Part+6+-+Funding+Technology

=PART 6 - Funding Technology = ** A. Short & Long-Term Funding Opportunities **  Title 1 Stimulus Funding  Grants

**i. Guidelines, Restrictions, & Expectations**  According to the U.S. Department of Education the purpose of Title 1 funding, “is to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high quality education and reach, at minimum, proficiency on challenging state academic achievement standards and state academic assessments. The basic principles of Title 1 state that schools with large concentrations of low-income students will receive supplemental funds to assist in meeting student’s educational goals. Low-income students are determined by the number of students enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program. For an entire school to qualify for Title 1 funds, at least 40% of students must enroll in the free and reduced lunch program. Title 1 funds can be used to improve curriculum, instructional activities, counseling, parental involvement, increase staff and program improvement. The funding should assist schools in meeting the educational goals of low-income students. According to the U.S. Department of Education, Title 1 funds typically support supplemental instruction in reading and math. Annually, this program reaches over six million students, primarily in the elementary grades" (Understanding the basics, 2010).

The goal of the SMART Board initiative is to increase student achievement in Reading and Language. The majority of the students at our school are from low income families, therefore the SMART Board initiative qualifies for federal government Title 1 funding. The initiative also meets the guidelines for funding from the Race to the Top stimulus, “Adopting standards and assessments that prepare students to succeed in college and the workplace and to compete in the global economy; and Turning around our lowest-achieving schools.”

Seeking to obtain Grant Money for the SMART Board initiative from the Verizon Foundation, " it supports the advancement of literacy and K-12 education through its free educational website, Verizon Thinkfinity __//(//__//www.thinkfinity.org//), and fosters awareness and prevention of domestic violence. In 2009, the Verizon Foundation awarded $67.9 million in grants to nonprofit agencies in the U.S. and abroad. It also matched the charitable donations of Verizon employees and retirees, resulting in $26.1 million in combined contributions to nonprofits. Through Verizon Volunteers, one of the nation's largest employee volunteer programs, Verizon employees and retirees have volunteered more than 5 million hours of community service since 2000. For more information and to apply online, visit //www.verizonfoundation//."

 The school’s administrator and the CFO will work together to evaluate and apply for financial opportunities that are available for funding the SMART Board initiative. The CFO will be responsible for maintaining the proper disbursement of the funds. The funding from Title1 are disbursed once a year and will be a good source for long term funding. However, the grant money from the Verizon Foundation is a one time option. ** B. Considerations for Community Partnerships and/or Corporate Sponsors ** The Technology Committee will seek out opportunities to develop positive partnerships with business and community groups, local businesses, and state officials. Most importantly, these partnerships create support systems which allow our children to learn and be successful. These partnerships bring together diverse groups and individuals, including health service agencies, school boards, teachers, parents, community organizations, youth development organizations, to expand opportunities for children, families, and communities. Establishing positive school partnerships is a complex and challenging task that we are willing to undertake.
 * ii. Those Responsible for Applying, Maintaining, Communicating, and Evaluating** 