Monthly update, 2017 September

September 2017 Monthly Update
GOSA Announces Round 5 of Connections for Classrooms Grant Program On September 21, 2017, the Governor's Office of Student Achievement announced a new round of funding for the Connections for Classrooms Grant Program, which has provided more than $80 million in grants to LEAs across the state for district and school network upgrades and digital devices over the last three years. Utilizing roughly $10 million in unspent grant funds from prior awardees, Round 5 will enable eligible districts and schools to upgrade their digital networks or, if additional network upgrades are not needed in the next two years, purchase additional digital devices. Rural, high-need districts, state charter schools, state special schools, and locally authorized charter schools are eligible. Applications will be due on November 15, 2017, and awards will be announced in January 2018. Due to limited funding, this round includes a competitive application submission and review process to determine awards. Strong applicants will clearly describe how this grant will enable them to upgrade and improve their digital networks to change instruction to implement digital learning, specifically facilitating learning with technology that gives students some control over time, place, path, and/ or pace. In addition, they will demonstrate their need for network equipment or devices, outline their equipment selection/deployment/maintenance plans, and explain how this investment ties into their current network. For more information about grant guidelines, application, timeline, evaluation rubrics, and eligible applicants, click here.
DECAL, in Conjunction with GOSA, Releases the Quality Rated Validation Study Report #1
In August 2017, Bright from the Start: the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) published the Quality Rated Validation Study Report #1 in conjunction with Child Trends, Georgia State University, and GOSA. Quality Rated is Georgia's system to determine, improve, and communicate the quality of programs that provide child care. Quality Rated helps parents and families easily identify highquality child care programs by assigning programs one, two, or three stars based on measured quality. The overarching goal of the Quality Rated Validation Project is to provide Georgia's community of early childhood professionals with high-quality information about the rating system that can be used to strengthen the rating system. The Quality Rated Validation Study Report #1 explores data from over 1,500 Quality Rated child care programs. The report examines the components of Quality Rated (i.e., portfolios and formal observations), how those components are working to create a star-rating, and how those components differ by type of child care program (e.g., Pre-K, Head Start, family child care providers, etc.). To read the Quality Rated Validation Study Report #1, click here. To learn more about Quality Rated, click here.
Apply for the Innovation Fund Fiscal Year 2018 Funding Cycle The Fiscal Year 2018 Funding Cycle will support school districts, traditional public schools, charter schools, and RESAs in planning, implementing, and scaling radically innovative education programs. GOSA seeks to fund programs that target the root causes of challenging and complex problems through one of the following priority areas:
Applied Learning with a Focus on STEAM Education; Birth to Age Eight Language & Literacy Development; Blended & Personalized Learning; and Teacher and Leader Development for High-Needs Schools. This year, GOSA is offering three types of grants: Innovation Fund Accelerator Implementation Grant Scaling Grant Interested applicants must complete a mandatory technical assistance webinar series. All applications are due October 5. For more information on the Innovation Fund, click here. To determine which grant is best fit for your organization, click here. For more information on the mandatory webinar series, click here. To apply for an Innovation Fund grant, click here.
Job Opportunities Professional Learning Grants Specialist
Georgia Education Data and Dashboards Georgia School Reports Interactive Education Data Map Downloadable Education Data Files Georgia Higher Learning and Earnings Dashboard High School Graduate Outcomes Dashboard
As the state's P-20 education agency, the Governor's Office of Student Achievement (G.OSA) strives to increase student achievement, school completion, and life opportunities for all Georgia students. GOSA provides policy support to the Governor and ultimately the citizens of Georgia through:
Communicating meaningful education data to stakeholders; Providing research support and data analysis on various education programs in Georgia to inform the Governor's policy, budget, and legislative efforts; Auditing education programs to ensure fidelity at the district and school-level to performance and accountability requirements; and Identifying, supporting, and sustaining educational innovations that align with the Governor's education priorities
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