Funding Resources

Funding for Teacher Street Software
The following list includes the most commonly used grant sources that fund educational technology investments in schools. Ask your school principal or superintendent for more information about these funding sources. Also included is a section of tips and advice for writing successful grant proposals.

Federal Educational Grants
Federal Technology-Specific Grants
Private Technology-Specific Grants
General Grant-Writing Information and Advice

 

Federal Education Grants
Federal funding contributes about 70% of the money schools spend each year on technology hardware, software, and training services. The following list includes most of the major federal funding programs that can be used for technology. Teacher Street Classroom Software Collections are a perfect match to the objectives of all of these funding sources.

Title 1
Formerly called Chapter 1
$10 billion available annually
The largest and most common source of funding that many schools use to purchase Classroom Software Collections from Teacher Street, this program provides financial assistance to schools to help ensure that all children meet their challenging state academic standards. Check with your Superintendent, Principal, or Title 1 Coordinator at your school for information regarding Title 1 funding available for your specific school.
For information on the World Wide Web, go to:
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/CEP/


Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration Program
$300 million available annually
Schools annually receive minimum awards of $50,000 to adopt and implement school improvement reforms. Preference is generally given to schools that have low student achievement levels and higher than average dropout rates.
For information visit:
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/compreform/


Reading First Initiative
Formerly called the Reading Excellence Act (REA)
$950 million available annually
This program provides three-year grants to state education agencies (SEAs) with established reading and literacy partnerships. 80 percent of the funding must make local reading improvement grants to school districts to:

• provide professional development for teachers based on scientifically-based reading research and practice;
• operate tutoring programs after school, before school, during non-instructional periods during the school day, on weekends, or during the summer;
• provide family literacy services through partnerships with community-based organizations, early childhood organizations, adult education programs, family literacy organizations, public libraries, colleges and universities, or other organizations to improve the teaching of reading and the reading achievement of children and their families;
• and provide additional services to kindergarten students who need extra support to improve their reading skills.

For information, visit:
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/readingfirst/


21st Century Community Learning Centers Program
$1.1 billion available annually
This program provides grants to rural and inner-city elementary and middle schools. They are targeted to help plan, implement, or expand partnerships that provide educational enrichment before and after school. Program benefits should provide education, health, social service, cultural, and recreational needs to a rural or inner-city community.
For details, visit:
http://www.ed.gov/21stcclc/

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Federal Technology-Specific Grants

Educational Technology Block Grants
Fiscal Year 2002-2003: Technology
Literacy Challenge Fund (TLCF)
$800 million available
These grants are often used to fund the purchases of Teacher Street Classroom Software Collections. They support the development and implementation of systemic technology plans at the state, local, and school levels to improve the teaching and learning of all children. The four major goals of the program are:

1. All teachers will have the training and support they need to help all students learn through technology and through the Internet.
2. All teachers and students will have up-to-date technology in their classrooms.
3. Every classroom will be connected to the Internet; and
4. Effective and engaging software and online resources will be an integral part of every school curriculum.

For more information, visit:
http://www.ed.gov/Technology/challenge/


U.S. Department of Education
Technology Grant Programs
The Department's Office of Educational Technology works to assist the education community with meeting the national goals for educational technology. Information on federal grants available to support the national goals is available at:
http://www.ed.gov/Technology/edgrants.html


Office of Educational Technology
U.S. Department of Education
The Office of Educational Technology (OET) encourages and leads education improvement efforts by helping educators, congressional leaders, and administrators utilize available resources to reshape instruction, teaching, and learning environments. OET plays an integral role in expanding and improving access to technology and serves as a catalyst in bringing effective uses of education technology into classrooms across the nation. For general information on the OET visit:
http://www.ed.gov/Technology/index.html
For the "Resource Guide to Federal Funding For Technology in Education," visit:
http://www.ed.gov/Technology/tec-guid.html

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Private Technology-Specific Grants

Computers for Learning
Computers for Learning (CFL) is designed to donate surplus Federal computer equipment to schools and educational nonprofits, giving special consideration to those with the greatest need. The Computers for Learning web site allows schools and educational nonprofits to register to request surplus Federal computer equipment. The CFL web site connects the registered needs of schools and educational nonprofit organizations with available Government computer equipment. To find out how to participate in this program, visit the web site below:
http://www.computers.fed.gov/School/user.asp


Oracle's Help Us Help Foundation
The new "Help Us Help" Foundation plans to provide $6 million in grants in its first year of operation to increase access to the Internet for disadvantaged youth in the U.S. and abroad. The grant packages are structured to outfit ten, six or five classrooms with five computers and one printer each. The majority of grantees will be schools. U.S. K-12 public and public charter schools are eligible if 50% or more of the student body qualify for the subsidized lunch program or can otherwise be documented as low-income, and/or the school's most recent test scores indicate that students are struggling to meet achievement standards. Information can be found at:
http://www.helpushelp.org/pages/grant_index.html

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General Grant-Writing Information and Advice

What Should I Know About ED Grants?
The U.S. Department of Education publishes a wealth of information for education grant seekers. The following document is available to take grant seekers through each step of the process:
http://www.ed.gov/pubs/KnowAbtGrants/


Creating Successful Proposals for
Educational Technology Projects
An easy-to-follow slide show presentation which highlights important steps, rules, and tips for creating an educational technology grant proposal.
http://www.sun-associates.com/resources/neccfund/index.htm


Office of Educational Technology
U.S. Department of Education
The Department of Education publishes its technology plan, e-Learning: Putting a World-Class Education at the Fingertips of All Children and the Educational Technology Progress Report at http://www.ed.gov/technology


School Grants
Comprehensive listings and information on PreK-12 school grant opportunities.
http://www.schoolgrants.org/welcome.htm


Funding Center
Your daily source for up-to-the-minute grant programs, funding sources, and technology funding information.
http://www.eschoolnews.com/resources/funding/


The Foundation Center
The gateway to philanthropy on the WWW. Whether you are seeking $100 or $100,000, the Foundation Center maintains a database on over 65,000 grant makers and more than 202,000 grants. The Center also offers extensive resources for writing successful grant proposals.
http://fdncenter.org/

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