As an educator, you probably know the cost of every item in your classroom as well as the cost of materials and resources you wish you could afford. When push came to shove, it’s likely you’ve purchased some items using your own money. You probably also know that however diligently you work to provide the materials your students need, it’s still not enough to teach them the way you’d like. Imagine what you could do, if only you had more funds.
Opportunities
There are many opportunities available to help improve your classroom resources without breaking your personal budget. Sometimes it takes a little creativity, a bit of elbow grease, and some footwork on your part.
- ASE Educational Foundation (formerly NATEF) accreditation means students are better prepared for ASE certification. This makes your program stand out to local employers looking to hire competent employees. When local companies know they can count on your students to fill open positions and do the work well, they should know that supporting your program financially is an investment in their future workforce.
- A bill to reauthorize the Perkins Career and Technical Education Law was recently signed into law. Get a basic understanding of the changes coming with Perkins V and discuss with the administrative officials who work on your budget and know how to access this funding.
- Students with disabilities are eligible for grants that can fund assistive technology to allow you to serve an underserved community. Online resources are also available to assist instructors who are providing valuable training to students with disabilities, including crowdfunding options, some of which are education-specific.
- Grants for students of all ages are also available with varying eligibility requirements. One of these is sponsored by the American Honda Foundation, which provides funding for youth education, particularly students in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, environmental, job training, and literacy programs. A full list of grants related to educational technology can be found here.
Practical Ways to Build Your Inventory
When you’re teaching technical material, it helps to have access to real parts to provide your students with hands-on, practical opportunities. If you get out of your classroom for a bit and make some contacts in your community, you might be surprised at what you find.
- Networking and creating relationships with local industry leaders is a great way to gather additional resources for your classroom. Show what you can do and how prepared your students are for employment after they complete your courses.
- Speak with local shops to see if you can have bad parts that would otherwise be sent to scrap. Even broken parts are useful when you’re teaching diagnostics and repair, and you may find yourself stocked for free.
- Speaking of scrap, vehicles that are useless to local dealerships, scrap yards, or repair shops can be of great use to you and your students. Reach out and make contacts at any local companies that may be willing to provide their unwanted items for your classroom.
There are opportunities for funding if you know where to look, think outside the box, and leverage your skills. If you’re interested in learning how CDX Learning Systems could help you, contact us today.
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