Technology is an important aspect of education from students' earliest years to high school graduation and beyond. Budget constraints can make it tough for school districts to update technology as often as needed. There are sources for teachers, school administrators and even parent groups to find money to fund technology in the classroom.
Function
Grants are available for classroom technology through federal and state governments.The U.S. Department of Education provides grant money for classroom technology. The money is given to states which give it to local school districts. The goal of these government grants is to make students technologically literate.
Find listings of government grants, including federal and state, for classroom technology at schoolgrants.org. You will have to sift through listings that include many types of grants for school funding.
Identification
The Teachers Network has lists of classroom grants for technology from sources including the government and companies such as Microsoft, Toshiba and IBM. There also are grants from nonprofit groups such as the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Foundation and Share the Technology.
Lists of opportunities for classroom grants for technology also are available through TeachersCount. There are grants targeting all kinds of technology uses in the classroom from buying computers to other digital technology.
Considerations
Look to technology companies as possible sources for grants. The Apple computer company, which has products in many schools across the country, will help educators find grant money to buy Apple products. Microsoft also has a variety of products available for classroom use and will help educators find grants. The company has a variety of philanthropic efforts, including working with the U.S. Department of Education. Dell Computers provides grant money through the U.S. Dell Foundation. Information for all these programs is available at the websites in the Resources.
Prevention/Solution
If you cannot find government grants for classroom technology, look to the private sector for help. There is private funding through groups like the SMARTer Kids Foundation, which offers a chance to gain classroom grants for technology purchases for the classroom. Grants are for use on SMART products. Grants are given for K-12 classrooms, higher education and research.
Expert Insight
When seeking government grants for technology, you have to follow set guidelines. Know the deadlines and follow all directions to the letter. If not, you are likely to be denied. Help writing grants or letters of inquiry seeking grants is available through the Parent-Teacher Organization at ptotoday.com or through schoolgrants.org.
Don't get discouraged if you are rejected in your quest for government grants for classroom technology. Ask the grant reviewer for comments and keep trying.
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