Frequently Asked Questions

QUESTION: What are the specific equipment and dollar amounts for included in the AO Grant?

ANSWER: The AO Grants are modeled on the following equipment and costs:

Interactive Whiteboard: SMART 680i with stand: White Board with built in projector, includes costs for stand and shipping. Value: $3,149
PC Notebook (NOTE-The prearranged product is being renegotiated and will be updated soon). Value: $700
Document Camera: ELMO Visual Presenter TT-02RX. Value: $565
Installation and onsite teacher user training instruction (for renegotiated systems only). Value: $200

QUESTION: For our schools, we have moved forward with classroom presentation systems that do not meet the specifications of this Grant, but align with the goals of The AO Grant. We are bringing digital content into the classroom by using a classroom set up where a teacher is using a wireless slate and a projector for instruction and using OVSD for student assignments and teacher professional development. Will we be able to apply, and will we be considered for funding if we don’t want the same equipment identified by Accelerate Oregon?

ANSWER: This is briefly addressed on the second page of the Application, and in more detail below.

“Use grant funds for purchasing only the itemized components. Prearranged pricing for all equipment is already in place. Requests that deviate from the specific grant equipment is discouraged, but will be considered.”

The “itemized components” is the list of items that a district submits in their Grant Application for Classroom Presentation Systems. Accelerate Oregon recognizes that many schools have implemented classroom presentation systems using different equipment that achieves the same objectives listed in the AO application.

The Goal of AO is to support 21st century education and the technologies that help increase student achievement. An application will not be rejected because a district has chosen different equipment. Applications that deviate from the instructions will be required to demonstrate the effectiveness of their requested solution and why it should be funded in place of the target system.

While the AO budgets have been built on prearranged pricing for a computer, Interactive white board with built in projector and a document camera, districts may submit alternative proposals that provide for equipment that delivers the same functionality.

The AO target computer is a PC based notebook. Districts may substitute a computer of their choosing. This includes Apple Computers. The amount for the computer in the Grant is fixed at $700. A district can purchase a product of greater value using its own funds to meet its purchase price.

Districts will not be able to change their equipment requests after their proposal is submitted. The Grants will only be released to a successful district with copies of their equipment orders.

Follow Up Question: We provide Classroom Presentation Systems using SMART wireless slates. If we proposed expanding our implementation that met all of the AO requirements to more classrooms and serving more 8th grade classrooms, would that be considered?

Follow Up Answer: The AO sponsors do not presume to know how to serve every school and would benefit from a thoughtful application that expanded their efforts to more students and their education success.

QUESTION: Do we have to buy the same brand of Interactive Whiteboard, computer, and document camera specified?

ANSWER: No. Districts must purchase equipment that provides the same, or better functionality.

QUESTION: How do we register for Accelerate Oregon?

ANSWER: You register with AO using the District Registration tab on this site: http://accelerateoregon.org/district-signup

QUESTION: The RFP alludes to professional development provided as part of the presentation system awards. Can you enlighten us about the "provided" PD so we can supplement our own PD accordingly? Will PD be provided via ORVSD website?

ANSWER: Professional Development will be provided as three, ongoing components. The first is equipment training for the teachers the districts have selected for their proposal. This training will be provided immediately following the installation of the equipment. Installation will have to be scheduled at a time when the teachers can be present.

OVSD Training will be made available as part of the OVSD Training Program, provided by a consortium of ESDs led by the High Desert ESD. OVSD also offers PD Course content from WGBH Teacher’s Domain and PBS Teacher’s line. AO is developing funded PD opportunities through grant seeking and the partnership with the SMART Technologies Corporation. The goal is to provide ongoing support for teachers as they develop a system of online classroom teaching and learning techniques that enhances instruction. OVSD is a requirement to provide a baseline of teaching and learning applications and content that teachers can use in the classroom and students can access from home.

Schools can expect to receive the grants, have the equipment installed with user training, receive OVSD training, receive SMART instruction strategies training over the course of the first year. While the grant is a one-time award, schools can expect teacher PD to be available over the second school year. PD opportunities will be provided in person and through additional content in OVSD and through live webinars.

QUESTION: We understand using ORVSD is a required component. Our teachers are wondering if there is existing content they will be expected to use. Or, will they be developing content (to use and share with others)?

ANSWER: OVSD offers a rich set of teaching and learning applications and a large catalogue of supplemental content aligned to Oregon Standards. OVSD also offers a large catalogue of PD content. The expectation is that a district will have their teachers use OVSD to supplement their teaching or to enhance teacher professional development. It is by no means the only option available to schools. However, the success of AO has been to leverage additional funds and discounts because Oregon offers OVSD to all schools. Intel, Cisco, SMART, Google and Compview have committed resources because the Legislature and the Superintendent have provided a baseline set of resources for blended instruction. OVSD is not expected to be the only online instructional resource used, but it must be an integrated component to receive AO funding. Teachers can use OVSD to create their own content. They can also supplement their content with learning objects and modules from the OVSD Repository. There is no requirement that teachers share their work with other teachers. Teachers who elect to share their content in OVSD do so under the OVSD Creative Commons license. OVSD only retains control over content that ODE purchases, or leases.

QUESTION: We have heard a lot of discussion about a special agreement with Google for secure Google Applications for Education. Can you elaborate?

ANSWER: We are close as of this writing...AO approached Google about a special service that provides for filtered email to meet FERPA and COPPA/CIPA federal guidelines. To meet the requirements of FERPA and COPPA/CIPA, ODE is negotiating an agreement with Google for that satisfies FERPA and COPPA/CIPA requirements. The service in question is a closed domain for school districts with all the Google Apps for Education including Postini Email Filtering, all the traditional Google Education Apps, and closed video domain. The service would be offered at no cost to Districts and Districts would have complete administrative control and ownership. Advertising would be turned off by default. Districts would have the option of creating email containers for “discovery and retention”. Districts would have the option of choosing their own domain name or using the OregonK-12.net domain with a district prefix (Districtname.Oregonk-12.NET). Districts would be required to sign an intergovernmental agreement with ODE. Under the agreement Districts would accept administrative responsibility and insure that they maintain parental consent agreements with families.

QUESTION: Will there be additional content available in the OVSD platform for the AO projects?

ANSWER:Yes, AO has opened doors to a number of executive offices including the Oregon based KC Distance Learning and the Florida Virtual School to discuss options for expanded course template options including and credit recovery as well as lesson interactives for targeted instruction.