Funding Options

We know that schools and districts have a limited amount of resources for classroom supplies and equipment.  If you are struggling to find the funding needed to purchase equipment and supplies for classroom use, please review the following options that we are aware of based on our experience in the education system:

ESSER Funds

Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds are federal grants provided to assist schools in responding to emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic.  Schools must use all allocated funds by Sept 2024.  Schools can utilize ESSER funds to address a variety of needs including upgrading technology and providing academic support for students.  If your school received ESSER money this could be a terrific opportunity to tap into unused funds.

 

Technology Funds

Ask your administrator if your school or district has a technology budget.  These budgets are typically fairly large because of the common need for purchasing expensive classroom technology.  Ask to use a small portion of these funds for your own classroom technology needs.

 

    CTE Funding

    If the classes you teach fall under Career and Technical Education (CTE), you are in luck!  CTE programs are typically well funded through National Perkins dollars.  These funds are used each year to more fully develop the academic, career, and technical skills of students enrolled in secondary and postsecondary CTE programs. Equipment approval can often be as simple as completing a purchase request or letting your CTE specialist know you have a certain equipment need.

    Be sure to inquire about your school or district's policies on using CTE money for equipment purchases and make a formal request to receive funding for your classroom purchase.


    School Trust Land Money

    Depending on which state you reside in, your school may have a specific amount of trust land money available each year to purchase needed equipment and supplies.  While each LEA has different procedures, teachers/administrators will typically issue a request for trust land money to their school or district, outlining an explanation of the equipment or supplies needed and the purpose of the expense.  Applications are then reviewed and approved by school community councils and funds are released.

    The following states have school trust land monies available each year: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.

    STEM Grants

    As demand for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) careers have increased, funding for such programs is often available to schools and districts.  Check with your school or district to see if there is funding available for STEM education. The following links will give you more information about STEM grants.

    https://www.neafoundation.org/for-districts/stem/
    https://www2.ed.gov/fund/grants-apply.html?src=pn

    Donors Choose

    Donors Choose is a crowd funding site similar to KickStarter, but specifically for teachers.  Public school teachers from across the U.S. can create classroom project requests that donors can view and choose to fund.  It's really a fantastic concept that has benefited millions of students for over a decade.
    https://www.donorschoose.org/

    Foundation Grants

    Ask if your school or district has a foundation grant.  Local community members often support their schools by donating to a specific foundation that is used to fund needed programs in education.  Grant applications usually require specific information about the equipment or supplies needed, the amount that is being requested, and an explanation of how the purchase will benefit students.

    Other Funding

    Finding a grant to fund your project might feel intimidating but the truth is there are many grants and programs available to teachers.

    While there are many websites available to help teachers find a grant specific to their needs, we especially like Canyons School District's page on technology-specific grants.  The site offers a lot of useful information including current grant listings, grant writing, and corporate grants available to teachers.  http://edtech.canyonsdistrict.org/grants.html

     

    Resources provided by: KeyMaster® Keyboarding