Competitive Grant Opportunity Published on the TEA Grant Opportunities Page

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Texas Education Agency
Correspondence

News Bulletin

Department of Contracts, Grants and 
Financial Administration

December 12, 2017

Competitive Grant Opportunity Published on the
TEA Grant Opportunities Page

TEA is announcing the availability of grant funds for the 2018–2019 Technology Lending grant program. Request for Application (RFA) #701-18-103 is authorized by the General Appropriations Act, Article III, Rider 8, 85th Texas Legislature and Texas Education Code,  Section 32.301. The RFA is available on the TEA Grant Opportunities Page.


Eligibility

Eligible applicants include local educational agencies (LEAs) that:

  • have an enrollment of at least 40% economically disadvantaged students at the participating campus(es). Eligibility will be determined using the 2016–2017 Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR) Campus Report data from the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS): https://rptsvr1.tea.texas.gov/perfreport/tapr/2017/srch.html?srch=C; and
  • have a Technology Plan on file with TEA for the 2016–2017 school year or show evidence of a current local technology plan on participating campuses. See Required Program-Related Attachments on page 18.


Grant Period

  • May 1, 2018, to August 31, 2019

Funding

  • A total of approximately $10,000,000 is available for this grant program.
  • It is anticipated that approximately 144 grants will be awarded
  • Grant awards are expected to be from $50,000 to $150,000 each, depending district enrollment.


Description

Texas Education Code, §32.301, as added by House Bill 3526, Regular Session, 2017, authorizes TEA to establish the Technology Lending Grant. The program awards grants to LEAs to implement a technology lending program to loan students the equipment necessary to access and use digital instructional materials. With the 2018–2019 Technology Lending grant, LEAs can continue using digital instructional materials while ensuring equitable access for students through loaned equipment for learning off campus.

For the purposes of this program, "equipment" means personal, portable wireless devices such as laptops, tablets, or other technological devices that provide access to those digital materials required to meet the objectives of the district's or charter school's technology plan. The purchase of equipment includes an operating system and productivity software, where applicable.


Application Deadline

Applications must be received by the Texas Education Agency by 5:00 p.m. (Central Time), February 6, 2018, to be considered for funding.