Digital Connections Partnership Schools
Program Application
Overview
Purpose:
The Digital Connections Initiative provides tools, assistance, and funding to bridge
the digital divide that exists in some schools across the Commonwealth and
strengthen twenty-first century teaching and learning. The initiative is a partnership
between the Office of Digital Learning (ODL) within the Department of Elementary
and Secondary Education (ESE), the Massachusetts Department of Information
Technology (MassIT), and the nonprofit EducationSuperHighway (ESH). The initiative
consists of:
1. The School Technology Readiness Survey, an online tool for collecting
information about the current state of technology in a school. All districts
seeking state assistance for technology upgrades, including districts that may
be seeking a waiver of the requirement to administer computer-based tests in
grades 4 and 8 in 2017, must complete the survey for every school in the
district (completion of the survey does not automatically result in a waiver).
2. The EducationSuperHighway Broadband Upgrade Program, a partnership
between ESH and Massachusetts to support districts with their broadband
upgrades. ESH provides a team of expert consultants to work with each
interested district to:
o Conduct outreach to a broad network of competitive providers;
o Support your RFP process;
o Build a business case for your town approval;
o Provide tips for negotiating with providers; and
o Act as project managers during the implementation process.
o All services are free of charge. To schedule a half hour kick-off
call, make an appointment here.
3. The Digital Connections Partnership Schools (DCPS) Grant
o $2 million in state bond funds are available to cover non-discount
project costs under the federal E-rate program (state match). The state
will cover non-discounted project costs until the funds run out. All local
matching funds must be provided to MassIT before the project starts,
and all project costs that utilize state bond funds must be completed by
June 30, 2017. The local match may come from other public or private
sources.
4. The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) Loan Program
o Thanks to the State Treasurer’s Office, the MSBA is providing $10
million in interest-free loans to cover discounted costs for the local
match (up to $2.5 million per district). Districts that do not qualify for a
state match are still eligible for loans, and districts could apply for a
loan only, provided that they complete the School Technology
Readiness Survey and submit a DCPS application. (NOTE: The DCPS
application is not an application for loans, nor are the loans
administered by ESE or MassIT. Rather, MSBA will use the information
provided by districts through the DCPS application to inform their
process.)
5. E-rate discounts. E-rate is a federal program that provides technology
discounts for schools and libraries. E-rate is administered by the Universal
Services Administrative Company (USAC) under the oversight of the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC). All public schools are eligible to receive
discounts on eligible Category 1 services (Internet/broadband and for a limited
time, voice) and Category 2 services (internal connections, managed internal
broadband services, and basic maintenance of internal connections), but only
if the services are purchased from eligible contracts and the application is
approved by USAC. Discounts on Category 2 Wi-Fi range from 20 to 85 percent
based upon poverty level and whether the district is rural or urban. Rural
districts and districts with higher poverty receive greater discounts. Almost all
Massachusetts public schools receive at least a 40 percent discount. (NOTE:
Funding under the current program is only available for a limited time and all
districts are strongly encouraged to file an E-rate application for
reimbursements no later than FY19.)
Priorities:
Priority shall be given to applications for grants and/or loans that:
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Maximize the access of broadband and improve the efficiency and
productivity of education through the use of technology;
Provide student access to individualized and rigorous digital learning
experiences;
Ensure that educators and administrators have the knowledge and skills to
develop and implement digital learning curricula; and
Maximize taxpayer value, student access to information technology and
information technology preparedness.
Applications will be further prioritized based on the extent to which the overall
applicant pool reflects the geographic diversity of the Commonwealth (e.g.,
suburban, urban, rural); number of students served; Chapter 70 contribution; school
infrastructure needs (some schools in a district's application may be funded, but not
others); and whether the applicant applied for DCPS grant funds in the past, but was
not funded.
Eligibility:
All public school districts in the Commonwealth are eligible for funding, provided
that:
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Funds are not awarded to school buildings scheduled for decommissioning or
razing within 10 years from the completion of the project; and
Projects occur only on and within publicly-owned real property maintained for
the benefit of the school district.
Charter schools and educational collaboratives are eligible to apply as long as the
two eligibility criteria above are met.
Funding:
A total of $2 million in state bond funds are available to cover non-discount project
costs under the federal E-rate program (state match). The state will cover nondiscounted project costs until the funds run out. A total of $10 million in interest-free
loans are available to cover discounted costs (local match; up to $2.5 million per
district). Districts that do not qualify for a state match are still eligible for loans, and
districts could apply for a loan only, provided that they complete the School
Technology Readiness Survey, submit a DCPS application, and schedule a
consultation with EducationSuperHighway. (NOTE: The DCPS application is not an
application for loans, nor are the loans administered by ESE or MassIT. Rather, MSBA
will use the information provided by districts through the DCPS application to inform
their process.) The local match may come from other public or private sources. All
local matching funds must be provided to MassIT before the project starts, and all
project costs that utilize state bond funds must be completed by June 30, 2017.
Fund Use:
All funds must be used to pay for Category 1 and/or Category 2 upgrades (as
determined by the E-rate program).
(NOTE: By law, E-rate reimbursements are returned to the municipal general fund.
With agreement from their municipal government, districts may use some or all of
the reimbursement to pay for devices, professional development, assistive
technology for students and teachers, and other educational technology needs.)
Project Duration:
Project costs that utilize state bond funds must be completed by June 30, 2017.
Districts that utilize loans do not have this restriction; loans must be repaid within 5
years. (NOTE: If the loan is not repaid within 5 years, the MSBA reserves the right to
use a state aid intercept.)
Program Unit:
Office of Digital Learning, ESE; Office of Municipal and School Technology, MassIT
Contact:
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General Program Inquiries: Kenneth Klau, Director, Office of Digital Learning,
ESE (781) 338-3505
Funding and Infrastructure Inquiries: Michael Farrell, Project Manager, Office
of Municipal and School Technology, MassIT (617) 626-4545
Broadband Upgrade Inquiries: EducationSuperHighway (link to schedule a
kick-off call)
Date Due:
Friday, October 7, 2016
Required Forms:

Part I: School Technology Readiness Survey (districts with 10 or more schools
can provide data via a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, below, in lieu of the
survey)
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Part II: This application (also the way for districts to indicate interest in
applying for a loan with the MSBA)
Part III: Assurances (Only Finalists are required to submit assurances to
MassIT, based on a process determined by MassIT. MSBA-administered loans
will include additional assurances.)
Additional Information:
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ESE E-rate website: Resources include the Category 2 Funding Estimator,
which calculates the E-rate funding available to districts and schools; the
Bandwidth Calculator, which calculates the bandwidth recommended for the
district overall and each school in the district; an E-rate filing checklist, and
more.
ESE Wi-Fi and Broadband website: Resources include
EducationSuperhighway’s Compare & Connect K-12 tool, which allows districts
leaders to compare bandwidth and prices with similar school districts to help
get more bandwidth for their broadband budget, and more.
Submission Instructions:
1. Complete the School Technology Readiness Survey (provide information for all
schools in the district, not just those for which the district seeks grant or loan
funding)
2. Complete this application
3. Schedule a kick-off call with ESH.
Please provide the name of the public school district, charter school, collaborative, or
regional vocational technical school that will be serving as the lead fiscal agent.
(Begin typing the name of the organization. The response will auto-populate.)
Note that funds may not be awarded to school buildings scheduled for
decommissioning or razing within 10 years from the completion of the project and
projects may only occur on and within publicly-owned real property maintained for
the benefit of the school district. Charter schools and collaboratives are eligible to
apply as long as those eligibility criteria are met. A collaborative may apply to be the
lead fiscal agent on behalf of a consortia of districts and/or charter schools.*
_________________________________________________
School Information
If you wish to save and continue working on your submission at a later time, please
click the link above ("save and continue later"). You will be prompted to provide your
email address and will be given a link to return to your survey.
Is the district, charter school, or collaborative selected above applying for funding with, or on
behalf of, other organizations?*
( ) Yes
( ) No
If applying for funding with or on behalf of other organizations (e.g., as a lead fiscal agent for a
consortia), please write the names of each district, charter school, or collaborative in the
consortium in addition to the lead fiscal agent selected above:
District, charter, or collaborative #2:
_________________________________________________
District, charter, or collaborative #3:
_________________________________________________
District, charter, or collaborative #4:
_________________________________________________
District, charter, or collaborative #5:
_________________________________________________
District, charter, or collaborative #6:
_________________________________________________
Please remember to complete the School Technology Readiness Survey for all schools in the
district. We will use the information made available in the survey to understand the school's
current technology infrastructure. If you need to confirm what was submitted in that survey,
please email [email protected].*
( ) I confirm that I will complete the School Technology Readiness Survey for all schools in the
district before submitting this application. I understand that if I do not complete the survey for
all schools, it may disqualify my application.
Provide the name of each school included in this application. Start typing the name
of the district and the field will autopopulate (e.g., "Ashland: Ashland High").
School name*: _________________________________________________
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Beyond the data provided through the School Technology Readiness Survey, if you
would like to share additional information about what infrastructure improvements
are required, and what you'd like to pursue using the money in this program, please
describe here:
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
For informational purposes only: In the 2016-17 school year, ESE requires that
districts be prepared to implement computer-based ELA and mathematics tests in at
least grades 4 and 8 in all schools. In the space below, please provide the names of
any school included in this application that the district believes will be unable to
meet this requirement in the absence of resources provided through the digital
connections program.
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
If awarded state funds:*
[ ] My district will seek funding from the MSBA to pay for some (or all) of the local match.
[ ] My district will cover the local match with other funds (not loans).
If state funds run out before my district is funded:*
[ ] My district will seek funding from the MSBA for a loan to pay for some (or all) of the project.
[ ] My district will cover the project with other funds (not MSBA loans).
[ ] My district will not go forward with the project.
Priority 1: Maximize the access of broadband and improve the
efficiency and productivity of education through the use of
technology
Our district will schedule a kick-off conversation with ESH to support districts with their
broadband upgrades. We understand that ESH will provide a team of expert consultants to
work with our district to: conduct outreach to a broad network of competitive providers;
support our RFP process; build a business case for town approval; provide tips for negotiating
with providers; and act as project managers during the implementation process. We
understand further that all services provided by ESH to Massachusetts districts is free of
charge.*
[ ] Yes
[ ] No
Describe how the district partners with other organizations and institutions (i.e.,
community centers, museums, libraries, higher education institutions, etc.) to ensure
our students have access to technology beyond the school day.*
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
Describe how the district helps students and their families learn of their rights and
have their questions about student data collection, use, and security answered.*
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
Explain how digital assessments (e.g., computer-based tests, online polling, digital
response systems, embedded assessments, ePortfolios, simulations, etc.) will be
used formatively to improve, enrich, and guide the learning processes for all
students.*
____________________________________________
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____________________________________________
Explain how Edwin Analytics reports will be used formatively to improve, enrich, and
guide the learning processes for all students.*
____________________________________________
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Priority 2: Provide student access to individualized and rigorous
digital learning experiences
How will you leverage your technology infrastructure further student learning
experiences that include critical thinking, problem solving, creativity and innovation,
collaboration, communication, self- direction, visual learning, information literacy,
global and cultural awareness, and anytime/anywhere learning?*
____________________________________________
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How will you offer students options for online courses and/or online and blended
learning that empower students to personalize their own learning?*
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
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Discuss the use of digital collaboration tools in place (or that you will implement
through this program) that enable students to work collaboratively in your district
(e.g., Google docs, social bookmarking).*
____________________________________________
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Discuss the programs you have in place (or plan to implement through this program)
for all students to gain knowledge in digital citizenship, digital literacy, and digital
responsibility.*
____________________________________________
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Priority 3: Ensure that educators and administrators have the
knowledge and skills to develop and implement digital learning
curricula
Describe how district and school leadership will empower educators to deepen and
extend learning through the use of technology, digital content, and media (e.g.,
through coaching, vetted digital content, classroom management, collaborative
exchanges, lesson design and modeling, etc.).*
____________________________________________
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Explain how district-sponsored professional learning will actively engage staff in
activities like working collaboratively in teams to solve relevant problems, selfassessments to measure staff members’ levels of self-direction, professional learning
opportunities specific to individual staff competencies required in current positions,
etc.*
____________________________________________
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Explain how the district provides (or will provide through this program) proactive
technical support to students and teachers (e.g., through training, orientation to
digital learning, a help desk, student support teams, accessible resources to users in
anticipation of technical support needs, etc.).*
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
Priority 4: Maximize taxpayer value, student access to
information technology and information technology
preparedness
What is the district’s plan for incorporating recurring device costs into the annual
operating budget?*
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
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Your chief educational technology administrator:*
( ) ...possesses Certified Educational Technology Leader (CETL) certification through the
Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) or the Massachusetts Educational Technology
Administrators Association (METAA).
( ) ...is currently pursuing CETL certification through CoSN or METAA.
( ) ...intends to pursue CETL certification through CoSN or METAA.
( ) ...does not plan to pursue CETL certification through CoSN or METAA.
Does your district have a long-term technology plan?*
( ) Yes
( ) No
Please check all of the things that are true about your district's long-range technology plan:*
[ ] The plan was collaboratively developed.
[ ] The plan meets current and future infrastructure demands.
[ ] The plan has procedures and guidelines in place that ensure the security and privacy of
student data when such data are stored off site or in the cloud through student use of apps,
tools, software, or online products and services.
[ ] The plan will enable the district to provide equitable access to up-to-date devices for all
students, at a 1:3 ratio or better, by spring 2018.
Person Completing Application (Program Contact)
On this page please provide contact information for the person completing the
application - the "Program Contact." On the next page you will be asked to provide
contact information for the district's "vendor contact" - the point of contact in the
district for communicating with IT vendors.
Details for the Program Contact*
First*: _________________________________________________
Last*: _________________________________________________
Title*: _________________________________________________
Telephone*: _________________________________________________
Email address of person completing application*
_________________________________________________
Please provide the email address of person completing application again*
_________________________________________________
Point of Contact in the District for Communicating with IT
Vendors (Vendor Contact)
Please provide provide contact information for the district's "vendor contact" - the
point of contact in the district for communicating with IT vendors and scheduling
walkthroughs.
Details for the Vendor Contact*
First*: _________________________________________________
Last*: _________________________________________________
Title*: _________________________________________________
Telephone*: _________________________________________________
Email address of the Vendor Contact*
_________________________________________________
Please provide the email address of the Vendor Contact again*
_________________________________________________
If you wish to save and continue working on your application before you submit it to
ESE, please click the link above ("save and continue later"). You will be prompted to
provide your email address and will be given a link to return to your survey.
Thank you for submitting your application to the DCPS
program.
A confirmation email has been sent to your email address.
Please make sure you do the following by October 7:
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
Complete the School Technology Readiness Survey
Make a telephone appointment with EducationSuperHighway
Sincerely,
Office of Digital Learning
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street
Malden, MA 02148-4906
odl @ doe.mass.edu
781-338-3000
@MASchoolsK12
doe.mass.edu/odl
blog.mass.gov/odl