grants school

5 grants to address digital inequities and fund classrooms


Got funding troubles? These grants can help your school or district sustain important initiatives

School leaders consistently identify high costs and shrinking budgets as a top barrier to implementing new technology tools and programs.

As back-to-school approaches, many educators are faced with budgets that force teachers to buy school supplies with their own money. The stark realities of the homework gap and the digital divide also become more apparent during the school year, when many students are left without home internet access or without the right device to complete assignments at home.

Budget challenges won’t improve right away, but school districts can boost their available funds with grants that are targeted to different areas of need.

If you need help with a grant application, check out this resource to get started.

If you’re searching for grants to address digital inequities or to help teachers fund their classroom priorities, look no further:

1. The Kajeet Homework Gap Grant: Within every district, there are hundreds, or even thousands, of students who do not have internet access once they leave the classroom, creating an unintended Homework Gap between those with internet and those without. Nationwide, 5 million households with school-age children lack internet access at home. Ultimately, this lack of connectivity jeopardizes students performances, grades, and even graduation rates. Kajeet is giving away 15 Homework Gap Grants to districts and/or schools looking to provide their students with either 10 Kajeet SmartSpot devices or 1 Kajeet SmartBus device. With the Homework Gap Grant, a school or district can have the opportunity to roll out or expand on its technology program by providing additional connectivity opportunities for students. Winners will be selected based on the district’s or school’s current technology program (goals, expectations, plans for expansion, and parent/student involvement) and the determined need for connectivity. Winners cannot be current Kajeet clients. Applicants must illustrate plans for a comprehensive program with goals and metrics in place that will show success after the school year is complete. Winners will be notified by email and/or phone by Friday, Aug. 31, 2018.

Deadline: August 10, 2018

2. ClassTag’s Parent-Teacher Engagement Contest: This contest recognizes 10 U.S. teachers for the most creative ways they have engaged with students’ parents. The contest, open through August 20, asks teachers to share their innovative parent-engagement strategies and stories in 500 words or less. The 10 winning teachers will be announced August 24, and each will receive $1,000 in ClassTag Coins, a digital currency that can be exchanged for an array of free classroom supplies through ClassTag’s Marketplace. Parent-teacher engagement is often the single greatest factor in students’ academic success, yet teachers still struggle to connect with parents and have responded by coming up with their own systems to reach parents and spark classroom engagement. Those efforts will now be recognized and rewarded.

Deadline: August 20, 2018

3. Bostitch Creativity in the Classroom Grant: Bostitch believes creativity in schools and classrooms should be encouraged and developed every day. By fostering creative thinking, expression, and individuality in youth, teachers have a hand in shaping a better future for all. Bostitch is offering a chance for two teachers to win a $250 grant for creative supplies for their classroom. Teachers can submit a lesson plan of their own creation that they feel exemplifies creativity in the classroom. They should create a single Google Doc containing the lesson plan, then fill out an entry form and enter the shareable link to their Google Doc. This grant has a rolling deadline, offering both 2018 and 2019 submissions.

Deadline: August 2, 2018 and January 20, 2019

4. Spectrum Digital Education Grant Program: Spectrum is committed to supporting organizations that educate community members on the benefits of broadband. Nonprofit organizations serving communities located in a Spectrum market, which address the digital needs of residents and focus on the digital divide, are encouraged to apply. Winners will be announced in October 2018.

Deadline: August 31, 2018

5. AAE Classroom Grant: Classroom grants from the Association of American Educators Foundation can be used for a variety of projects and materials, including but not limited to books, software, calculators, math manipulatives, art supplies, audio-visual equipment, and lab materials. Funds must be used within one year of the application deadline. Classroom grants are available to all full-time educators who have not received a scholarship or grant from AAE in the past two years. Awards are competitive.

Deadline: October 1, 2018

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