COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O. BOX 2120
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120
SUPTS.
MEMO NO. 158
August
12, 2005
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Jo Lynne DeMary Superintendent of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
Supplemental Technology Grants |
Federal
funds have recently become available to help school divisions implement the
statewide Standards of Learning assessment system and purchase assistive
technologies for the classroom.
The
assessment funds can be used to purchase new scientific and graphing
calculators, repair non-functioning calculators, or to purchase calculator
batteries. They can also be used to
purchase personal digital assistant devices (PDAs) for teacher use in
gathering assessment information for the PALS program. See http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Instruction/Reading/readinginitiative.html
for information on the PALS program.
Attachment A of this memorandum provides the assessment grant
distribution listing based on Title I eligibility.
See
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 112, June 27, 2003, and SUPTS MEMO NO. 128, June 16, 2004 for a
listing of calculators that are approved for use on Standards of Learning
assessments in 2004-2005.
The
funds for assistive technologies can be used to purchase technologies as
specified below:
(assistive
technology is defined as any item, piece of equipment or product that is used
to increase, maintain, or improve the functional and academic capabilities of
students with disabilities. Assistive technology can be the means for providing
instruction that is universally designed for all learners.) The following is a list of categories for
assistive technology that might serve to help guide your decision-making
process.
Categories
of Assistive Technology:
Attachment
A of this memorandum provides the assistive technology grant distribution
listing based on Title I eligibility.
To
afford maximum flexibility and accommodate the time available, the department
will provide direct grants to school divisions. Because these are 2003 grant
year federal funds, divisions must encumber the funds by September 30, 2005,
and seek reimbursement prior to December 1, 2005. Purchases made with local
funds between July 1, 2003 and September 30, 2005, are also eligible for grant
reimbursement.
The special
reimbursement request form is a downloadable Excel template. This file is available on the Department of
Educations website at:
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Technology/inf158.xls
E-mail your
completed request to Richard Schley at calculators@doe.virginia.gov. In
addition, please mail a signed copy of the reimbursement form to the following
address:
Richard Schley
Office of Instructional Technology
Virginia Department of Education
James Monroe Building 22nd
Floor
101 North 14th Street
Richmond, VA 23219
If you have
questions about these grants, please contact Richard Schley (richard.schley@doe.virginia.gov),
educational technology specialist, at 804-371-6882. If you have questions about
the use of calculators, please contact Deborah K. Bliss (Deborah.Bliss@doe.virginia.gov),
secondary mathematics specialist, at (804) 786-6418. If you have questions about PDAs, please contact Ginna Glover (Ginna.Glover@doe.virginia.gov),
reading and English specialist, at (804) 786-1997. If you have
questions about eligible assistive technologies, please contact John Eisenberg(john.eisenberg@doe.virginia.gov)severe
disabilities/assistive technology specialist at(804) 225-2711.
JLD/nhb
Attachment
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/administrators/superintendents_memos/2005/inf158a.pdf