The Instructional Technology Division of the Georgia Department of Education announced the FY08 Title II-D Competitive grant during the GaETC conference held in Atlanta, Georgia on November 14-16.

The FY08 Title IID Competitive grant, titled Teachers, Teamwork and Technology (T3) will specifically address a statewide need to improve instruction to meet the needs of the 21st Century learner and impact overall student achievement. With the June 2007 refresh of the ISTE "National Educational Technology Standards for Students: The Next Generation" (NETS-S), as well as the launch in October 2007 of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) "21st Century Library Learning Standards", it is imperative that our students are given educational opportunities to meet these 21st Century expectations. In addition, we recognize that the continuing implementation of the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS) across content area and grade level results in a need to utilize project-based learning methodologies in the classroom.

The T3 grant will:

• build on the collaborative and professional learning community aspects of the FY07 ITEE grant by enabling a Library Media Specialist and a team of four teachers to embark on a journey towards standards-based teaching with engaged learners in a technology-enabled classroom.
• provide 21st Century instructional technology tools and equipment and extensive professional development for the leadership team over a two year period. The professional learning will be specifically tailored to ensure a successful implementation at the school. The thirteen Educational Technology Centers (ETCs) will play a vital role in the Professional Learning design and implementation at the schools, and will provide the instructional and technical support for the grantees, Library Media Centers, and classrooms.
• require the team demonstrate a connection point between the Library Media Specialist and the four teachers.
• focus on intensive student instruction in electronic resources such as GALILEO, and digital era tools of podcasting, blogging, and multimedia production.
• recognize that our students live in a global society and one way to expand their world is to collaborate outside the boundaries of their own building.

Eligibility for this grant was determined by the NCLB definition for a high-need LEA as determined for Title II-D competitive grants and outlined in the Section 2403 of NCLB. Once the formal Grant Guidance has been approved and published, all eligible Superintendents and Principals will be notified via e-mail. Additionally, local ETCs will also receive notification.

An LEA shall be considered a high-need if:

1. The percentage of children in poverty residing in the LEA's service area is above the state average of 17.77% according to the 2004 US Census poverty data provided to GaDOE Title I programs, US-ED poverty data.
   -and-
2. The LEA has one or more schools identified as Needs Improvement for one or more years according to the 2007 AYP School Summary Report.
   -or-
3. The ratio of students to computers in the LEA’s service area is above the state average of 3.34 students to computers according to the 2006-2007 State Technology Inventory Survey.

Title II, Part D legislation requires that each State Education Agency ensure an equitable distribution of assistance across rural and urban districts according to the demonstrated need of those local educational agencies serving the areas. A weighted method of distribution for the grant eligibility will be employed. Responsibiliity of the grant application rests with the school; submission rests with the LEA. Each individual eligible school is responsible for their grant application, but the LEA is responsible for sign off and submission.

Distribution of Grant Eligibility
Number of eligible schools in an LEA	Number of schools eligible for grant
1 to 6 Schools	1 School
7 to 19 Schools	2 Schools
20 to 39 Schools	3 Schools
40 to 59 Schools	4 Schools
More than 60 Schools	5 Schools

Please contact your local ETC to learn more about upcoming Grant Writing Workshops.

• FY08 Grant Workshop FAQs
• FY08 TTT (T3) Grant Rubric
• FY08 Title II-D Eligibility List
• Educational Technology Centers (ETC)
• FY08 Title IID Ed Tech Grant Application and Guidance
• FY08 Title IID Ed Tech Grant Required Appendices
• FY08 Title IID Teachers, Teamwork, and Technology (T3) Grant Awardees