Education Technology K-12 Vouchers are the result of the Settlement Agreement between California consumers and the Microsoft Corporation. Funds from the second cy pres award, voucher money left over from the consumer settlement, have just been announced to eligible California school districts. The vouchers are to be used to assist districts to implement and support their state-approved district technology plans designed to foster effective teaching and promote student achievement in eligible schools that serve students in kindergarten through grade twelve, and will be in the form of 50% General Purpose Vouchers and 50% Specific Category Software Vouchers.

There is no online application for the second cy pres award. A list of all eligible schools and the funding allocations for the second cy pres can be found at http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/r5/etv10estfund.asp.

On December 16, the California Department of Education (CDE) posted the Request for Applications (RFA) for $5.5 million in new Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) Competitive grants. Fifty-two school districts and direct-funded charters in CTAP Region 10 are eligible to apply for approximately $500,000 in regional funding through this program. Schools previously funded through the ARRA or NCLB EETT Competitive process ARE ELIGIBLE to apply for Round 9 EETT-C funds. The application must be received by the CDE no later than 5 p.m. on February 1, 2011.

The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) EETT Competitive Grant RFA is scheduled to be released on October 27, 2010. On October 29 at 10:00 am, RIMS CTAP is offering an informative webinar providing guidance on eligibility, program requirements, criteria, timelines, and guidelines for submission. The ARRA EETT Competitive Grant will provide funding based on student enrollment in Grades 7-12. The eligibiilty list is projected to be posted at the same time as the RFA. 

The CDE has posted the EETT American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Formula awards. The ARRA funds are a one-time source of funds that supplement the $270 million of EETT federal funding made available under the regular appropriation for FY 2009. California’s share of ARRA funds for EETT is over $71 million, 50% as formula and 50% on a competitive basis. Formula funds are available to eligible districts who have a state-approved Technology Plan.

The California Department of Education has read and scored the ARRA EETT competitive applications, but they will be unable to fund them unless they receive legislative approval. Currently, ARRA Formula and Competitive funds are on hold, with the Legislative Analysts Office (LAO) recommending the funds be used for other state-wide data collection efforts.