A new report examines how districts can make the most of education technology funds, and an accompanying guide identifies effective school technology tools. Together, these resources are intended to help school leaders personalize instruction and give teachers the tools they need to succeed with low-income (Title I) student populations.

The report, "Leveraging Title I and Title IID: Maximizing the Impact of Technology in Education," and the guide, "A Resource Guide Identifying Technology Tools for Schools," were released Sept. 24 by the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) and the National Association for State Title I Directors (NASTID).

The two resources, which appear online together, describe products, models, strategies, and research outlining successful technology integration efforts in Title I schools.

A corresponding web site will feature best practices profiling the impact technology has had on Title I populations in schools. For instance, acccording to the report, Kansas's Technology Rich Classrooms program saw a 10.4 percent increase in third grade state reading scores. In Arkansas, the Technology Integration in the Elementary Classroom project saw third graders' literacy proficiency increase from 67 percent to 84 percent, and among fourth graders from 47 percent to 69 percent.

Rich Long, NASTID's executive director, said the report and guide are the first step in what the groups hope will be a series of papers and collaborative efforts to illustrate the impact that education technology can have on closing the achievement gap and strengthening critical skills among Title I schools.

SETDA Executive Director Mary Ann Wolf said technology plays a critical role in helping to address the needs of the nation's underprivileged schools, and she hopes these resources help districts across the country form the partnerships necessary to begin effective ed-tech implementations.

The report gives general background information on technology's power in the classroom, including research and data-backed examples of increases in student achievement among Title I students.

Classroom technology use is not limited to computers, the report notes--in fact, innovative technology use incorporates cell phones, MP3 players, and other mobile devices, as long as they are used to reinforce learning and not for the sake of the technology itself.

Sixty-seven percent of Title I students have access to a cell phone outside of the classroom, 79 percent have a music or video device, and 46 percent have access to a computer, according to Project Tomorrow's 2008 Speak Up survey data.

Title I funding helps schools with high concentrations of students living at or below poverty level and who are at risk of failing to meet state achievement standards. Title IID directs technology funds to schools and gives schools the opportunity to partner with other schools and districts.