Steppingstones to Technology Grant Program

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education

Technology and Media Services for Individuals with Disabilities

Purpose of Program: The purpose of this program is to promote the

development, demonstration, and utilization of technology and to

support educational media activities designed to be of educational

value to children with disabilities. This program also provides support

for some captioning, video description, and cultural activities.

Eligible Applicants: State and local educational agencies;

institutions of higher education; other public agencies; private

nonprofit organizations; outlying areas; freely associated States;

Indian tribes or tribal organizations; and for-profit organizations.

Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General

Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80,

81, 82, 85, and 86; and (b) The selection criteria for the

Steppingstones of Technology Innovation for Students with Disabilities

priority are drawn from the EDGAR menu--RESEARCH program area.

Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of

higher education only.

Priority

Under section 687 and 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), the Secretary gives an

absolute preference to applications that meet the following priority.

The Secretary funds under this competition only those applications that

meet this absolute priority:

Absolute Priority--Steppingstones of Technology Innovation for Students

With Disabilities (84.327A)

The purpose of this priority is for the support of projects that:

(a) Select and describe a technology-based approach for achieving

one or more of the following purposes for early intervention,

preschool, elementary, and secondary school students with disabilities:

(1) improving literacy; (2) improving access to and participation in

the general curriculum, or appropriate activities for preschool

children; and (3) improving accountability and participation in

educational reform. The technology-based approach must be an innovative

combination of a new technology and additional curriculum materials and

instructional methodologies that enable the technology to achieve

educational purposes for students with disabilities;

(b) Justify the approach on the basis of research or theory that

supports the effectiveness of the technology-based approach for

achieving one or more of the purposes presented in paragraph (a); and

(c) Clearly identify and conduct work in ONE of the following

phases:

(1) Phase 1--Development: Projects funded under Phase 1 must

develop and refine a technology-based approach, and test its

feasibility for use with students with disabilities. Activities may

include development, adaptation, and refinement of technology,

curriculum materials, or instructional methodologies. Activities must

include formative evaluation. The primary product of Phase 1 should be

a promising technology-based approach that is suitable for field-based

evaluation of effectiveness.

(2) Phase 2--Research and Evaluation: Projects funded under Phase 2

must select a promising technology-based approach that has been

developed in a manner consistent with Phase 1, and subject the approach

to rigorous field-based research and evaluation to determine

effectiveness and feasibility in educational settings. Products of

Phase 2 include a further refinement and description of the technology-

based approach, and sound evidence that, in a defined range of real

world contexts, the approach can be effective in achieving one or more

of the purposes presented in paragraph (c)(1).

(3) Phase 3--Implementation and Validation: Projects funded under

Phase 3 must select a technology-based approach that has been evaluated

for effectiveness and feasibility in a manner consistent with Phase 2,

and must study the implementation of the approach in multiple, complex

settings to acquire an improved understanding of the range of contexts

in which the approach can be used effectively, and the factors that

determine the effectiveness and sustainability of the approach in this

range of contexts. Factors to be studied in Phase 3 include factors

related to the technology, curriculum materials and instructional

methodologies that constitute the technology-based approach. Phases 2

and 3 can be contrasted as follows: Phase 2 studies the effectiveness

the approach can have, while Phase 3 studies the effectiveness the

approach is likely to have in sustained use in a range of typical

educational settings. The primary product of Phase 3 should be a

detailed blueprint that can be used in dissemination and utilization of

the technology-based approach. Also to be studied in Phase 3 are

contextual factors associated with students, teacher attitudes, skills

and actions, physical setting, curriculum and instruction, resources,

and professional development and policy supports, etc.;

(d) In addition to the annual two-day Research to Practice Division

Project Directors' meeting in Washington, D.C. mentioned above in the

General Requirements section of this notice, budget for another annual

trip to Washington, D.C. to collaborate with the Federal project

officer and the other projects funded under this priority, and to share

information and discuss findings and methods of dissemination; and

(e) Prepare products from the project in formats that are useful

for specific audiences as appropriate, including parents,

administrators, teachers, early intervention personnel, related

services personnel, researchers, and individuals with disabilities.

Project Period: The Secretary intends to fund at least one project

in each phase. Projects funded under Phase 1 will be funded for up to

24 months. Projects funded under Phase 2 will be funded for up to 24

months. Projects funded under Phase 3 will be funded for up to 36

months. During the final year of projects funded under Phase 3, the

Secretary will determine whether or not to fund an optional six-month

period for additional dissemination activities.

Maximum Award: The Secretary rejects and does not consider an

application that proposes a budget exceeding $200,000 for any single

budget period of 12 months for projects in phases 1 and 2, and $300,000

for projects in phase 3. The Secretary may change the maximum amount

through a notice published in the Federal Register.

Page Limits: Part III of the application, the application

narrative, is where an applicant addresses the selection criteria that

are used by reviewers in evaluating the application. An applicant must

limit Part III to the equivalent of no more than 40 double-spaced

pages, using the following standards: (1) A ``page'' is 8\1/2\''

x 11'' (on one side only) with one-inch margins (top, bottom, and

sides). (2) All text in the application narrative, including titles,

headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as

all text in charts, tables, figures, and graphs, must be double-spaced

(no more than 3 lines per vertical inch). If using a proportional

computer font, use no smaller than a 12-point font, and an average

character density no greater than 18 characters per inch. If using a

nonproportional font or a typewriter, do not use more than 12

characters to the inch.

The page limit does not apply to Part I--the cover sheet; Part II--

the budget section (including the narrative budget justification); Part

IV--the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract,

resumes, bibliography, and letters of support. However, all of the

application narrative must be included in Part III. If an application

narrative uses a smaller print size, spacing, or margin that would make

the narrative exceed the equivalent of the page limit, the application

will not be considered for funding.

For Applications and General Information Contact: Requests for

applications and general information should be addressed to the Grants

and Contracts Services Team, 600 Independence Avenue, SW, room 3317,

Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202-2641. The preferred method for

requesting information is to FAX your request to: (202) 205-8717.

Telephone: (202) 260-9182.

Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD)

may call the TDD number: (202) 205-8953.

Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of this notice or

the application packages referred to in this notice in an alternate

format (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) by

contacting the Department as listed above. However, the Department is

not able to reproduce in an alternate format the standard forms

included in the application package.