Your school is being asked to meet tougher challenges. Cutting-edge instructional technology can be a big help, but it can also be expensive. Fortunately, financial help is available from a variety of sources. These sources may be private foundations, but are more commonly local, state and federal aid. Most states list available funding opportunities on the website for their department of education. Federal education funding is available in every state. In other words, there may very well be funds available to address the specific challenges facing your school. And that’s good news!
Title I, Part A: Improving Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged
http://www2.ed.gov/programs/titleiparta/index.html
When a student walks into your classroom, he or she may be behind the curve because of pure economics. This program provides financial assistance to schools with high numbers or high percentages of poor children to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards. More than 50,000 public schools across the country are allocated Title I funds through four statutory formulas. The formulas are based primarily on census poverty estimates and the cost of education in each state. The funds support extra instruction in reading and mathematics, as well as special preschool, after-school, and summer programs to extend and reinforce the regular school curriculum.
Title II, Part D: Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT)
http://www2.ed.gov/programs/edtech/index.html
Here’s one that’s right on target. As the name of this program indicates, it’s specifically designed for funding of instructional technology. Its primary goal 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. Local activities include the support of continuing, sustained professional development programs and public-private partnerships.
Title III: English Language Acquisition Grants
http://www2.ed.gov/programs/sfgp/index.html
Your school may have the additional challenge presented by language barriers. This program is designed to improve the education of limited English proficient (LEP) children and youths by helping them learn English and meet challenging state academic content and student academic achievement standards. The program provides enhanced instructional opportunities for immigrant children and youths. Funds are distributed to states based on a formula that takes into account the number of immigrant and LEP students in each state.
21st Century Learning Communities
http://www2.ed.gov/programs/21stcclc/index.html
As an educator, you know that learning isn’t limited to the traditional classroom. This program supports the creation of community learning centers that provide academic enrichment to students during non-school hours. It particularly focuses on students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools, and helps them meet state and local student standards in core academic subjects such as reading and math. The broad array of enrichment activities that are offered can complement regular academic programs and offer literacy and other educational services to the families of participating children.
Response to Intervention (RTI)
http://idea.ed.gov/explore/view/p/%2Croot%2Cdynamic%2CQaCorner%2C8%2C
You work with students every day. You know that the threshold for identifying a child’s need for special education can be blurry. To help prevent kids from falling between the cracks, this funding source sets aside money for those kids who just need a little extra help. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education, and related services to children with disabilities. IDEA Part B funds these programs. School districts may use up to 15% of their IDEA Part B funds on students who have not been identified as needing special education but who may benefit from additional academic support. RTI is a method of academic intervention developed as an alternative to identifying learning disabilities with the ability-achievement discrepancy model, which requires children to exhibit a discrepancy between their ability, often measured by IQ testing, and academic achievement as measured by their grades and standardized testing.
School Improvement Grants (SIG)
http://www2.ed.gov/programs/sif/index.html
Wouldn’t it be nice to receive federal funding for a specific curriculum improvement without waiting for the funds to trickle down through state government and local government? These grants are used to improve student achievement in Title I schools identified for improvement, corrective action, or restructuring to enable those schools to make adequate yearly progress (AYP) and exit improvement status.
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