School-to-Work
Grants for the implementation of School-to-Work programs integrating academic and
vocational learning with work-based learning.
In FY '95 $125 million was appropriated by both Departments of Education and Labor.
- Goals 2000
Provides a planning grant to each state to integrate technology into overall state education
plans.
$403 million was appropriated in "FY 95
.
- Eisenhower Professional Development
The majority of these funds are intended to support sustained professional development
programs for teachers in the core subject areas. LEAs may use Eisenhower funds to
purchase computers and other telecommunication equipment as outlined in the LEA's overall
professional development plan.
- Event Start
Provided pre-K - 1 schools with $102 million in FY '95.
National Science Foundation
- Applications of Advanced Technologies Program
Provides grants to examine the strengths and weakness of new, innovative applications of
advanced technologies for teaching and learning of science and mathematics.
Deadline for applications is January 15 and September 15 of every year.
- The Networking Infrastructure for Education Program (NIEP)
Grants to 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. (703) 306-1651, (202) 306-1130
- Teacher Enhancement Program
Seeks to improve interdisciplinary and pedagogical knowledge of teachers, administrators,
and others who play roles in providing mathematics, science, and technology education for
pre-k to grade 12 students.
(703) 306-1620
The Department of Energy, (DOE)
The DOE'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
in service teachers. DOE also supports statewide initiatives to reform math, science, and
technology education in 13 states.
DOE's technology offerings range from equipment loan and donation programs to long term studies
on the effectiveness of specific educational technologies for classroom instruction.
- Small Business Innovation Research Program
Seeks to increase private sector commercialization of technology developed through DOE
supported R&D in any scientific or engineering activity that is directed toward applying new
knowledge to meet a recognized need; and/or a systemic application of knowledge toward
the production of materials, devices, and systems or methods.
Awards approximately 200 grants to small businesses. (301) 903-5867
The Department of Commerce
- The Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Application Program
(TIIAP)
Awards matching grants to state and local governments and nonprofits 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. (202) 482-5802
- 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.
In FY '95 approximately $29 million was available. (202) 482-5802
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 business to develop leading-edge technologies.
In FY '95 $124 million was available. (301) 918-8150
U.S. Department of Defense-Advanced Research Projects Agency
- Defense Technology Conversion, Reinvestment and Transition Assistance -The
Technology Reinvestment Program (TRP)
TRP is a six agency technology investment effort that includes the Department of Defense,
Commerce, Energy, and Transportation, the National Science Foundation, and NASA. The
program requires partnerships and focuses on cost sharing between the partnerships,
assisting small businesses and defense -dependent businesses; TRP seeks to develop dual
use technologies.
1-800-DUAL-USE
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- The Agricultural Telecommunications Program
Provides funding for the use of telecommunications in rural and urban areas.
(202) 720-6084
- 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.
(202) 720-1007
- Rural Utilities service Distance Learning Grant Program
RUS' Distance Learning grant program provides grants directly to rural schools, libraries,
and other educational institutions for the development of telecommunications systems.
(202) 720-1007
The National Endowment for the Humanities
For all NEH programs listed here, for more information contact the Division of Research and
Education at (202) 606-8380, education@neh.fed.us, research@neh.fed.us, http://www.neh.fed.us
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Deadlines are March 1st, 1997 and March 1st, 1998 for the following summers. (202)
606-8463
- 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 federal portions of the grants have ranged from $25,000 to $1 million. Application
deadline is May 1, 1996. (202) 606-8309
Other Funding Guide Sources
- The USDLA Funding Source Book for Distance Learning and Educational
Technology
The USDLA Funding Source Book is a 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.
- 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. (407) 795-6129.
- 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. (202) 512-1800.
Final Note:
This guide is by no means complete it provides only some of the resources available
throughout the Federal government for educational technology.
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