We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
State Superintendent Elsie Arntzen announced recently that the Office of Public Instruction (OPI) is allocating $1.5 million in federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds to Montana teachers for math and reading projects. OPI has partnered with DonorsChoose, a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit, to offer $500 direct grants to all K-12 public school teachers in Montana while the funds last.
“Dollars closest to the classroom lead to greater academic achievement for our students,” said Arntzen. “These precious federal tax dollars will help purchase teaching and learning materials, supplies, and technology to support math and reading. As these federal ESSER dollars expire at the end of September, I encourage all of our teachers to take advantage of this funding to increase educational success.”
Alix Guerrier, CEO of DonorsChoose, added: “Montana educators are going above and beyond for their students, and the Montana Office of Public Instruction is listening to what educators say they need for their classrooms. With this back-to-school season, over a quarter of Montana teachers will see their classroom dreams come to life, and countless students will have the resources they need to kick off the year strong.”
To qualify for a math or reading project grant, teachers must meet certain criteria and follow a few simple steps:
• Teach K-12 in a Montana public school (Head Start centers do not qualify for this funding opportunity);
• Visit the DonorsChoose Montana Teachers page;
• Create a new project on or after August 20, 2024;
• Request resources to accelerate teaching and learning in math and/or reading;
• Ensure the project’s total goal is under $500.
In meeting that final criteria point, DonorsChoose guidelines suggest that applicants account for materials cost, vendor shipping charges, applicable taxes and fees, and the suggested donation to DonorsChoose. Keeping a total project goal at $500 will involve a request for around $390 in materials. If the total project goal were to exceed $500, then the project would not receive the one-time donation.
Montana district superintendents and principals can monitor the projects and materials that are shipped to schools through the DonorsChoose District Partnership Program. This program ensures that all materials ordered align with district policy, as materials become district/school property.
The ESSER dollars for these grants derive from funds set aside by the state between the spring of 2020 and March of 2021. During that time, Montana received over $605 million in COVID relief funds. Of those previous distributions, ESSER III will close out on September 30, 2024.
