4R's Technology Grant Program

4R's Technology Grant Program is sponsored by Indiana Department of Education. Offers grants for technology programs in schools to enhance educational technology.

Project 4R'S Grants will enhance technology for early childhood education | | pdclarion. com You have permission to edit this article. OAKLAND CITY--Dr. Suellen Reed, Superintendent of Public Instruction, announced that the East Gibson School Corporation is among those statewide that will receive Project 4R's grants.

"Oakland City Elementary School benefits from this (grant)," said Joe Beard of the Indiana Department of Education. "Grants are important. Schools can do a lot on their own, but they certainly need the help of any outsiders or the state whenever possible.

Some of these funds are difficult to come by." The grants, which total over $1. 9 million, will put computer hardware, software, and related technologies into kindergarten and "I think it's great," said Dave Chamness, principal of OCE.

"Nationwide, people tend to pay more attention to the technology needs of middle and high school students. However, technology can play a significant role in the earliest years of school," said Reed. "This grant allows schools to integrate technology with the '4R's' of reading, writing, arithmetic, and remediation."

Jayma Ferguson, director of the department's Division of Prime Time, which focuses on early childhood education, said, "Schools planning for and using technology with kindergarten and first grade students are beginning to see positive benefits.

The appropriate use of technology tools provides a supportive environment that integrates the technology within the curriculum to enhance learning Since 1990, the Department of Education has administered funds to Indiana public school corporations according to a state law The purpose of the legislation is to assist school corporations in purchasing technology equipment for instruction in kindergarten and first grade reading, writing, and mathematics; to provide daily remediation opportunities using the technology before, during, and after school; and to help students in all grades understand that technology is a tool for learning.

School corporations could apply for a grant of $10,000 per school or $4,000 for each kindergarten or first grade classroom in a building, whichever was greater. They were limited to one proposal for every three elementary buildings with kindergarten or first grade; those with fewer than three buildings also were limited to one proposal.

They were required to assure the judging committee that they would provide a portion of the total cost of any technology project, either through their own money or donations. Teachers implementing 4R's projects were required to be involved in the planning and writing of proposals. Carolyn Veale, a kindergarten teacher was the primary grant writer for OCE.

She learned on August 1, "by chance" that the school had received the grant. "I'm really excited," she said. "It "The purpose of the grant is the children's learning," she said.

"I had to tie in how technology would improve kids' learning." Veale said the school received state notification late, so she only had "a couple of weeks to write it. When we didn't hear by the end of school, I thought we didn't get it," Veale said.

This will be the second grant OCE has received. The other one "This was the first one we were eligible for (since that time)," Veale said. With the grant money, the school will buy "one or more computers, digital cameras and a printer.

We can buy software, tables and desks that will have to stay in the first and kindergarten classrooms." Chamness said there will be three first grades at his school this year. There are 44 students for kindergarten.

He doesn't know until he talks with Supt. Lynn Blinzinger next week if there will be two or three kindergarten classes. That will mean the school will receive either $20,000 or $24,000 from the grant.

"Technology in the kindergarten and first grade classes can enhance the total learning process," Beard said. Post a comment as anonymous Your comment has been submitted. × There was a problem reporting this.

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