Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Dr. Jennifer House, Founder and Principal, RedRock Reports

Dr. Sheryl Abshire, Chief Technology Officer, Calcasieu Parish Public Schools

Steve Krum, K-12 Solutions Engineer, Blackboard

Securing Funding for Online Learning Solutions

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Born from education

in 1997

20 million users

1,000+ of us, working with 5,200+ of you

Extended by 2,500

developers and partners

9 global offices across 4 continents

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• Close the gap between the way students live and the way they learn

• Deliver a 21st Century educational experience that is engaging, individualized and effective

Our Vision:

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• An open, web-based teaching and learning platform for engaging and assessing learners in and beyond the classroom

• 3,000+ clients, 15+ million estimated active users, at all levels of learning

• Local or hosted deploymentEngaging and assessing learners at all levels

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Client Community

SECURING FUNDING FOR ONLINE LEARNING SOLUTIONS

Blackboard Spotlight

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Federal Funding for Blackboard learn+Blackboard learn+ provides educators with the tools to create engaging and effective

online courses that met the needs of all learners.

Outside the classroom, the platform supports formal and informal peer collaboration,

the creation of vibrant communities, and multiple ways to manage and share valuable

learning content, across the institution.  Extended Learning/Virtual School

•Online courses for students expand

teachers’ reach saving time and money

•High interest for digital natives

•Web 2.0 features

•Serve students with limited access to

education, e.g. home or hospital bound

students, rural districts

Professional Development

•Online courses for teachers help districts

stretch their professional development budgets

•Allows the district to pinpoint professional

development for a teacher with a menu of

training programs

•Creates professional learning communities for

educators

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Perspectives from the Field

Dr. Sheryl Abshire • CTO• Calcasieu Parish Public Schools

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Blackboard and Calcasieu

• A transformative solution for the district– Impacts learning, collaboration and innovation

• Calcasieu has district-wide adoption– Blackboard portal

– Branded websites - 2/3 of schools

– User-based roles across the faculty

• Increases productivity and efficiency

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Federal Funding Sources thru September 2010

Funding Source FY 2009 ARRA FY 2010 FY 2011 Request

Title I (College- and Career-Ready)

$14.5B $10B $14.5B $14.5B

School Improvement $545M $3B $545M $900M

IDEA (Part B) $11.5B $11.3B $11.5B $11.8B

English Language Learning $730M - $750M $800M

Title II D – EETT $267M $650M $100M $0

21st Century Learning Centers $1.13B - $1.17B $1.17B

Race to the Top - $4B - $1.35B

Investing in Innovation (i3) - $650M - $500M

Total ED Discretionary Budget $45.4B $46.2B $49.7B

Federal Funds - Use Them to Begin

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Title I (College- and Career-Ready Students)

Title I funding is designed to support activities that raise the achievement

level of economically disadvantaged students.Among the varied uses of this funding are: •Extended-time programs•Strategies for raising student achievement in high-poverty schools•Professional development (5% of funds)•ARRA recommends 40% be used in high schools•LEAs receiving more than $500,000 for Title I must reserve at least 1% for parental involvement activities.

learn+ alignment with Title I uses include:•Expanding high school course offerings and credit recovery•Extending the school day with online courses•Tracking student improvement data •Expanding access to high-quality, ongoing, and flexible professional development •Creating professional learning communities

Timing and Contacts•½ of the funds are released on July 1 annually •The other ½ is released on October 1 annually•Larger districts have a Title I director or a federal funding director who deals with all ESEA programs.•In smaller districts, the superintendent or an assistant superintendent may be the contact

Comments

Note reduction in FY10 funds at the same time ARRA is running out.

Need to watch re-authorization

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Title I - School Improvement Grants

SIG funding can be used for:

•Tier I, II, or III schools identified for corrective action or restructuring

•Must use one of four identified turnaround models

•All models include teacher professional development

•All models include extended learning time

learn+ alignment with IDEA:

•Provides anytime, anywhere professional development including peer networks and distance learning

•Provides the platform for anytime, anywhere online courses that extend the school day

Timing and Contacts

•States have received allocations and LEAs are making application to the states.•In your state, there will be an office of School Improvement or Federal Funding Office where you will be able to get information about district allocations and timing of the application

Comments

There are strict regulations governing which schools are eligible for School Improvement Funds.

learn+ can provide services in every model.

Google “school improvement allocation state name” to find more information for your state.

School Improvement Grants will assist schools that have been identified for

improvement, corrective action or restructuring under the Title I AYP

system.

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Title II Part A - Teacher and Principal Quality

Title II Part A funding is designed to provide:

•Training in content knowledge and classroom practices

•Scientifically-based professional development

•Opportunities to create collaborative learning environments

learn+ alignment with Title II Part A:

•Offers just-in-time and flexible professional development

•Facilitate professional learning communities that empower teachers and administrators with opportunities to collaborate and share best practices.

Timing and Contacts

•½ of the funds are released on July 1 annually

•The other ½ is released on October 1 annually

•Larger districts have a professional development director or a federal funding director who deals with all ESEA programs.

•In smaller districts, the superintendent or an assistant superintendent may be the contact

Comments

One of the four pillars of reform for Obama administration and is included in ESEA, RT3 and i3.

Reauthorization of ESEA might change this program into 3 different targeted programs with increased funding among the three of them.

Title II Part A uses scientifically based professional development

interventions to improve teacher and principal quality.

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Title II Part D – Enhancing Education through Technology

Title II Part D funding can be used for:

•Making innovative use of online learning courseware especially for students in geographically isolated areas

•Using technology to collect, manage and analyze data for school improvements

•25% must be spent on professional development in integrating technology

learn+ alignment with Title II Part D:

•Enables districts to reach out to at-risk, home or hospital-bound, and dropout students to improve graduation rates and overall student achievement

•Improves education in rural districts with AP courses that are difficult to staff and fill

•Provides a platform for additional tutorials and practice sessions in math and science to improve achievement in STEM subjects.

Timing and Contacts

•Funding is usually available shortly after the budget is passed in October.

•States can distribute 50% by formula and 50% by competition or by 100% competitive.

•Please check the Educational Technology pages of your states’ websites.

Comments

EETT was reduced from $270 million in FY09 to $100 million in FY10.

For the 3rd consecutive budget period, EETT has been zero-funded this time by the Obama administration with the intention that other titles include technology in their spending

Title II Part D is intended to improve student achievement through the use

of technology in elementary and secondary schools

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Title III - English Language Acquisition

Title III funding can be used to:

•Provide high-quality language instruction programs that are scientifically research based with demonstrated results.

•Provide high-quality professional development to classroom teachers, principals, administrators, and other personnel

learn+ alignment with Title III:

•Provides cost-effective and easily accessible professional development, including strategies such as peer networks and distance learning with access to district curriculum and opportunities to collaborate.

•Provides an online network for curriculum extension for English Learners

Timing and Contacts

•Title III funding is made available to states on July 1st annually.

•Larger districts will have a director or coordinator for ELL or ESOL or ESL, however they name it.

•In smaller districts the funds may be managed by an Assistant Superintendent or the Superintendent.

Comments

Budget is steadily increasing

FY09-FY11 request up by $70 million.

Title III is designed to improve the education of English language learners by

helping them learn English and meet challenging state standards.

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Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

IDEA funding can be used for:

•Special education and related services for a child with a disability in accordance with the Individual Education Plan

•Intensive district-wide professional development for both special and regular education teachers

learn+ alignment with IDEA:

•Provides anytime professional development including peer networks and distance learning

•Provides communication tools for managing IEPs, facilitating problem solving and IEP program monitoring activities

•Provides the platform for developing and implementing an online learning options for students with disabilities who cannot attend classes onsite.

Timing and Contacts

•½ of the funds are released on July 1 annually •The other ½ is released on October 1 annually•Most districts have a Director or Associate Superintendent responsible for Special Education programs.

Comments

Professional development for regular classroom teachers is necessary to support mainstreamed students.

Home- and hospital bound students can make use of the virtual learning platform to continue their education.

IDEA assures that students with disabilities receive a free appropriate public

education.

Funding Catalysts

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Race to the Top – Competitive Stimulus Funds

Race to the Top

•Highly competitive grant totaling $4 billion

•50% of the funding will come to districts that have committed to the state plan in winning states

•Each state’s plan is different

learn+ alignment with Title III:

•Provides cost-effective and easily accessible professional development, including strategies such as peer networks and distance learning with access to district curriculum and opportunities to collaborate.

•Provides an online network for curriculum extension for English Learners

Timing and Contacts

•Awarded in two grants—Phase I and Phase II

•Phase I finalists have been announced with awards expected in late April (15 states +DC)

•States have program managers. Districts in winning states will likely appoint an administrator for the grant

Comments

Obama has requested continued Race to the Top funding in the FY11 budget.

Districts have signed on through Memoranda of Understanding in the state application.

State applications can be reviewed at: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop/phase1-applications/index.html

Rt3 is a highly competitive grant designed to support state educational reform

efforts in 4 areas: standards and assessment, student data systems, educator

quality and low achieving schools.

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Investing in Innovation – Competitive Stimulus Funds

Investing in Innovation grants definition:

•Demonstration Grant - based on concept and little research, able to scale up, $5M

•Validation Grant –proven program with moderate levels of effectiveness research, scale to regional or state levels, $30M

•Scale-Up Grants – proven programs with a strong body of effectiveness research, scale to national, regional or state levels, $50M

learn+ and i3:

•Provides cost-effective and easily accessible professional development, including strategies such as peer networks and distance learning with access to district curriculum and opportunities to collaborate.

•Improves education in rural districts with AP courses that are difficult to staff and fill

•Improves education in rural districts with AP courses that are difficult to staff and fill

Timing and Contacts

•Intent to Bid due April 1, 2010 (not required)

•Applications are due May 11, 2010

•Contact: Mia Howerton or Erin McHugh i3@ed.gov (202) 205-0147 or (202) 401-1304

Comments

Obama has requested continued i3 funding in the FY11 budget.

A 20% private funding match is required.

Investing in Innovation funds competitive grants to applicants with a record

of improving student achievement, in order to expand the implementation

of, and investment in, innovative practices

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Stimulus Funds Deadlines

ARRA provides an historic, one-time infusion of funding into the K-12

education system nationwide. Some of these funds are distributed through

regular program channels.Title I StimulusFor district allocations go to:

Must be obligated by 9/30/10http://www2.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/titlei/fy09/index.html

IDEA StimulusFor district estimates go to:

Must be obligated by 9/30/11http://edlabor.house.gov/documents/111/pdf/publications/2009StimulusLeasfinal.pdf

School Improvement GrantsFor district estimates go to:

Must be obligated by 9/30/11State SIG websites

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Why Federal Funds?

In Summary…

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Thank you! Questions? Jenny House, PhD, PresidentRedRock Reports

Dr. Jennifer House, Ph.D.is a noted education market leader and a former school district administrator and educational technology innovator.Jhouse@redrockreports.com, 650-561-9223

Sheryl Abshire, PhD, CTO Calcasieu Parish Public Schools

Dr. Sheryl Abshire is a renowned leader in education including honors such as Christa McAuliffe Fellow, CoSN President, and National Teacher’s Hall of Fame

sheryl.abshire@cpsb.org

www.blackboard.com/k12/learn

(866) 424-9299 ext. 2427

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