San Diego Unified Receives $1 Million Tech Grant

A million dollars in federal stimulus funds is on its way to San Diego Unified to help improve educational technology and college-career readiness.

The award is from the Enhancing Education Through Technology competitive grant program and is limited to uses that "improve high school graduation rates and promote student readiness for college and careers," according to the California Department of Education.

"This is wonderful help that will promote the top priorities of this district, raising our graduation rate and cutting the achievement gap," said Superintendent Bill Kowba. “Our ability to gather data on our students helps our teachers and staff members better keep up with today’s kids. In addition, our students’ ability to be career- and college-ready is what high school is all about.”

Darryl Lagace, San Diego Unified’s Chief Information and Technology Officer, said the grant funds will be focused on technology in grade 6-7 math.

“By targeting improvement in 6th and 7th grade math, we can better prepare our students for successful completion of Algebra in grade 8 which is the gateway to become college or career ready,” he said, “and is a strong predictor of passing the California High School Exit Exam in grade 10 and of high school graduation.”

California’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jack O’Connell, said the funding was based on the number of students in grades 7-12 at eligible school districts.

“These grants will help schools use data effectively to improve student achievement and close the achievement gap,” said O’Connell. “With the state budget crisis continuing, our cash-strapped schools desperately need these funds as soon as possible so they can use education data and technology to better prepare students for college or careers.”

Funding was provided through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed into law by President Barack Obama in February 2009. Because of legislative program changes and the delay in the passage of the state budget, EETT funds will be used by schools to acquire and maintain the use of data to improve high school graduation rates and promote student readiness for college and careers.

The California Department of Education had just 45 days to complete an application process that normally takes months. Department staff cut the application process from a number of months to 11 days because prior applicants that did not receive funding in 2009 were allowed to use the same application for funding in this cycle. Therefore, a streamlined application process was implemented to meet the strict time line.