Technology Literacy Assessment Project (TLAP)

Proposal to Colorado Department of Education
Power Results Grant Program

Section D: Resources, Budget, and Budget Narrative

Budget Narrative Total Request = $599,165

The TL project budget is focused on two primary areas — development and implementation of the pilot assessment; professional learning related to implementation and use of the TL assessment.

Pilot assessment design and development $ 104,000

Nine-tenths of the funding in this category applies to staff and consultant work on the TL assessment instrument — including drafting and revision, validity and reliability studies, and beta testing.

Pilot assessment delivery and reporting of results $ 66,000

Three-quarters of this amount applies to staff and consultant work to create and refine the delivery modalities, so that the project accommodates widely divergent district capacities and needs. Remaining funds in this category apply primarily to web and platform development — for delivery of the assessment and reporting/storage of results.

Professional development and dissemination $ 152,250

Professional development covers four areas:

· contextual learning for project staff, consultants, and others involved in design and development of the assessment instrument and/or the delivery and data collection modalities;

· information and support for educators who will deliver the assessment to students in their schools/districts;

· work in assessment analysis (e.g., data dialogue) that enables educators to make meaning of the assessment results;

· incorporation of assessment results in curriculum and instructional designs as well as ET-IL planning.

The professional development also includes funds for video recording and editing of workshops and other forms of professional learning, as well as additional website development and maintenance, so that the learning can be more widely disseminated — through webinars, streaming video, and other digital modes.

Project evaluation and dissemination $ 60,000

Evaluation is ten percent of the total budget request. This enables the evaluator to play a more active role in the project — emphasizing a formative assessment approach rather than a summative one, so that the project’s work is continuously informed by the evaluator’s input.

Project administration $ 153,000

Three-fourths of the amount in this category covers salaries and benefits for the three primary staff positions — Project Director, Project Manager, and Office-Budget Support person. The remaining money goes to a range of project supports — from staff expenses to Executive Board stipends and expenses.

Equipment and supplies (other than for professional development) $ 30,000

Two-thirds of the amount in this category applies to purchase of the assessment delivery and reporting platform (and data warehouse).

Indirect Costs (fiscal agent) $ 33,915

Centennial BOCES has offered a reduced indirect rate of 6% to support the project. The indirect rate reduction reflects in-kind support, although it is not listed below..

In-Kind Contributions

By their nature, in-kind contributions tend to be difficult to quantify, and actual contributions usually far outweigh the amounts estimated. With that caveat in mind, the following estimates (accompanied by a designation of the project participant primarily responsible for the contribution) suggest the commitment made by the project participants.

Existing TL assessment project $ 120,000

Technical infrastructure support (Centennial BOCES) $ 20,000

Advisory Committee participation (all districts) $ 15,000

Technical Committee participation (all districts)) $ 20,000

Pilot assessment delivery facilitation and support (all districts) $ 30,000

Facilities for meetings and workshops (several districts) $ 10,000

Office space for project staff (Centennial BOCES; Denver Public Schools) $ 22,000

Staff time for professional learning $ 50,000

Internet connectivity (including EagleNet access) $ 15,000

Total $ 302,000

CDE Summary Budget Form