Grant Spotlight

Burbio Launches State-Level Grant Tracker for K–12 Schools, Districts

• By Kristal Kuykendall
• 12/11/23

Education data researchers at Burbio have launched a State-Level Funding Tracker newsletter “to better organize” information on special revenue sources for K–12 schools and districts, which can subscribe at Burbio’s website.

The grant tracker is the newest of Burbio’s K–12 datasets, which include ESSER III, strategic plans, school board meeting minutes, CapEx budgets, and more, the organization said. 

The State-Level Funding Tracker will include the following elements, Burbio said on its website: 

• Grant name, Purpose, and Category

• Application Deadline

• District Eligibility

• Public or Private

• Is the Funding Competitive (Yes or No)

• Whether districts are already been awarded or allocated the funding, and if so, which ones

• Total Amount of Funding availability

Categories will include school security, technology, early childhood, infrastructure, CTE, professional development, SEL, mental health, arts, STEM, core curriculum, and more, as Burbio develops the new resource with feedback from stakeholders.

Burbio listed several examples of the types of grants the new tracker will cover (verbatim from its announcement):

• Pre-K: In November, New Jersey awarded an additional $51.9 million in federal grant funding from the state to 23 school districts to support 30 projects that will enable the creation, expansion, and renovation of preschool facilities statewide. Preliminary award amounts range from approximately $113,000 to over $13 million.

• Infrastructure: In North Carolina the application-based Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund (NBSCF), funded through the state lottery, has $254MM to grant for construction of new school buildings and additions, repairs, and renovations of existing school facilities for lower income school districts. 

• Curriculum: STEM: Iowa is offering up to $40,000 in matching grants to school districts that launch new or expanded K-12 STEM models specifically focused on creating work based learning opportunities that allow students to develop future focused, high demand skills through authentic real world experiences.

• CTE: The New York State Pathways in Technology Early College High School (NYS P-TECH) Program anticipates that up to $31.5 million will be available over the seven-year grant term (2023-2030). The project funds partnerships to prepare New York students for high-skilled jobs in the fields of technology, and manufacturing. The current application period has closed but the NYS FY 2024 Executive Budget includes an additional $20 million in grant funding to support the establishment of new ECHS and P-TECH programs. 

• Technology: Washington state awarded its second cycle of Digital Equity & Inclusion Grants focused on 1:1 device programs; inclusionary and adaptive technology; interactive displays on accessible mounts; classroom audio enhancement; devices for special education students;, and tools, software, and hardware that supports multi-language learners.

• Curriculum: Core: In Massachusetts, the Genocide Education grants program ”supports LEAs to develop and/or select curriculum materials, implement professional development, and design other enriching learning experiences intended to further secondary students' understanding of the history and patterns of genocide.” Of the total $1,250,000, the largest grant is $60,000. The funds must be spent on curriculum and instructional materials but may not be used for technology or salaries. 

• HVAC: Connecticut’s newly established “HVAC Indoor Air Quality Grants Program for Public Schools” offers $150 million in grants to make upgrades to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. This new HVAC grant draws half its funding from the state and the other half from the state’s remaining share of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. A partial list of schools that have already received funds can be found here. 

• Safety and Security: Among multiple ongoing security funding sources in Texas is the SAFE Grant program which provides $800 million to districts and the GEER Assistance to Private Schools (GAPS) Grant Program funded in part by Federal dollars. 

Learn more or subscribe to the State-Level Funding Tracker newsletter at https://about.burbio.com.