Computing Technology for Math Excellence Logo

Are you confused by terms that educators use? The ASCD Lexicon of Learning might be what you need.

 

 

 

Black line

Technology Integration

Part 2: Resources (Page 4 of 4)
Grants, Other Funding, Grant Writing, Free Resources

Animated boy working at a computer

Technology Integration is a four part series on essential questions, technology integration resources, web page design, and multimedia in projects.  Sections contain relevant opening essays and resources.

Black line

Grants, Other Funding, Grant Writing, Free Resources

 

Paper on fire for hot news

HOT: Get the scoop on the Stimulus ARRA monies and the 2010 FCC National Broadband Plan.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 was signed into law by President Barack Obama on February 17, 2009.  The goal of this economic stimulus package is saving and creating jobs and reforming education.  You can also keep track of education aspects of this act at the U.S. Department of Education: http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/index.html  

"Find out about funding your state is receiving under Recovery Act education programs for state fiscal stabilization, low-income schools, special education, education technology grants, vocational rehabilitation, independent living services, homeless children assistance, low-income college students, and work study" (U.S. Dept. of Ed., section: Overview of the Recovery Act): http://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/state-fact-sheets/index.html

ASCD (2009) has a similar resource section at its website and developed the publication Planning the Possible: How Schools Can Use Stimulus Dollars for Lasting Impact.  ASCD's Whole Child Podcast: Understanding the Education Stimulus Package (April 16, 2009) outlines "the stimulus plan for education and describe[s] how the funds can be used for school improvement activities, including capacity-building professional development."

Related to making a lasting impact, Sara Mead (2009) of the New America Foundation stated that ARRA stimulus funds should be invested "in PreK-3rd reforms to ensure that all students establish a solid foundation of math, literacy, and social/emotional skills by the end of third grade. Research shows that third grade marks a critical turning point in children's education: children who cannot read or do math on grade level by third grade are unlikely ever to achieve proficiency" (para. 2).  In her issue brief, Building a Solid Foundation, she elaborates on "why states and school districts must make PreK-3rd reforms a priority in the spending of stimulus funds and offers examples of how states and school districts can use these funds to advance a PreK-3rd reform agenda" (para. 3).

Read the 2010 FCC National Broadband Plan: Connecting America for its impact on education and the E-rate.  For example, the "FCC's plan recommends changes to E-rate to allow wireless educational solutions that serve students on and off campus" (section: Education Highlights).

On September 23, 2010, the FCC announced changes in the E-rate:  FCC ENABLES HIGH-SPEED, AFFORDABLE BROADBAND FOR SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES.  One change of interest is support for mobile learning devices for use on and off school campuses.

 

School Dollars Gif

 

Most questions about additional funding are best answered by contacting your state education technology agency. The U.S. Department of Education provides contact information: http://www.ed.gov/programs/edtech/contacts.html. However, the following resources might benefit you.

American Association of School Administrators Use the search tool for resources for grants and funding.

Corporation for Public Broadcasting: Basic Elements for Grant Writing

Digital Wish "is a non-profit with a unique mission to modernize K-12 classrooms and prepare students for tomorrow's workforce. Like a gift registry, teachers create wish lists of technology products for their classroom. Donors then connect with their favorite schools and grant classroom wishes through online cash or product donations - thus improving the access to modern technology in classrooms" (About section).

DonorsChoose.org is an online charity to help students in need.  "[P]ublic school teachers from every corner of America post classroom project requests on DonorsChoose.org. Requests range from pencils for a poetry writing unit, to violins for a school recital, to microscope slides for a biology class" (section: About).  Project requests have included for technology products.

eSchool News Funding is a comprehensive section on Grants and Funding.  You can also subscribe to their Grants and Funding ALERT, which will include an e-mail newsletter twice a month.  You'll get:

  • all the new grant opportunities just announced from federal, state and local agencies, community and corporate foundations
  • up-to-the minute overviews of federal funding resources with deadlines and amounts
  • grant-giver profiles complete with names, titles, and contact links.

Edutopia.org from the George Lucas Foundation maintains a list of corporate, nonprofit, and government grant-making institutions, periodicals with grant information, and more.

FreeFederal Resources for Educational Excellence: FREE offers free online educational resources supported by agencies of the U.S. federal government. Subjects include arts, educational technology, languages, health and safety, language arts, mathematics, physical education, science, social studies, and vocational education.  The site also offers an extensive list of sites for students and is an additional source for content to integrate into the curriculum.

Finance Project's mission is to develop and disseminate information, knowledge, tools and technical assistance for improved policies, programs and financing strategies.  Districts might benefit from resources included among its Information Resource Center.  From its Financing Professional Development in Education, consider the document, Excerpts from Inside the Black Box of School District Spending on Professional Development in Education: Lessons From Five Urban Districts, 2005.

Foundation Center "is the most authoritative source of information on private philanthropy in the United States. [They] help grantseekers, grantmakers, researchers, policymakers, the media, and the general public better understand the field of philanthropy. [Their] web site is designed to guide you quickly to the information you are looking for—instruction on funding research, help with proposal writing, tools for locating prospective funders, news and research on the field, or a library or training class near you" (sec: New Visitors).

Funds for Learning is an educational technology consulting firm specializing in the federal E-rate program. FFL helps K-12 schools, libraries and businesses benefit from this and other ed-tech funding opportunities designed to get them connected to the Internet. There is also a blog to boost understanding of the E-rate program.

Grants.gov helps to find and apply for Federal government grants.

Grant Wrangler

ISTE's Funding Resources Page includes a listing of grant sources and how to's for writing and obtaining grants.

Mathematics Education Trust (MET), established by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics,  provides funds to support classroom teachers in the areas of improving classroom practices and increasing teachers' mathematical knowledge.  "MET supports the improvement of mathematics teaching and learning at the classroom level through the funding of grants, awards, honors, and other projects by channeling the generosity of contributors into classroom-based efforts that benefit all students."

Microsoft K-12 Funding Website for technology initiatives. Download the document: Get Your School's Share of the E-Rate, A How-to Guide.

Public Education Network Weekly Newsblast: Grant and Funding Information

SchoolGrants.org is now http://www.k12grants.org/ Site contains preK-12 grant opportunities, grant writing tips with sample proposals, newsletters, and links to other online related resources.

Technology Grant News is a subscription based service published 4 times a year, which also includes a grant index of your choice to also keep you abreast of new technology funding.  Schools would be particularly interested in the grant index options for educational technology, K-12, and higher education.

Techlearning.com Grants Directory and Calendar. Scroll down the list of resources to the grants directory and calendar.  In the section for TIPS, you will also find the Grant Guru, a blog with the valuable tips on all phases of grant writing, from a highly experienced grant writer.

Toshiba America Foundation offers grants for use in projects designed by classroom teachers to improve science and mathematics education for students in grades K-12.

The U.S. Department of Education Office of Educational Technology has a listing of technology grant programs, and includes resources on the digital divide, distance learning, evaluation and assessment, internet safety, and more.  Other U.S. Department of Education sites of special interest related to obtaining financial assistance are:

 

Does your school need computers and technology products and help with decision making?

School Funding Gif

CDI, Computer Dealers Inc., sells refurbished, brand name computers to the educational market for a fraction of what it costs for new.  The product range includes "brand name refurbished computers manufactured by Tier 1 manufacturers (Dell, HP/Compaq & IBM)" and others. CDI also has a "focus on the units and models preferred by Technical Coordinators."  You'll find "corporate-grade PC's, notebooks and LCD's in stock as well as Mobile Cart solutions and Electronic Whiteboards."  Warranties are included with your purchase.

Computers for Learning transfers excess Federal computers to nonprofit educational organizations and public, private, parochial, or home schools serving pre-kindergarten through grade 12 students within the U.S. or its territories. Special consideration is given to those with greatest need.

Computers for Schools offers certified refurbished computers to schools and non-profits at about 1/3 of the cost of new.

Digital Wish is a non-profit charity, dedicated to helping schools gain technology access across all subject areas.  The site has a library of grants and fundraising ideas to help schools get community support. Like a wedding registry, teachers can create a "wish list" of needed technology products for their classrooms. Educators describe how each resource will be utilized, write project plans, and tell the story of their classroom, which is then posted online.  Visiting donors can elect to buy items directly from the teacher's wish list, or donate money directly to a school so that wish list items can be purchased. All cash and product donations are tax-deductible, and resources ship directly to the schools. (About Us section).

GovConnection is "dedicated to fulfilling the unique, specialized IT needs of federal, state, and local governments and academic institutions (K-12 and higher education) throughout the United States" (About Us section).  Technology specialists will help professionals make informed decisions and reduce costs.

Are you starting a one-to-one laptop initiative?  Do you need policies to go with it?

If so, then your district might be interested in the laptop policies of Lower Merion School District in Ardmore, Pennsylvania.  They are extensive.

 

The Amazon widget below shows books using the search phrase: grant writing.  You can also use the widget to search with other key words.  Suggestions include:

  • funding technology
  • grants funding

 

 

References

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. (2009, February 17).  Retrieved from http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=204335,00.html

ASCD. (2009). Planning the possible: How schools can use stimulus dollars for lasting impact.  Alexandria, VA: Author. Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/programs/ARRA_resources.aspx

Federal Communications Commission. (2010, March 16).  National broadband plan: Connecting America.  Retrieved from http://www.broadband.gov/

Mead, S. (2009, May). Building a solid foundation: How states and school districts can use federal stimulus funds to support proficiency by third grade. New America Foundation.  Retrieved from http://www.newamerica.net/publications/policy/building_solid_foundation

 

Black line

Back to top

Binoculars GifSee other Technology Integration pages:

Part 2: Technology Integration Resources: Page 1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |

Part 1: Essential Questions  |  Part 3: Web Page Design  |  Part 4: Multimedia in Projects