Looking for Funding, federal, state and local governments distribute billions of dollars in targeted assistance to schools each year to help cover the costs for professional development and innovative technology. Many of these dollars may be available to your school. All you need to do is apply!
eRate
The Schools and Libraries Program of the Universal Service Fund, commonly known as "eRate," is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) under the direction of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and provides discounts to assist most schools and libraries in the United States to obtain affordable telecommunications and Internet access. Discounts for support depend on the level of poverty and the urban/rural status of the population served and range from 20% to 90% of the costs of eligible services. Eligible schools, school districts and libraries may apply individually or as part of a consortium.
Learn more about eRate funding in education.
Title I
Title I is the nation’s oldest and largest federally funded program, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Annually, it provides over $7 billion to school systems across the country for students at risk of failure and living at or near poverty. According to the U.S. Department of Education the purpose of Title I funding, “is to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high quality education and reach, at minimum, proficiency on challenging state academic achievement standards and state academic assessments.”
Learn more about Title I funding for education.
Title II Part A
Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting: The purpose of the program is to increase academic achievement by improving teacher and principal quality. This program is carried out by: increasing the number of highly qualified teachers in classrooms; increasing the number of highly qualified principals and assistant principals in schools; and increasing the effectiveness of teachers and principals by holding LEAs and schools accountable for improvements in student academic achievement.
Learn more about Title II funding for education.
Title II Part D
Enhancing Education Through Technology: The primary goal of this program is to improve student achievement through the use of technology in elementary and secondary schools. Additional goals include helping all students become technologically literate by the end of the eighth grade, and through the integration of technology with both teacher training and curriculum development, establishing innovative, research-based instructional methods that can be widely implemented.
Learn more about Title II Part D funding for technology.
Title III
Limited English Proficiency: The purpose of Title III is to ensure that limited English proficient (LEP) students, including immigrant children and youth, develop English proficiency and meet the same academic content and academic achievement standards that other children are expected to meet. Schools use these funds to implement language instruction educational programs designed to help LEP students achieve these standards. State educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), and schools are accountable for increasing the English proficiency and core academic content knowledge of LEP students.
Learn more about Title III funding for LEP.
Title IV Part B
21st Century Community Learning Centers: Assist students in meeting State and local academic achievement standards in core academic subjects, such as reading and mathematics, by providing the students with opportunities for academic enrichment activities and a broad array of other activities (such as drug and violence prevention, counseling, art, music, recreation, technology, and character education programs) during nonschool hours or periods when school is not in session (such as before and after school or during summer recess) that reinforce and complement the regular academic programs of the schools attended by the students served; and offers families of students served by such center opportunities for literacy and related educational development.
Learn more about Title IV Part B funding for education.
GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs)
This discretionary grant program is designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. GEAR UP provides six-year grants to states and partnerships to provide services at high-poverty middle and high schools. GEAR UP grantees serve an entire cohort of students beginning no later than the seventh grade and follow the cohort through high school. GEAR UP funds are also used to provide college scholarships to low-income students.
Learn more about GEAR UP funding for education.
IDEA: Special Education
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), administered by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) authorizes formula grants to states, and discretionary grants to institutions of higher education and other non-profit organizations to support research, and demonstration programs serving the needs of special needs students. This funding is distributed to schools and districts through three formula-based grant programs.
Learn more about IDEA funding for special education.
ARRA
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) provides approximately $100 billion for education, creating a historic opportunity to save hundreds of thousands of jobs, support states and school districts, and advance reforms and improvements that will create long-lasting results for our students and our nation including early learning, K-12, and post-secondary education.
Learn more about ARRA funding for education.
Creative Funding Ideas
Activity or Technology Fee: The student cost for Gaggle accounts (as low as $3.75) can be included in your annual student activity or technology fee paid by parents. This is a cost-savings for parents, as Gaggle’s Digital Locker eliminates the need for parents to purchase flash drives for their children, as well as a potential savings on ink and paper for home printing of school assignments that instead can be turned in electronically via our Homework Drop Boxes.
Parent-Teacher Association/Organization: Your PTA/PTO could be a good source of funding for student and parent Gaggle accounts. Since they are a benefit to every child and every teacher for an entire school year, they are a good source of fundraising revenue.