Educational Technology, Media, and Materials for Individuals With Disabilities Program—Stepping-Up Technology Implementation

Overview

<p>Purpose of Program</p> <p>The purposes of the Educational Technology, Media, and Materials for Individuals with Disabilities Program are to (1) improve results for children with disabilities by promoting the development, demonstration, and use of technology; (2) support educational activities designed to be of educational value in the classroom for children with disabilities; (3) provide support for captioning and video description that is appropriate for use in the classroom; and (4) provide accessible educational materials to children with disabilities in a timely manner.</p> <p>This competition includes two absolute priorities. These priorities are:</p> <ul> <li>Absolute Priority 1—Providing Technology-Based Professional Development to Trainers of SpecialEducation Teachers to Support Children With Disabilities.</li> <li>Absolute Priority 2—Improving Social Skill Development for Students with Disabilities Through the Use of Socially Assistive Robotics (SAR).</li> </ul> <p>Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet either Absolute Priority 1 or Absolute Priority 2. Applicants may apply under both absolute priorities but must submit separate applications.</p> <p><strong>Under Priority 1</strong>: The Department intends to fund three cooperative agreements to (a) identify strategies needed to implement and integrate an existing technologybased tool or approach, based on at least promising evidence,2 into the provision of teacher in-service training; and (b) provide ongoing technology-based professional development and coaching for in-service trainers in the use of technology to, and understanding of how the technology may, support teachers to improve classroom and remote learning environment instruction and learning outcomes for children with disabilities in prekindergarten through grade 12 (PK–12) settings.</p> <p><strong>Under Priority 2</strong>: The Department intends to fund two cooperative agreements to identify strategies needed to implement and integrate SAR to (a) help improve the social skills of children with disabilities; and (b) provide ongoing professional development and coaching for educators, students, or families in the use and understanding of how the technology can improve social skills and learning outcomes for children with disabilities in PK–12 settings.</p> <p></p>