Updated Special Report: Education Technology Grants and the Stimulus

Over the next few months, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) will pump an additional $650 million into schools through the Title II, Part D educational technology program. And while that's a substantial chunk of new change, experts assert that the best way to truly maximize the impact of the new funding is to combine it with efforts under other formula programs, such as Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Overall, the new funding for educational technology should be welcomed by local administrators in light of recent cuts at the federal level. Congressional appropriations for the program have fallen drastically from a high of $700.5 million in the 2002-03 school year to $267.4 million in 2009-10 — not including stimulus dollars.