Dear American Honda Foundation,

First, let us start off by saying congratulations on your 25th year anniversary of
being in the United States. Your commitment to helping communities all over the United
States is praiseworthy. Our organization commends you on your dedication to youth and
scientific education.
The Virginia Pre-K- 12 grade School District is committed to excellence. We
strive daily to meet the needs of each individual student, and specifically, the following:
Providing quality intellectual experiences and problem-solving skills for all
students.
Challenging students to seek their individual academic, emotional, and creative
potential.
Providing a learning environment that is safe, caring, and nurturing.
Preparing each student to be a productive, caring, respectful, responsible, and
honest member of society.
Promoting learning as a life-long process
The Virginia School district is one of the last schools in Cass County to integrate
1:1 technology in the elementary. Last year our district was able to go 1:1 Chromebook in
the junior high and high school, as well as give the elementary 90 iPads. Currently, our
elementary has 155 students, which means we are 65 iPads short of becoming a 1:1
elementary school.
Last year, the elementary utilized the 90 iPads purchased by the district, and chose
to use my 4th grade class as a pilot class for 1:1 integration. With proper training,
diligence, and execution the results of having 1:1 iPads in the classroom was successful
on many different levels such as: increase in math and reading scores, equipping students
with life long skills, and an increase in state mandated testing. By becoming a 1:1
elementary, we are hoping to see the same successful results for the other classrooms.
We anticipate that making the Virginia Elementary 1:1 will cost $26,200. With a
school wide fundraiser completed last year, our elementary was able to raise $3,000 to
contribute to this cost of Otterboxes for the devices.
Your mission statement states that you are committed to improving
communities in the United States, specifically focusing on youth and scientific
education. Our program will be improving our school district in order to make it
more comparable to the other districts in the county. Our district seeks approval to
submit a full proposal for a grant of $25,000.
If you have any questions about or school district, our program, or this request
please contact our superintendent, Brent ODaniell, at (217) 452-3087. Again,
congratulations on your 25th anniversary of being in the United States, and thank you for
your consideration.
Morgan L. Rufty
4th Grade Teacher

Proposal Summary
The Virginia School District was established as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
The mission statement for the following: Virginia CUSD #64 strives to hire, mold and
retain highly effective educators that excel in educating the whole child through 21st
century learning while implementing and constantly improving a system of shared
accountability involving all district stakeholders that produces a responsible, life-long
learning, contributing member of society. Our innovative staff and technology
advancements at the junior high and high school levels help to fulfill this mission, but we
need more resources to accomplish this at the elementary level.
The overall goal for this program is to provide more iPads for the elementary
level so it may be a 1:1 iPad school. One of the programs primary objectives is to raise
students math and reading scores by 20% over the course of the school year. This will be
assessed through weekly and quarterly assessments given to the students by their
classroom teacher. Our district has high hopes for making this program successful since it
already has proven to be effective with the pilot 4th grade class last year.
The Virginia School District is located in Virginia, IL. Virginia is a rural
community of about 1,500 people. The overall poverty rate of the community is 52
percent; making the Virginia School District a low-income school. Our district does its
best to provide each student with the materials and resources needed to be successful
during the school year.
The Virginia School District currently operates several programs throughout the
district. These programs include: Pre-K, Title 1, RtI Reading and Math, Band, FFA,
Career Education, Welding, Academic Clubs and Organizations, Athletic Organizations,
Art programs, Foreign Language programs, Duel Credit programs for graduating HS
Students and one of our partners, Lincoln Land Community College. The Virginia School
District also has a lot of partnerships in which assist us in becoming successful each year.
Some of our major partnerships include: Lincoln Land Community College, Illinois
College, MacMurry College, Regional Office of Education #46, Midwest Youth Services,
Cass County Health Dept., Cass County Fairgrounds, SASED, Virginia Police Dept., and
the Virginia Park District.
The entire Virginia School District 1:1 iPad program budget is $26,200. You gift
of $25,000 would make our vision come true of becoming a 1:1 elementary school with
iPads. On behalf of the district, thank you for your consideration of our request.

Statement of Need
Recently, the Virginia School District went under construction in order to improve
the quality of our district for our Pre-K- 12th grade students. Along with these
improvements to the building, our school decided that it was time to make some
technological advances as well. Our district was able to provide 1:1 Chromebooks for the
junior high and high school students, as well as provide 90 iPads for the elementary.
However, the elementary has a total of 155 students, meaning that we are not able to
provide the same learning experiences for all students in the elementary portion of the
building. Through the use of these devices our district was able to use current science
textbooks that we were able to get online through the Chromebooks and iPads. Along
with these devices our school also updated its Internet server and got SMARTboards for
each classroom.
The district decided to pilot some of the iPads we had in my 4th grade classroom,
and use the other two carts in our specialty reading and math classrooms. Through this
pilot we were able to see vast improvements in math and reading scores of the 4th grade
students. Examples of this growth include:
1. A student entered my classroom with at 2.1 reading level (2nd grade, 1st month
reading level). Through the use of programs on the iPad such as MyOn, which
assists students in skills like: phonics, fluency, and comprehension, this
individual student was able to leave the 4th grade reading at a 4.7 reading level
(4th grade, 7th month). To put it into another spectrum, this student went from
reading well below average to reading at a level of their fellow classmates.
Through this growth I was able to see this student become more confident and
stronger in their academics across all subjects.
2. When I was given data on my students from last year, their math skills were
lacking in all areas. Out of 25 students I had 6 who were average, and 3
students who performed at an above average range; the rest were below
average or well below average.. Through the use of 1:1 iPads I was able to
meet each individual students needs and differentiate my instruction for
students without them even realizing it. By the end of the school year I had
only three students who were functioning at a below average level in math;
the rest were average and above average.

Fall
Winter
Spring

Below Level

Average

Above Average

If our school were able to go 1:1 iPad in the elementary, the student growth would be
overwhelming for our K-5th graders. Aside from the growth in students academics our
young and technologically savvy staff would be able to provide students with life long
skills as well as provide quality intellectual experiences for all students.
Since mandated state testing has become computer based this past year, our
district was ill equipped with the resources needed to complete these tests in a timely
manner. If funds for this proposal fail, our district will spend another year struggling to
get mandated testing completed on time. Our district is also the only district in Cass
County that does not have 1:1 devices for our elementary students; this factor is having
an effect on our enrollment.
In summary, the students we serve deserve to have a 1:1 technology experience.
The Virginia School District currently has 3 iPad charging carts with 30 iPads in each for
a total of 90. Our students need 65 more iPads and 2 more charging carts to complete our
1:1 technology goal.

Organizational Background Component

The Virginia School District is a 501(c)3 organization. After several years of
construction, our district was finally able to open up our new facility for the 2014-2015
academic school year. With this new facility, we were also able to make our junior high
and high school 1:1 with Chromebooks. With this technological advancement, our district
became the first 1:1 junior high and high school in the county to become 1:1. Along with
these advancements in the junior high and high school, our elementary school received 90
iPads, which cover a little more than half our students. Currently our elementary school is
the only elementary to not be 1:1 in the county, and our enrollment is suffering because of
this.
During this academic school year, our administration decided to have the 4th grade
class pilot a 1:1 class with iPads. No other district in the county has the technological
advancements that we do, and if our school obtains the funds to complete the iPad
program at the elementary level, we would become the first 1:1 district in Cass County.
Despite the fact that our district is a low-income district, our community members have
devoted themselves to making the Virginia School District the most advanced in the
county.
The Virginia School District mission statement states, Virginia CUSD #64 strives
to hire, mold and retain highly effective educators that excel in educating the whole
child through 21st century learning while implementing and constantly improving a
system of shared accountability involving all district stakeholders that produces a
responsible, life-long learning, contributing member of society. Our district has the
dedicated and effective staff, however, our elementary students do not have the needs
from our district to provide them with a 21st century education, like many of the
surrounding counties.
Between the dedication of our staff, and local community members and business,
our district has the opportunity to become the most technologically advanced district in
the county. Through all of this support, and with the 4th grade pilot class success, our
district and community have the willingness and drive to make our dreams a reality.

Goals and Objectives

Goal #1: Elementary students at the Virginia School District will show academic growth
through the use of 1:1 iPads in the classroom.

1. Objective #1: Elementary students in the Virginia School District will raise their
reading and math scores by 20% through the use of 1:1 iPads in the classroom.

Method #1: Review data on last years students and 4th grade 1:1 iPad pilot
class

Method #2: Enroll students in the iXL and MyOn programs

Method #3: Provide students with support and interventions based on results
in iXL and MyOn

2. Evaluation: Weekly assessments in iXL and MyOn to gage math and reading
skill mastery

3. Objective #2: Elementary students in the Virginia School District will show a 10%
increase on mandadted state test scores.

Method #1: Review data from previous year's scores

Method #2: Use quarterly assessments and discover education to evaluate

growth leading up to testing

Method #3: Use iXL and MyOn to evaluate individual student's needs and
provide interventions and support for students

4. Evaluation #2: Use weekly and quarterly assessments to view growth as well as
compare previous year test scores to current with 1:1 technology program.

5. Objective #3: Elementary students at the Virginia School District will pass reading and
math standards with at least an 80% or better in iXL and MyOn programs.

Method #1: Students will be assessed weekly on standards

Method #2: Students will be given extra support and interventions in order to
meet the objective/standard

6. Evaluation: Students will be given paper-pencil and iPad based testing over
standards weekly and quarterly for teachers to evaluate.

Evaluation Component
In order to measure the long term outcomes of going 1:1 iPads at the Virginia
Elementary School an evaluation of skill level mastery in both math and reading
Common Core State Standards will be conducted. The resulting data will be dispersed to
the school administrators and district, community, and the American Honda Foundation
if this request is approved. The expected long term outcomes include: at least an 80%
mastery in math and reading Common Core State Standard, and an increase scores on
state mandated testing by at least 10%.
To evaluate the overall effectiveness of the 1:1 technology program at the Virginia
Elementary School we will have our staff administer weekly assessments (both paperpencil and iPad based) to check individual students standings. These weekly assessments
will be monitored, graphed and tracked on the iXL and MyOn reading programs that are

already implemented in the district. Questions for the weekly and quarterly assessment
evaluations will be based on the Common Core State Standards for each grade level.
Through this data staff will be able provide individualized instruction for each student
based on their current academic standings. Since this program proved to be successful
with our 1:1 pilot class last year, our district has high hopes for the rest of the classes.

Sustainability of Program
Aside from getting the initial funding to make Virginia Elementary School a 1:1
iPad district, the rest of the program will be self-sustaining. The Virginia School District
has several partners, however, two local companies have specifically expressed interest in
making investments to make sure this program is successful. With the 4th grade pilot class
success story, these two businesses want to make sure that each student has the same
opportunities as the 4th graders.
Upon receiving the funds for the rest of the iPads the Virginia School District will
be the first school in the county to have a 1:1 iPad elementary school. By receiving these
funds we will be able to give the students the innovative education that they deserve. Our
district believes strongly in our abilities to teach 1:1 in our classrooms and will receive
the necessary training to be successful.
Through the partnership with the two local businesses, Petefish Bank and Cass
Communications, our low-income school will become one of the most groundbreaking
schools in Cass County. Our students will be given the opportunity to learn in a 21st
century way that will meet their educational needs as well as prepare them for future
skills needed to become successful as adults in the working world. Our 1:1 iPad program

is cost effective because once the iPads and charging carts are purchased, the rest is little
to no cost to implement. Our district already has the essential programs budgeted into its
financial cost annually. These programs include: Discovery Education, iXL, and Myon.
Aside from these programs, many of the educational apps that would be used in the
classrooms are free, or discounted when purchased in bulk through Apples Volume
Purchase Program for schools and businesses. Our district has the ability to make this
program successful for many years to come as we continue to meet the needs of
individual students as well as fulfill our districts mission statement.

Budget Rationale
At the Virginia School District, we strive for excellence. In order to ensure that
our students receive a quality education we need to be able to provide the same levels of
technological advancements as our neighboring schools. This budget rationale will cover
the major costs of the 1:1 iPad technology program for the elementary school as
discussed in this proposal.
Budget Summary________________________________________________________
Item

Cost

80 iPads
$20,000.00
2 Charging Carts for iPads
$2, 700.00
Deployment Fee
$500.00
Applications
$100.00
Training for Staff Members
$1,200.00
Headphones (170)
$1,700
_______________________________________________________________________
Total Costs:

$26,200.00

As shown in the budget summary above, the majority of the cost will be for the
iPads themselves. In addition to the iPads, the other larger expense will be the charging
and sync carts for the iPads. The carts are needed in order to charge all of the iPads at
once as well as syncing new apps to them. The charging carts also act as a safe place for
iPads to be stored where they can be locked up and kept. The cost expenses were created
based off of past expenses for the initial 90 iPads our district has.
If you have any questions about the items, costs, or figures please contact Morgan
Rufty or Brent ODaniell at 1-217-452-3085, or email us at mrufty@virginia64.com or
odaniellb@virginia64.com.