School operating budgets provide stable financing for ongoing purchases and support. However, school budgets are tight and programs—including technology programs and technology support staff—may be cut in some schools. It is important to consider alternatives to funding and to plan not only for initial costs but also for long-term maintenance and replacement costs to facilitate sustainability.
Technology is not an end in itself but instead involves a set of tools to foster engaged learning environments and increase student outcomes; successful funding clearly supports a higher purpose than simply the acquisition of hardware and equipment. As a team, you will need to develop a plan to support the costs associated with implementing and maintaining technology in your district and school buildings. Districts and schools are finding creative solutions to the funding question, including leasing equipment, phasing in computing devices over time to spread out the cost of purchasing devices, selecting devices with lower initial costs, and making use of BYOD. Some districts have secured funding through a bond voted on by the community or have raised money through fundraisers sponsored by the PTO/PTA, and others have worked with companies to finance the costs of new technology devices. Any requested funding should clearly link technology to the bigger picture of teaching and learning. Ultimately, when exploring budgeting options, it is important to be creative, engage numerous stakeholders, and develop a multiyear plan for financing technology needs.
Tip: Ideas for freeing up funding to support new technologies are: 1) getting rid of copy machines (and related supplies and contracts); 2) eliminating dedicated computer lab;, and 3) replacing expensive commercially licensed textbooks with openly licensed educational resources.
Tip: Determine who will benefit from the technology-related costs and see if the department benefiting would be willing to include the cost in their budget to get the work done more efficiently and effectively.
Tip: Professional learning workshops that focus on integrating technology into instruction, and integrating evidence-based teaching strategies into content areas such as reading, writing, and mathematics, can be funded through professional development dollars linked with curriculum and content area development.
AIR Informs Episode #6: Meeting the Needs of Students with Disabilities During COVID-19
Remote learning requires adjustment for all students, but students with disabilities face additional challenges during the COVID-19 quarantine. In the latest episode of AIR Informs, Allison Gandhi, managing researcher and director of AIR’s special education practice area, describes some of these obstacles and shares strategies to help students make the most of this time.
