Sec. 201 Short title
This title may be cited as the “Technology for Tomorrow Fund”.
Title II — Technology for Tomorrow Fund
II Technology for Tomorrow Fund
Sec. 202 Technology for tomorrow fund
Grants to eligible partnerships— From the amounts appropriated under section 207 and not reserved under subsection (b), the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible partnerships to enable the eligible partnerships to carry out activities described in section 204 to improve student achievement, academic growth, and college-and-career readiness through the use of technology and digital learning.
Reservation of funds— The Secretary may reserve up to 5 percent of the amounts appropriated under section 207 for a fiscal year for—
the administration of this title; and
the evaluation and dissemination activities described in section 204(b).
Duration of grant period— A grant under subsection (a) shall be awarded to an eligible partnership for at least a 2-year period and not longer than a 3-year period, except that the Secretary may award the eligible partnership an additional 2-year grant if the eligible partnership demonstrates satisfactory progress on the performance measures described in section 206(a).
Sec. 203 Application
In general— To receive a grant under section 202, an eligible partnership shall submit an application at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require, and containing the information described in subsection (b).
Contents— An application submitted under subsection (a) shall include—
a description of the eligible partnership, the partners forming the eligible partnership, and the roles and responsibilities of each partner;
a demonstration of each partner’s capacity and commitment to fulfill its role and responsibilities to ensure the successful completion of activities described in section 204;
a description of how the grant funds will be used to improve the achievement, academic growth, and college-and-career readiness of students, particularly at-risk, low-income, and low-performing students;
a description of how the activities funded by the grant will be innovative, systemic, or evidence-based by ensuring such activities—
are based on strong or promising evidence or a review of the best available research evidence; and
may contribute to the development and use of new models;
a description of how such activities will utilize technology and digital learning to—
promote personalized, individualized instruction that improves student achievement, academic growth, and college-and-career readiness;
improve teacher and school leader preparation, training, knowledge, skills, practice, and professional capacity;
ensure all students, particularly at-risk and historically disadvantaged students, including students with disabilities and English-language learners, have equitable access to high-quality curriculum, instruction, assessments, technology, and digital learning; or
improve the efficiency and productivity of education;
a description of how the eligible partnership will measure and report data on the effectiveness of such activities under section 205(a);
an assurance that the grant funds will not solely be used—
to purchase materials, hardware, or technology-based tools; or
to implement online learning to the exclusion of other activities;
a description of how the eligible partnership will ensure that a grant received under this title is not duplicative of support received under the E-rate program; and
such other information as the Secretary may require.
Application review and award—
Application review and approval— The Secretary shall—
establish a peer review process to assist in the review of the grant applications and approval of the grants under this section;
appoint to the peer review process individuals who are educators and experts in—
technology and digital learning;
classroom instruction and teaching practice;
school improvement, redesign, or turnaround;
teacher and school leader training or professional development; and
education efficiency and productivity; and
ensure that each grant is of sufficient size and scope to carry out the activities described in the grant application under subsection (b), including the activities described in section 204 and measuring and reporting data under section 205(a).
Grant award— In awarding grants under this title, the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, ensure—
diversity in the type of activities funded under the grants, including statewide and local initiatives;
equitable geographic distribution of the grants, including urban and rural areas and small and large local educational agencies; and
that eligible partnerships receiving such grants—
demonstrate that activities funded by the grant will be carried out based on strong or promising evidence; and
are committed to and capable of successfully carrying out the activities described in the grant application submitted under subsection (b), including the activities described in section 204 and measuring and reporting data under section 205(a).
Sec. 204 Use of funds
Requirements— An eligible partnership receiving a grant under this title shall use grant funds to carry out 1 or more of the following activities that utilize technology and digital learning to promote:
Personalized, individualized instruction that improves student achievement, academic growth, and college-and-career readiness, such as—
hybrid, blended, or other digital-learning opportunities that combine online and teacher-based instruction to improve student outcomes;
gaming or other personalized digital or technology-based tools that individualize instruction and promote self-directed learning and higher order thinking skills, including giving students control over the place, pace, or time of learning;
online platforms or opportunities that provide students opportunities for credit recovery or advanced credit accumulation; and
expanding the accommodations available to students with disabilities and English-language learners.
Improving teacher and school leader preparation, professional development, knowledge, skills, practice, and professional capacity, such as—
tools or programs that equip teachers to differentiate instruction, conduct ongoing formative assessments, and use real-time data or data systems to identify individual student learning needs and guide personalized instruction, learning, and appropriate interventions that address those individualized student learning needs;
on-demand professional development, online communities of practice, or other technology-based tools that improve teaching and leadership;
pre-service training in the use of technology and digital learning to improve student outcomes; and
technology-based tools to improve the administration and implementation of teacher evaluation systems or other human capital systems.
Ensuring all students, particularly at-risk and low-performing students, have equitable access to high-quality curriculum, instruction, assessments, technology, and digital learning by effectively implementing technology tools consistent with principals of universal design for learning, such as—
using tools or programs to teach students higher order thinking skills;
improving the education of students with disabilities through assessment accommodations, including assistive technology;
improving the education of English-language learners, including language proficiency and academic content, through intuitive games and interfaces, web-based interventions, or technology-based assessments and assessment accommodations;
technology-based tools or digital learning opportunities that enhance high-quality early learning or early childhood education programs;
expanding learning opportunities, particularly for students who are low-performing or live in rural areas, that increase access to high-quality curriculum and instruction, advanced placement or international baccalaureate courses, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education, or enrichment activities; and
enhancing the quality, depth, or administration of student assessments, including summative, formative, and classroom-based assessments.
Improving the efficiency and productivity of education, such as—
extending the reach of high-quality materials, tools, curriculum, instruction, or teachers through such means as open educational resources or blended learning;
making student learning or school improvement more effective and cost-efficient through online or digital platforms; and
use of laptops, personal devices, or technology-infused instruction to reduce cost and improve delivery of instruction.
Limitations on uses of funds— An eligible partnership may not use the total amount of a grant received under this title for a fiscal year—
on materials, hardware, or technology-based tools; or
to implement online learning to the exclusion of other activities.
Sec. 205 Data collection and reporting
Reporting— Each eligible partnership receiving a grant under this title shall collect and report to the Secretary, on at least an annual basis, such information on the progress, outcomes, and best practices learned from activities under the grant as the Secretary may require, which—
shall include information on the impact of the grant on student outcomes, such as—
the number of and demographic information about students who are served by the eligible partnership under this title;
student achievement, student growth, and graduation rates of such students;
college-and-career readiness data about students of such students, such as rates of credit accumulation, course taking and completion, and college enrollment and persistence;
student attendance and participation rates; and
such other information the Secretary may require or other information the eligible partnership proposes to include and approved by the Secretary; and
may include data on—
student engagement and discipline;
school climate and teacher working conditions; and
increases in inclusion of students with disabilities and English-language learners.
Disaggregation— Each eligible partnership receiving a grant under this title shall disaggregate the information required under subsection (a) in the same manner as information is disaggregated under section 1111(h)(1)(C)(i) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(h)(1)(C)(i)).
Sec. 206 Performance measurement and evaluation and dissemination
Performance measures— Prior to the reviewing and awarding of grants under this title, the Secretary shall establish performance measures used to evaluate the progress and performance of each eligible partnership that—
shall include, at a minimum, information on the impact of the grants on student outcomes as reported under section 205(a); and
may include such other information as the Secretary may reasonably require.
Evaluation and dissemination— From amounts reserved under section 202(b), the Secretary shall—
conduct or enter into a contract with an outside evaluator to conduct—
a comprehensive evaluation after the third year that the grant program is carried under this title on the effectiveness of all grants awarded under this title; and
a final evaluation following the final year of the grant program under this title—
that focuses on the improvement in student outcomes reported under paragraphs (1) through (3) of section 205(a);
that compares the relative effectiveness of different types of programs carried under this title and compares the relative effectiveness of variations in implementation within such programs; and
identifies the conditions and practices needed for the effective use of technology and digital learning, including issues related to teacher professional development, educational leadership, classroom and school practices and implementation and support;
disseminate and provide technical assistance to local educational agencies and State educational agencies on best practices in utilizing technology and digital learning to improve student achievement, academic growth, and college-and-career readiness; and
ensure that the Department of Education applies the best practices described in paragraph (2) in carrying out other innovation funds.
Sec. 207 Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2014 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.