District Earns Outstanding eMINTS Grant!
by Jeremy Watt
August 08, 2008
FY09 Title II.D Competitive Grant Program News Release
The Putnam County R-I School District will receive a $384,064 grant for the 2008-09 school year from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education under the federal Title II.D Enhancing Education Through Technology Program. The district's application received the highest score in its category, competing with other districts from the northwest part of the state.
Signed into law with the No Child Left Behind Act, Title II.D is designed to improve student achievement through the use of technology and ensure that every student is technology literate by the end of the 8th grade. The competitive sub-grant program funds projects that implement scientifically-based instructional methods that result in high academic achievement. Competitive funding is targeted for "high-need" districts, described as being among districts in the state with the highest numbers or percentages of children from families with incomes below the poverty line, serving one or more schools identified for improvement or corrective action under ESEA, or a district with a substantial need for assistance in acquiring and using technology.
Missouri Title II.D competitive funds are used by districts to implement eMINTS projects. The enhancing Missouri's Instructional Networked Teaching Strategies program offers a variety of professional development experiences for educators (such as teachers, administrators, education technology specialists, and library media specialists) who are interested in implementing the eMINTS instructional model in their schools. Statewide evaluation of Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) results determined that eMINTS has a positive impact on student achievement, comparing the performance of eMINTS students with like students in the same districts and with overall statewide averages.
The eMINTS instructional model is a set of research-based strategies integrating technology and best teaching practices to create a learning community where teachers and students explore and create knowledge together using a variety of multimedia resources. Teachers facilitate student learning through the use of essential questions that stimulate thinking, build curiosity, create connections, and generate long-lasting knowledge through issues that matter to students.
The grant proposal from the Putnam County R-I School District was prepared by a team of administrators and teachers. The new project is designed to provide comprehensive eMINTS training for fifteen teachers, training for all three building principals, and training for the technology coordinator, Mr. Aaron Schnakenberg. The emphasis of the grant is science, communication arts, and special education instruction and learning for students in grades 4-12. Through the grant, our school district will be able to purchase 207 new computers with up-to-date software, twelve new interactive whiteboards and projectors, twelve new printer/copier/scanners, twelve new digital cameras, and new classroom furniture. Training for our local teachers will be provided by the eMINTS National Center primarily here on the school campus in Unionville, beginning August 14.
With continued funding from the legislature, Putnam County R-I Schools will receive up to $150,000 from the grant for the 2009-2010 school year. A total of 49 Title II.D grant proposals, submitted by districts and consortia of districts across the state and requesting over $14 million, competed for the estimated $3.6 million allocation. According to Department officials, the eight Year 2 (continuation) applications and eight of the 41 competitive Year 1 applications received approval.
For more information about the Title II.D eMINTS grant for Putnam County, please feel free to contact Mr. Jeremy Watt at 660-947-3361, ext. 306. For more information about Title II.D grants and other Missouri education technology programs, contact the Instructional Technology section at 573-751-8247 or instrtech@dese.mo.gov. For more information about the eMINTS program, contact the eMINTS National Center at 573-8847202 or info@emints.org.
