Here’s a short post to encourage superintendents and their teams to dig a little deeper when searching for school grants from their states. In many states, schools can apply for funding in specialized subjects and initiatives, from pre-K to chronic absenteeism to CTE.
The only restrictions are requirements on district size, demonstrated need, and the involvement of community partners, among other conditions, according to the school data tracking firm Burbio, which compiled the list. If you’re not teaching and learning in one of the following eight locations, know that your state may have similar programs:
- Small School District Modernization Grant: Available to Washington districts with fewer than 1,000 students or less and where property values are so low that replacing or modernizing school facilities with the state’s construction assistance program would be excessively burdensome on local property owners or would exceed district debt limits.
- Robotics Education Development Grants: New Hampshire districts that are partnering with a sponsor or business can request up to $15,000 to launch a robotics team.
- District-Wide Early Education Grant program: $3 million will be distributed to Alaska districts to create or expand pre-K programs. Low-performing districts and those not served by Head Start will be prioritized.
- Bipartisan Safer Communities Act: South Dakota districts with high absenteeism rates, a chronic absenteeism rate that has doubled since the pandemic, or attendance below 85% can seek up to $500,000 from this sub-grant.
- Supplemental Equipment Grants: Pennsylvania secondary schools and career and technical centers with established CTE programs are eligible to share $15 million to purchase classroom equipment.
- Olmstead Family and Community Engagement grants: Nonprofits serving students with disabilities in “historically underserved racial/ethnic communities or racial/ethnic communities” in Minnesota can partner with school districts on grants of up to $10,000.
- Specialized Secondary Programs Grant: California districts received $4.9 million to conduct in-depth studies of a core curriculum area that promotes technology skills.
- Hate Crime Prevention Round 2 Grant: Massachusetts districts that have experienced bias, that are chronically underperforming or that have partnered with a civil rights organization will be first in line for this funding, which requires a letter of support from the head of a local law enforcement agency.
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