The guide also lists examples of uses for the funds that school systems are encouraged to consider, such as increasing accessibility to technology, particularly through public-private partnerships, with special emphasis on access for high-need schools; using technology to promote parental involvement and foster communication among students, parents, and teachers; preparing one or more teachers as technology leaders who will help other teachers, and providing bonus payments to technology leaders; using technology to collect and analyze data to inform and enhance teaching and school improvement efforts; and developing, enhancing, or implementing IT or distance-education courses.
Transparency, accountability, reporting, and other requirements
The second piece of the guide describes the shared responsibilities of ED, states, and local entities to ensure that no stimulus funds are wasted or abused.
According to the guide, states must monitor grant and subgrant activities to ensure compliance with all applicable federal requirements. If a state or local entity fails to comply with requirements, ED may withhold or suspend the funds or recover misspent funds following an audit.
The ARRA also establishes a Recovery Act Accountability and Transparency Board, which is responsible for coordinating and conducting oversight of stimulus spending to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse.
The guide urges readers to report any instances of mistreatment of funds to ED’s Office of Inspector General at (800) MIS-USED or oig.hotline@ed.gov.
To ensure transparency, ED will keep public records of all state implementations of the funds, and this information will be available in quarterly reports and posted at http://www.recovery.gov.
States must report on the performance of LEAs receiving EETT stimulus funds on four measures: (1) the percentage of districts receiving EETT funds that have effectively and fully integrated technology; (2) the percentage of classrooms with internet access in high- and low-poverty schools; (3) the percentage of teachers who meet their state technology standards; and (4) the percentage of students who meet state technology standards by the end of the eighth grade.
Finally, the flexibility provisions that apply to the use of federal funds under No Child Left Behind also apply to the ARRA. Under transferability, for instance, a state may transfer up to 50 percent of the non-administrative funding it receives for EETT to other programs that “address more effectively its unique needs,” or it can transfer 50 percent of its non-administrative funding from other specified programs into EETT. Likewise, an LEA may transfer up to 50 percent of the funds allocated to it by formula under certain other programs to its EETT allocation, or to its allocation under Part A of Title I.
For additional information on transferability, ED recommends visiting http://www.ed.gov/programs/transferability/finalsummary04.doc.
For more information about the use of ed-tech stimulus funding in general, educators can send specific questions to title2D@ed.gov.
Link:
Guidance on EETT Funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
Note to readers:
Don’t forget to visit the Stimulating Achievement resource center. Learn how to make wise spending decisions and keep track of school needs as stimulus funds become available. Go to: Stimulating Achievement
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