At first glance, choosing to revitalize your school district by adopting new educational technology can feel like an insurmountable hill to climb. However, there are many different grant and funding programs to help your school district do just that. Below, you’ll find the different sources of funding and how they can be used to ensure your district is at the forefront of providing excellent educational experiences for students and their families.
It’s important to note that there are two main types of grants: formula grants (also often called state-administered programs) and discretionary grants. Although some funding programs may work outside of these two frameworks, it’s rare to see.
Formula grants are given based on pre-set formulas. Before the year begins, Congress determines how much will be appropriated to go to schools through these grants. Although most formula grants do require a state or school district to fill out a basic application, they are always noncompetitive. As long as a state or school district meets the predetermined formula, it will be awarded the grant. The grant size, however, may fluctuate based again on the formula: a state or school district’s size or population of students living in poverty will usually cause fluctuations in how much is awarded.
Discretionary grants, however, are given out based on predetermined criteria and are competitive—not every state or district that applies will receive the grant. Applications are typically much more involved than applications for formula grants. States or districts apply for grants they believe match based on published descriptions, and then a panel of judges awards the grants to the states or school districts they believe best match the description and awards the appropriate amount to the winners.
Most educational grants come through the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) in some form or fashion. The OESE is a branch of the United States Department of Education and exists “to empower States, districts, and other organizations to meet the diverse needs of every student by providing leadership, technical assistance, and financial support.”
OESE typically sends funding to State Education Agencies (SEAs), who then pass the funding on to Local Education Agencies (LEAs)—that is, local school districts. Depending on the funds given, OESA sometimes requires that the money is given as formula grants, and other times allows SEAs to decide whether the funds will be given as formula or discretionary grants.
For a breakdown and comparison of each type of educational grant, visit the US Department of Education's Grants Overview page.
One of OESE’s primary responsibilities is to award each state its appropriate ESSA funding. Congress passed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in 2015, replacing No Child Left Behind (NCLB). It is organized into nine different sections, called “titles.” The majority of these titles provide funding (typically through formula grants) to the states and school districts that comply with the requirements of the title. Three of the titles that are most likely to provide the funding necessary for improving a school district’s edtech are listed here and outlined in further detail below:
For more information on Title 1 funding, read: Title 1 Explained: 5 Things Educators Need to Understand About Federal Money for Students in Poverty
For more information about Title IV funding, visit the Every Student Succeeds Act comprehensive guide.
Schools today face mounting pressure to do more with limited resources—while also ensuring equity, improving outcomes, and meeting accountability requirements. Federal and state funding streams were designed to help districts address these challenges, and many explicitly allow for investments in educational technology and data systems.
Otus provides an all-in-one platform that helps districts maximize the impact of these funds by:
Making Data Actionable: Centralizing classroom, local, and state assessments alongside third-party data so educators and leaders can quickly identify needs, track growth, and measure program effectiveness.
Driving Equity and Personalization: Using data-driven insights to support evidence-based interventions, differentiate instruction, and ensure every student has access to the support they need to succeed.
Strengthening Collaboration: Giving teachers, administrators, and families shared visibility into progress toward standards, goals, and district priorities—all in one place.
Supporting Future-Ready Learning: Offering tools for personalized plans, portfolios, and progress monitoring that align with initiatives like Portrait of a Graduate and college- and career-readiness frameworks.
With Otus, districts can show clear alignment between their funding priorities and student outcomes. Whether the goal is to close achievement gaps, enhance digital learning, or provide evidence of program effectiveness, Otus equips schools with the platform needed to rise to today’s challenges and prepare for tomorrow.