A five-year, $2 billion fund to provide formula grants to state education agencies to support grassroots efforts at the state and local level to meet the four national technology goals for schools: modern computers, high quality educational software, trained teachers, and affordable connections to the Internet. After the Technology Literacy Challenge Fund was launched in FY97 and funded at $200 million, it more than doubled with $425 million appropriated in FY98. These funds are awarded to all 50 states and outlying areas according to the ESEA Title I formula. The challenge fund is designed to encourage states, local communities, the private sector, schools and individuals to work together to integrate technology into teaching and learning. Contact Tom Fagan, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Ave., Suite 4900, Washington, DC 20202-6100, (202) 401-0039, www.ed.gov/Technology.

In 1995 the Administration initiated a "Technology Learning Challenge," to challenge communities to form partnerships of local school systems, students, colleges, universities and private businesses to develop creative new ways to use technology for learning. Since FY95, 62 projects have been funded in 33 states -- involving 548 school districts, 239 businesses, 140 colleges and universities, 53 museums and 17 libraries -- demonstrating the innovative uses of computers, networking and multi-media across the curriculum. Grants are awarded to consortia which must include at least one local educational agency with a high percentage of children living below the poverty line. The FY98 competition is focusing on teacher professional development and applications are now available. Contact Shirley Steel, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education, 555 New Jersey Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20208, (202) 208-3882, www.ed.gov/Technology.

The Star Schools program helps to improve instruction in underserved areas (including rural and urban areas) through fostering the use of distance learning courses in mathematics, science and foreign languages, literacy skills and vocational education. Through support from the Star Schools Program, more than one million students and their teachers along with a host of administrators, parents, and policy makers in 50 states and territories have participated in staff development and community awareness activities produced via satellite, compressed video technology, fiber optics, videodisc, and microcomputer-based networks. FY98 marks the 10th anniversary of this program. Contact Cheryl Garnette, Star Schools, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, 555 New Jersey Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20208, (202) 219- 2267, www.ed.gov/Technology

Funds projects and centers for advancing the use of new technology, assistive technology, media, and materials in the education of children and youth who are disabled and the provision of related services and early intervention services to infants and toddlers with disabilities. State and local education agencies, institutions of higher education, and profit and nonprofit public and private agencies and organizations may apply. Contact Ellen Schiller, Team Leader, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, 330 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20202, (202) 205-8123.

Seeks to help meet federal R&D needs and to stimulate technological innovation in small businesses, while encouraging private sector commercialization of developed products. The Department of Education's SBIR program has focused on the development of products which use computers and other high tech equipment for teaching and learning basic skills, science and foreign languages such as software programs; and providing the physically disabled opportunities to function more easily in society. The funding level for FY98 estimated at $5.1 million. Contact Lee Eiden, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, 555 New Jersey Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20208, (202) 219-2004, http://www.ed.gov/offices/OERI/SBIR/.

Coordination funds are used to carry out activities to improve the interstate and intrastate coordination of migrant education between state and local education agencies. Projects that improve the teaching and learning for migrant students through the use of technology are encouraged. In FY98 $6 million was allocated. Local education agencies and non-profit organizations may apply. Contact Mark Taylor, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Migrant Education, 6000 Independence Ave, SW, Portals Building, Room 4100, Washington D.C. 20202-6134, (202) 205-0089.

Funds may be used to purchase software and hardware for basic skills instruction by schools.

In FY94 approximately $125 million of Chapter 2 funds were spent on software and hardware purchases.

Provides grants to states and communities for the implementation of School-to-Work programs integrating academic and vocational learning with work-based learning. Software and related technology-based applications can be supported through these programs.

Provided a planning grant to each state to integrate technology into overall state education improvement plans.

Most of the current Eisenhower program funds are used for teacher training, including the use and integration of different technologies into math and science curricula. Only in schools with enrollment of 50% or more from low-income families can the school use all Eisenhower funds for hardware and software purchases.

Provides grants to rural and inner-city public elementary or secondary schools to plan, implement, or expand projects that benefit the education, health, social service, cultural, and recreational needs of a rural or inner-city community. Funds many be used for technology related programs.

Awards matching grants to state and local governments and nonprofit organizations for the planning and construction of telecommunications networks for the provision of educational, cultural, health care, public information, public safety and other social services. Approximately $17 million is available for the program in FY 98. Contact National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 4096, 14th and Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20230, (202) 482-2048, http://www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/otiahome.html.

Awards matching grants to non-commercial entities to purchase telecommunications equipment with the stipulation that the equipment be used for educational or cultural purposes. PTFP also provides smaller grants to assist these entities in planning for the purchase and use of telecommunications equipment. In FY98 approximately $21 million was available for both types of grants. PTFP has requested $15 million for FY99. Contact Dennis Connor, Director, Public Telecommunications Facilities Program, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 4625, 14th and Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20230, (202) 482-5802, http://www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/otiahome.html.

Seeks to improve, broaden, and deepen the interdisciplinary and pedagogical knowledge of teachers, administrators, and others who play significant roles in providing quality mathematics, science, and technology education for students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12. To this end, TE promotes systemic change, in-service teacher development, dissemination, and other activities. Contact Teacher Enhancement Program, Directorate for Education and Human Resources, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22230, (703) 306-1620, http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/1998/nsf984/program.htm#14

Supports urban schools with at least 20,000 students and that have significant poverty populations, to improve the implementation of science and mathematics education standards. School systems are encouraged to adopt policy changes that increase graduation requirements in science and mathematics, and implement standards- based curricula, instructional, and professional development programs. The program is targeted at the entire school district, K-12. School systems are also encouraged to develop partnerships with institutions of higher education, business, professional organizations, community-based organizations, and information science organizations. City school systems, which are the units of change are expected to work with these partners in the design and implementation of in-school student enrichment, teacher enhancement activities, and informal education efforts. The goal of these activities should be to improve the teaching and learning of science and mathematics education. Contact: Alexandra King, Comprehensive Partnerships for Mathematics and Science Achievement Program, Division of Human Resource Development, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230, (703) 306-1633.

Projects promote student's positive attitudes toward science, mathematics, and technology, as well as positive perceptions of themselves as learners. By incorporating investigative, hands-on science and mathematics, they should facilitate changes in the basic delivery of classroom instruction. Any organization with a scientific or educational mission may submit a proposal. Contact Instructional Materials Development Program, Directorate for Education and Human Resources, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22230, (703) 306-1614.

Seeks to improve the quality of science, mathematics, engineering, and technology (SMET) courses, curricula, and laboratories. It encompasses SMET education for all students and targets activities affecting the learning environment, content, and educational practices. Priority is given to improving undergraduate education through adaptation and implementation of previously developed materials and educational practices. Contact Division of Undergraduate Education, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Room 835, Arlington, VA 22230, (703) 306-1670.

Provides national recognition to outstanding elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers. Each year, two mathematics teachers (one elementary school and one middle/junior/senior high school) and two science teachers (one elementary school and one middle/junior/senior high school) from each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Department of Defense Dependent Schools, and the U.S. Territories are selected for this honor. The program seeks to enhance the status and visibility of the teaching profession by identifying and rewarding exemplary teachers. Awardees are brought to Washington, DC, for a week of activities and professional interaction. Contact Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, Directorate for Education and Human Resources, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230, (703) 306-0422.

Research activities in the Division of Research, Evaluation and Communication (REC), have been consolidated into a new research program, Research on Education, Policy, and Practice (REPP). REPP supports cultivation of a research base for implementing innovative K-16, i.e., elementary, secondary, and undergraduate reform strategies, as well as ways of improving graduate, professional, and informal and lifelong learning. Technology funding interests include: How tools that link individuals and institutions dispersed in space and across cultures can be used to teach and learn the changing content of science and mathematics; how the evolving capacity of computers and other technologies enables teachers to individualize instruction and allow students to engage in the processes of experimentation, of understanding, of skills acquisition and of applying content knowledge; and how high performance computing and communications empower the effectiveness of educational administrators, policy makers, and researchers. Target dates for preliminary proposals (required) are March 15 and September 15 each year; Full Proposal deadlines are June 1 and December 1. Contact Research on Education, Policy, and Practice Program (REPP/REC/EHR), Room 855, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230, (703) 306-1651; to request publications, (703) 306-1130, http://www.nsf.gov.

Encourages improvements in science, mathematics, and technology education through comprehensive systemic changes in the education systems of the states. No new competition is scheduled. (Currently 10 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico are active awardees.) Contact Statewide Systemic Initiatives, Directorate for Education and Human Resources, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, Virginia 22230, (703) 306-1682.

Established to challenge the Nation's commitment to effect sustained school reform in its urban centers. Through this initiative, the Foundation invites a limited number of large cities to launch systemic programs to foster experimentation, accelerate the rate of change, and implement system-wide improvement in student learning for grades K-12 in mathematics, science, and technology. The following cities are eligible for the USI Program: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, El Paso, Fresno, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, New Orleans, New York City, Phoenix, Philadelphia, Ponce, San Antonio, San Diego, San Juan, and St. Louis. Contact USI Program, Directorate for Education and Human Resources, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22230, (703) 306-1682.

Seeks to stimulate systemic educational reform and improvement of science, mathematics, and technology education in rural, economically disadvantaged regions, not limited by state or geographic boundaries. Sustainability of educational improvements is assured through encouraging community development activities in conjunction with instructional and policy reform. Contact Jody Chase or Jerry Gipp, Rural Systemic Initiatives Program, Directorate for Education and Human Resources, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, Virginia 22230, (703) 306-1684.

The Department of Energy SBIR program supports high-quality research or research and development (R & D) on advanced concepts concerning important energy-related or engineering problems and opportunities that could lead to significant public benefit if the research is successful. Objectives of this program include increasing private sector commercialization of technology developed through DOE- supported R & D, stimulating technological innovation in the private sector, and improving the return on investment from Federally-funded research for economic and social benefits to the Nation. Annually awards approximated 200 Phase I grants to U.S. small businesses up to $75,000 per grant to establish scientific or technical merit and feasibility of ideas that appear to have commercial potential, and approximately 80 Phase II grants of up to $750,000 each for the principal R & D effort based on Phase I results. Contact the SBIR Program Manager, ER-32, U.S. Department of Energy, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, MD 20874-1290, (301) 903-3054.

This program seeks to develop innovative technologies by providing competitive research contracts to U.S. owned small businesses to develop leading-edge technologies. Provides Phase I grants of up to $70,000 to establish feasibility and merit of proposed innovation, and Phase II grants of up to $600,000 based on Phase I results. Contact, SBIR Program Manager, Code 710-3, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, (301) 918-1980.

The Agricultural Telecommunications Program is a competitive grants program, authorized by the 1990 Farm Bill to encourage the development of an agricultural communications network to facilitate and strengthen agricultural extension, resident instruction, research, and domestic and international marketing of United States Agricultural commodities and products through partnerships between eligible institutions and the Department of Agriculture. This program represents partnership efforts among USDA and both land-grant and other university communities emphasizing communication networks and distance education. Contact Cathy Bridwell, Agricultural Telecommunications Program, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250, (202) 720-6084, http://www.reeusda.gov/agtel.

RUS financing is used by rural telecommunications providers to build new and modernize existing telecommunications networks, connect new subscribers in unserved areas, and provide the transmission and switching facilities necessary for economic development, distance learning and telemedicine applications, and Internet access. As of December 1996, 594 borrowers provided local access to the Internet, resulting in availability of local access to the Internet for about 4 million rural farms and businesses. Contact Rural Utility Service, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250-1538, (202) 720-1255, http://www.usda.gov/rus/.

Since 1993 this program has provided 191 grants and loans totaling $57,917,918 million to rural schools, hospitals, and medical clinics in 41 states and one territory. The RUS Distance Learning grant and loan program provides grants and loans directly to rural schools, libraries, and other educational institutions for the development of advanced telecommunications systems, including interactive learning systems and Internet access. The loan program was started in 1997 and provides loans in amounts up to $6 million at an interest rate equal to the government's cost of money. Contact Rural Utilities Service, Mail Stop 1538, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-1538, (202) 720-1255, http://www.usda.gov/rus/dlt/dlml.htm.

These grants are small awards, up to $25,000, which go to specific projects in the humanities, including the use of technology. The annual deadline for application is April 15.

This program funds three types of projects: materials development, field testing and classroom applications, and teacher preparation that may integrate technology into the classroom. Deadline for application is October 15, 1998 for projects that begin April 1, 1999.

Seminars are small groups of teachers who want to receive teacher training from a scholar in their field of interest. Institutes are groups of 25 teachers who study work with a faculty of scholars to explore in depth materials related to the subjects they teach. For more information call (202) 606-8463 and ask to speak with a program officer. Deadlines are March 1, 1999 and March 1, 2000 for the following summers.

The challenge grant program helps academic institutions and cultural organizations to secure long term support for and improvements in their programs, activities and resources related to the humanities, including the use and applications of technology. The matching requirement challenges institutions to raise non-federal funds to match and/or exceed the federal award. In recent years, the federal portions of the grants have ranged from $25,000 to $1 million. Annual application deadline is May 1. For more information call (202) 606-8309, or email challenge@neh.gov. Guidelines and information on funded programs can be found at http://www.neh.gov.

The USDLA Funding Source Book is a 400+ page publication complete with electronic and print references of funding sources for technology. It is available for $42.50 plus $4.00 shipping. To order contact Kendall Publishing at 1-800-228-0810. The ISBN number when ordering is 1-0813. To obtain information electronically, visit http://www.technogrants.com.

This directory lists funding sources for equipment, building and renovation. Search for grants by such subjects as education, libraries, or hospitals. The cost is $59.50 + $6.00 shipping and handling. For information call Research Grant Guides, Inc. (561) 795-6129, and to order fax a mailing label or order form to (561) 795-7794.

This directory lists funding sources for computer, software, sophisticated office equipment, and technology related grants. The cost is $59.50 + $6.00 shipping and handling. For information call Research Grant Guides, Inc. (561) 795-6129, and to order fax a mailing label or order form to (561) 795-7794.

This daily publication contains notices of new grants from federal agencies, grant application guidelines, and regulations and requirements for federal grant programs. To order contact: Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, PO Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. For phone orders and general publication inquiries, call (202) 512-1800. For more information visit http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/index.html

The site is part of the University of Illinois at Chicago webpage. It provides links to search engines for various federal and private grants. http://www.uic.edu/depts/ovcr/ors/.

Provides information on grants and fundraising. There are links to webpages of organizations that offer grants. http://www.foundations.org

Although the foundation does not provide grants, the website does contain links to grant related sites. There are links to websites and periodicals related to funding, plus information on government and corporate grants. http://glef.org

Provides information on funding sources for technology and links to mini-grants resources. http://sami.lanl.gov/

A resource for information on applying for grants and grant sources. Provides access to various grants directories. http://foundationcenter.org/