EdTech Online: U.S. Department of Education Technology Grant Programs

Next: NCLB (No Child Left Behind) Act of 2001, Titles I-X

Previous: Office of Special Education Projects State Contacts List - Part B and Part C

Star Schools Program General Information

Star Schools Grant Type: Star Schools is a discretionary/competitive grant, which are different from formula grants. A discretionary grant awards funds on the basis of a competitive process. The U.S. Department of Education reviews applications during a formal review process, considering the legislative and regulatory requirements and published criteria for the program. The U.S. Department of Education then determines which applications best meet the requirements and are, therefore, most worthy of funds.

Additional information about the specific way in which the grants are reviewed can be found in the Star Schools Evaluation FAQ section of the U.S. Department of Education website at: http://www.ed.gov/programs/starschools/faqevaluation.html

Star Schools Eligibility: Eligible applicants for the Star Schools program include any public agencies or corporations whose purpose is to develop and operate telecommunications networks to enhance education opportunities. However, these eligible entities must represent the interests of elementary and secondary schools that are included under Part A of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

Also eligible are partnerships that will provide telecommunications services, and include three or more of the following entities (at least one of which must be a local educational agency):

1. A local educational agency serving a significant number of elementary and secondary schools eligible under Part A of Title I, or elementary and secondary schools operated/funded for Indian children by the Department of the Interior.
2. A state educational agency.
3. Adult/family education program.
4. An institution of higher education, or state higher education agency.
5. A teacher-training center that received federal assistance or has been approved by the state.
6. A public or private entity with experience or expertise in planning/operating a telecommunications network.
7. A public or private elementary or secondary school.

Star Schools Use of Funds: Star Schools Program grants must be used to obtain telecommunications facilities and equipment, develop and acquire instructional programming for students, provide pre-service and in-service staff development for teachers and administrators, provide educational programming for parents and community members and/or obtain technical assistance for teachers and school personnel in the use of facilities and programming.

Star Schools Application Process: The Star Schools application itself must be submitted online at the Grants Apply Site at www.grants.gov. However, if you need special consideration, you must receive a waiver of the electronic submission requirement.

For printed applications, contact Education Publications Center (ED Pubs), PO Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794-1398, Tel: 877-433-7827, TDD: 877-576-7734, http://www.edpubs.org/webstore/Content/search.asp, E-mail: edpubs@inet.ed.gov.

Along with the application, you must also submit the following forms:

• ED Form 424
• ED Form 524
• Standard Form 424B
• ED80-0013
• ED80-0014
• Standard Form LLL
• Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants

Star Schools Additional Help and Contact Information:You can contact Brian Lekander (brian.lekander@ed.gov or 202-205-5633) at the U.S. Department of Education, OII Technology in Education Programs 400 Maryland Ave. S.W., Rm. 4W226, FB-6 Washington, DC 20202 with any questions you may have.

Next: NCLB (No Child Left Behind) Act of 2001, Titles I-X

Previous: Office of Special Education Projects State Contacts List - Part B and Part C