Forty-Four School Districts Receive $7.3 Million in Federal Grants for Technology

GREENVILLE & SPARTANBURG, SC – October 16, 2009 – Forty-four school districts are receiving approximately $7.3 million in federal Enhancing Education Through Technology (E2T2)/ARRA Round 9 Competitive Grants.

The purpose of the grants is to implement 21st century classrooms using innovative strategies that enhance instruction, facilitate teaching and learning, and improve student achievement. The awards were announced by the South Carolina Department of Education’s Office of eLearning.  Funded projects have to focus on these goals:    

• Improve student achievement through use of technology;
• Assist every student to become technologically literate by the end of eighth grade; and
• Encourage the effective integration of technology to achieve the first two goals. 

Districts and projects winning grant approval include:

Aiken County (funds awarded: $175,000)
Technology services and training will continue in elementary and middle schools and be expanded to teachers and students in high schools.  High schools will add computers for student use.

Bamberg District One¬ (funds awarded: $225,000)
The project will provide more technology and technology training to middle and high school students and teachers, plus computer literacy opportunities for parents.

Bamberg District Two (funds awarded: $100,000)
This district’s project will give every student access to a wireless laptop computer, plus training for them and their parents.  Students will be able to check out laptops for home use.  District staff will implement integrated web-based eLearning with laptops.

Barnwell District 19 (funds awarded: $225,000)
The district will add a technology coach to work with students, teachers and parents.  Funding includes laptop computers, iPods and learning programs software for classrooms.

Barnwell District 29/Williston (funds awarded: $125,000)
This project will provide a technology coach, SMART Boards for high school teachers, wireless network access and parent classes in basic computer concepts and applications.

Barnewll District 45 (funds awarded: $100,000)
The district will employ a technology coach and add SMART Board technology in all core K-8 academic classrooms.

Charleston County (funds awarded: $125,000)
The project focuses on teachers and students in four Charleston County schools and supplements the district’s current five-year technology modernization effort. 

Chester County (funds awarded: $221,373.77)
The project calls for technology training for social studies teachers in four schools, plus software and support for school classrooms.

Chesterfield County (funds awarded: $200,000)
The district will be integrating technology into students’ daily instruction to increase interest in and mastery of subject matter.

Clarendon District One (funds awarded: $225,000)
This district will add technology to teaching to help students boost their opportunities to score at proficient and advanced levels on required state tests.

Clarendon District Two (funds awarded: $100,000)
The project provides laptop computers and iPods for the technology coach and targeted students and teachers to help increase academic achievement.

Clarendon District Three (funds awarded: $225,000)
The district will give every student access to a wireless laptop computer, plus training for them and their parents.  Students will be able to check out laptops for home use.  District staff will implement integrated web-based learning with laptops.

Colleton County (funds awarded: $100,000)
The district will employ a fulltime instructional technology coach and add new wireless systems in every classroom in grades 3-8.

Darlington County (funds awarded: $100,000)
The district will employ an instructional technology coach to work with students, teachers, parents and administrators.  A parent technology literacy program will be established in Darlington, Hartsville and Lamar.

Dillon District One (funds awarded: $200,000)
The district will apply grant funds to expanding an existing initiative to improve science achievement and technology proficiency for eighth graders.

Dillon District Two (funds awarded: $225,000)
The district will focus on state English language arts standards to improve student achievement in reading.  Students will use laptop computers to create online book reviews, podcasts and blogs.

Dillon District Three (funds awarded: $175,000)
The district-level instructional technology coach will work to support and assist teachers with lessons that will increase student performance in science.    

Dorchester District Four (funds awarded: $200,000)
The project offers training and mentoring to school faculty, technology coaches and other staff to improve their computer, SMART Board and video streaming skills.

Florence District One (funds awarded: $161,978.87)
The project aims to increase academic success in science with a technology-rich learning environment for students, boosting technology proficiency for fifth and eighth graders in target schools.

Florence District Three (funds awarded: $100,000)
The district will use its funds to provide a technology coach for two middle schools for support, guidance and training of teachers.

Florence District Four (funds awarded: $100,000)
The district will hire a fulltime technology coach, upgrade equipment and software, and provide a wide range of training activities for students, teachers, parents and the community.

Georgetown County (funds awarded: $225,000)
The project will allow four middle schools to have a district technology coach to work with students and teachers.  This coach also will help train parents and community members so they can assist students. 

Hampton District One (funds awarded: $107,400)
The project will furnish laptops for students, teachers and a technology coach to focus on computer literacy and academic achievement in the mathematics curriculum.

Hampton District Two (funds awarded: $224,649.90)
The district technology coach will train a group of teachers to serve in school technology leadership roles. Parents will have access to laptops via a student checkout program to establish online connections between home and school.

Horry County (funds awarded: $100,000)
The grant will provide six training sessions for staff, teachers and administrators.  Sixth-grade science and social studies teachers at three middle schools will get new technology including laptops and iPods to help improve student achievement.  An instructional technology coach will be hired to work with these teachers and their students. 

Jasper County (funds awarded: $100,000)
The district is increasing technology use in grades 4-8 and working for better academic achievement in English language arts.  Schools will share a technology coach to help with staff development and to support students. 

Laurens District 55 (funds awarded: $196,055.20)
The project targets middle school students, training for teachers and new equipment including laptop labs and Promethean boards for better learning opportunities. 

Laurens District 56 (funds awarded: $225,000)
Plans include professional training for Clinton High School teachers, along with senior experience research projects for 12th graders using laptops, iPods, digital cameras and Web 2.0 tools.

 Lee County (funds awarded: $125,000)
The district technology coach will conduct workshops and train a group of teachers to serve as school technology leaders.  Laptops will be furnished for teachers and students, and parents will have laptop access for learning centers that open lines of communication with the schools.

Lexington District Two (
funds awarded: $224,912.70)
The district will pilot technology training for students and teachers at four schools.  The project includes use of iPods and notebook laptops.  It will be the model for expanding technology training throughout the district.

Lexington District Four (funds awarded: $200,000)
The district will employ a technology coach, update computer labs at three schools, train a group of In-Tech Teachers and develop a teacher tool kit for this group. 

Marion District One (funds awarded: $162,000)
The project is focused on fifth-grade language arts and math students at Marion Intermediate School and includes teacher training, equipment and outreach to parents. 

Marion District Two (funds awarded: $200,000)
The district is integrating technology into the classroom curriculum in grades K-5 at North Mullins Primary and McCormick Elementary School.  The project calls for teacher training and support. 

Marion District Seven (funds awarded: $225,000)
The grant allows the district to provide training for teachers, students and parents and will place a laptop computer in the hands of each ninth grader.

Marlboro County (funds awarded: $150,000)
The grant means the school district will be able to provide students with greater exposure to the latest in educational technology.

Newberry County (funds awarded: $225,000)
The district is working to improve English language arts and math achievement.  The project calls for teacher training by a technology coach, developing a group of school-based technology leaders and expanding school access to interactive whiteboard systems.

Orangeburg District Three (funds awarded: $100,000)
Seventh and eighth grade students will have access to laptops and technology training will be conducted for students and parents.  Students will use the laptops in class and can check them out for home use as well. 

Orangeburg District Four (funds awarded: $161,932.50)
Sixth grade students at three schools will have access to laptops and technology training will be conducted for students and parents.  Students will use the laptops in class and can check them out for home use as well.  Teachers will use tablet PCs and high-definition television in their classroom instruction.  

Orangeburg District Five (funds awarded: $125,000)
A district-level instructional technology coach will provide daily training and mentoring for administrators, teachers, media specialists, students and parents.

Spartanburg District Seven (funds awarded: $100,000)
The district is deploying a technology-based curriculum consisting of K-12 reading and mathematics courses and learning tools.  It includes more than 5,000 hours of instruction correlated to state academic standards.

Sumter District Two (funds awarded: $125,000)
The grant provides a district-level technology coach to work with site-based technology leaders, teachers, students and pre-service teachers, helping them to learn and apply new technologies.  Parents and community members are invited to participate, also.

Sumter District 17 (funds awarded: $250,000)
The district will hire a technology coach to work with fourth and fifth grade teachers.  Mobile laptop carts, training laptops and portable MP3 players will be added.  Technology can be checked out for home use.  Family technology nights and Saturday media programs will increase parent involvement and computer access.

Williamsburg County (funds awarded: $125,925.10)
More than 300 targeted sixth-graders will receive laptops.  An instructional technology coach will work with teachers to help them become more proficient. 

York District One (funds awarded: $200,000)
A fulltime instructional technology coach will conduct teacher training.  At least 22 classrooms will be equipped with interactive white boards and video projectors.  Technology will be integrated into classroom teaching, with a special emphasis on secondary science.