New Ed-Tech Guidance Urges All-Competitive Subgrants, But Most States Will Continue Funding LEAs by Formula

Although the program law authorizes states to subgrant as much as half of their Title II, Part D educational technology allocations to districts by formula, new guidance urges states to dole out the entire $919 million in school year 2009-10 funds competitively.

The reason, according to the guidance issued in late July, is that the larger competitive grants can have a greater impact than smaller formula grants spread out among a state's many local education agencies (LEAs).

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) "is looking for projects that can demonstrate innovation on a scale that's greater than the classroom level," said Don Knezek, the chief executive officer for the International Society for Technology in Education.

The twin themes of "innovation" and "impact" characterize all the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)education programs announced by the Obama administration. And the opportunity for high impact under the so-called "Ed Tech" program was dramatically increased by Congress' decision to add $650 million in stimulus funds to the regular $269 million appropriation.