The Department announced on March 15th that many of the schools ending their 2013 MLTI participation in June would be eligible for grants to continue providing 1:1 mobile computer devices to their students and staff.
The grants are available for:
- Students and staff in 7th and 8th grades, where the school did not refresh its devices in 2016 students;
- High school staff in schools where students are provided 1:1 mobile devices at local expense, provided their MLTI participation ends in June; and
- High school staff in schools that have not participated in MLTI before, if they provide 1:1 mobile devices for their students at local expense.
The prior announcement focused on grants to continue 1:1 device programs, which is the intent of the program. In response to inquiries from technology directors and schools that wish to pursue more innovative approaches to achieving the same objectives as a 1:1 program, the Department is refining our guidance.
With this announcement, the Department is expanding the types of educational technology that can be funded by the grants.
The Department is seeking a statutory change that will allow more flexible use of these grant funds. Pending that change, the Department will fund 1:1 programs as well as programs that do not provide devices on a 1:1 basis. The focus of the programs must be on integrating technology into the classroom, for the purpose of enhancing student outcomes, and may include hardware, software, educational materials and support for educators in the use of technology in teaching. Schools will be asked to explain how student learning will be enhanced by the program, and how they will measure that enhancement.
Eligible schools may apply for the 1:1 program or the alternate program (not limited to 1:1). If the statutory change needed to authorize use of funds for the alternate program is not approved, those schools may re-apply for a grant for a 1:1 program.
Application materials are posted on the MLTI Website. For additional information; contact Deb Friedman, MLTI Project Manager at 624-6834 or deborah.friedman@maine.gov.