Locating Technology Funding Sources

Meeting the needs of schools, teachers, and students in this technological age comes with a price tag. Traditionally, school systems have utilized federal and state monies to pay for technologies. With the balancing of the federal and many state budgets, funding for some technology areas has been discontinued. School administrators are continually forced to look at alternative ways to fund their technology and technology-related purchases.

Today, administrators must make hard choices as to where to allocate funds to help their students step into the 21st century. Acquiring the hardware is not enough. School administrators must budget for hardware, software, as well as the infrastructure and support to be able to use and maintain technology. That's why after an administrator identifies all of his or her technology costs, the next step is to search for additional funding to fully implement and support technology in their schools.

Funding Stream Opportunities

Adequate funding is a key factor in getting innovative education programs off the ground. And it is important to try to match the expenditures in any given year with anticipated revenue to cover those expenses. By drafting a technological plan combined with a funding plan, a school district can see how much additional funding they will need, and when they will need it. Listed below are several sources to request additional technology funding at your school. The sources offer either recurring or non-recurring technology funding.

Sources of Recurring Technology Funding Include:

• Local and state taxes, bonds, or levies
• School and department general operating fund budgets
• Capital outlay for equipment for new sites and wings
• Legislative formulas, such as Title I
• Instructional textbook funds utilized for online content subscriptions
• School district maintenance and repair contracts

Sources of Non-Reoccurring Technology Funding Include:

• Competitive grant and special fund opportunities, particularly as they relate to distance learning, networking, training/staff development, and educational technology
• Business and community partnerships that provide equipment and technical support and training
• University, state, and private agencies
• Parent and business partner donations
• Federal Register lists federal programs (Title I–V and others) for grants and outside funding sources that can support technology implementation

In addition to these funding sources, you can click here to learn more about funding sources for:

• Disadvantaged Students
• Comprehensive School Reform
• Special Education
• Early Reading
• Limited English Proficiency
• Improving Teacher Quality

These funding sources can be used to support innovative technology approaches to teaching and learning.

PLATO Learning is an award-winning educational technology provider who will partner with schools and districts to turn funds into solutions that will improve student achievement. Click here to learn more about how PLATO Learning's prescriptive, personalized instruction, technology-based teaching tools, and standards-driven assessment and data management that facilitate continuous academic improvement for K–12 learners.