The Texas Education Agency awarded $33 million in federal funds to 25 school districts and educational consortiums for technology-based projects designed to improve student learning.

The grants, ranging in size from approximately $92,000 to $2.9 million, are being awarded under the 2000 Technology Integration in Education (TIE) initiative, a state program funded through the federal Technology Literacy Challenge Fund (TLCF). The funds will be used for projects that will actively promote online curriculum delivery, distance learning, technology professional development, enhanced administrative operations and other activities that use technology to improve education and increase student performance.

The funds are designed to help advance the national goals for technology in education as specified in the national long-range technology plan, Getting America's Students Ready for the 21st Century: Meeting the Technology Literacy Challenge. The four goals are:

• All teachers will have the training and support they need to help all students learn through computers and through the information superhighway;
• All teachers and students will have modern computers in their classrooms;
• Every classroom will be connected to the information superhighway; and
• Effective and engaging software and online resources will be an integral part of every school curriculum.

Section 3135 of the federal Elementary and Secondary Act states that special consideration be given to districts with demonstrated need for technology and with a percentage of students identified as economically disadvantaged. Additionally, the state awarded priority to applicants that addressed the state's Public Access Initiative.

The TIE initiative grants address the recommendations in the State Board of Education's Long-Range Plan for Technology, 1996-2010 in three areas: teaching and learning, educator preparation and development and administrative and support services.

This year marks the fourth year of the TIE grants program. Twenty-five awards representing 17 education service center regions were made. Eighteen of the awards went to collaboratives ranging in size from two to 35 members. Approximately 258 districts will benefit from the distribution of funds and/or services, as will more than 40,314 teachers and more than 629,520 students. This year's projects concentrate on the integration of technology into the curriculum, curriculum delivered online, and the delivery of staff development for teachers, administrators and community members.

These awards impact geographic areas that reflect low socioeconomic areas of the state that have a great need for technology. Many of the collaboratives include geographically noncontiguous school districts that are using a variety of technologies to share resources and information to increase cost efficiency in operations. Collaboratives also include business and community partnerships, colleges and universities and other entities.

The implementation of technology at these sites will enhance the technology capacity of all schools in Texas and foster communication and collaboration through information and resource sharing among various entities throughout the state. These sites will provide leadership in the adoption of technology programs and processes for the entire nation.

More information regarding TIE awards and future grant opportunities can be found on the TEA Web site at www.tea.state.tx.us, under Technology.