Iowa Grants

Federal Grants:

ESSA Title II-A (Supporting Effective Instruction)
- What it is: Professional development, teacher mentoring, reducing class size
- Why it matters: Can support PD for staff adopting new attendance or HR systems, or training to improve their time tracking software setup.
ESSA Title IV-A (Student Support & Academic Enrichment, SSAE)
- What it is: one of the most flexible ESSA funding streams. It allows districts to invest in three areas: (1) well-rounded education, (2) safe and healthy students, and (3) effective use of technology. Up to 15% of Title IV-A technology funds can be used for infrastructure upgrades.
- Why it matters: This is a strong federal funding fit for Touchpoint’s SmartClocks and teacher absence software. Districts can justify purchases as technology that supports staff accountability, accurate HR compliance, and safe school operations—ensuring teachers are present and classrooms are covered, which directly impacts student learning and safety.
ESSA Title VB (Rural Education Achievement Program)
- What it is: Provides additional flexibility to small, rural, and low-income districts. REAP funds can be used to support activities allowable under Titles I-A, II-A, III, and IV-A, giving rural schools more options to address local needs.
- Why it matters: Because REAP dollars can be spent on Title IV-A activities, rural districts can use them for time and attendance systems, HR/payroll compliance software, and SmartClock hardware. This is a particularly valuable path for small districts that need to modernize operations but have limited budgets.
Perkins V (Career and Technical Education)
- What it is: Provides federal funds to states and districts to strengthen career and technical education (CTE) programs. Funds support technology, equipment, instructional materials, and program operations that align education with workforce needs. The goal is to ensure students in high schools and postsecondary programs gain the skills and experience required for in-demand careers.
- Why it matters: Perkins dollars can be used for technology and equipment purchases tied to CTE program delivery. Touchpoint’s time and attendance software and SmartClock hardware help districts ensure CTE instructors, aides, and lab supervisors are present and accountable, so students consistently receive the hands-on instruction they need. By tracking staff time and absence within CTE programs, districts can demonstrate program quality, maintain compliance with federal performance measures, and align with Perkins’ mission to prepare students for the workforce.
BSCA Stronger Connections Grants
- What it is: A competitive, one-time federal infusion (via BSCA) administered by PDE, with funds available for obligation through September 2026. Applications were invitation-only for high-need LEAs identified by PDE (based on poverty, violence, exclusion, and lack of mental health supports). Awards ranged into the millions for selected districts and must be used for activities under Title IV-A Section 4108 — focused on safe, healthy, and supportive schools.
- Why it matters: For districts that qualified, Stronger Connections is a powerful opportunity to fund infrastructure hardware like SmartClocks that improve accountability and safety visibility. By framing these devices as security technology that ensures real-time staff presence, emergency headcounts, and attendance tracking, schools can cover significant hardware deployments while tying them directly to safety and climate goals.

Iowa State-Specific Grants:

SFRA Formula State Aid
- What it is: Annual formula state aid under SFRA—no application—with parameters updated triennially by the EAR. For FY2026, the EAR recommends a higher base per-pupil amount ($14,972) and raises Security Aid to $140 per pupil for all students plus $411 per at-risk pupil.
- Why it matters: Because Security Aid is a recurring categorical stream, districts can budget infrastructure-class safety hardware—including SmartClocks mounted as part of the facility (PoE/ID/access integrations)—and pair it with time/absence software that strengthens staff accountability, coverage, and emergency headcounts. The EAR’s explicit elevation of security resources provides a policy-backed justification to fund building-embedded time-tracking devices and the supporting software/services through the district’s annual security/operations budgets.
SAVE (Secure an Advanced Vision for Education)
- What it is: Iowa’s statewide one-cent sales and services tax dedicated to school infrastructure. Formerly called the Local Option Sales and Services Tax (LOSST), SAVE provides ongoing, formula-based revenue to every school district in Iowa. Funds flow automatically (no application required) and can be used for a broad range of capital projects such as construction, remodeling, technology infrastructure, and equipment. SAVE revenues may also be pledged for bonds, giving districts the ability to finance large projects upfront and repay them with future SAVE collections. Since SAVE is permanent and recurring, districts can plan long-term investments confidently.
- Why it Matters: For districts considering time tracking solutions, SAVE is one of the most flexible and reliable funding sources for SmartClock hardware and supporting software infrastructure. Because the statute explicitly allows use for technology exceeding $500 per transaction, building improvements, and equipment, SmartClocks clearly qualify as eligible capital expenses. Unlike competitive grants, SAVE is formula-driven and guaranteed, so administrators can fund district-wide deployments without uncertainty. Importantly, tying SmartClocks to safety, accountability, and compliance operations (e.g., ensuring staff are present, classrooms are covered, and payroll is accurate) fits squarely within SAVE’s purpose of modernizing school infrastructure. This makes SAVE a strategic pathway for Iowa districts to both adopt and sustain hardware/software time tracking systems over multiple years.
Voter-Approved Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (VPPEL)
- What it is: A local property tax levy that school districts in Iowa can use to fund infrastructure and capital equipment purchases. Unlike the smaller board-approved PPEL, VPPEL must be approved by voters and can raise up to $1.34 per $1,000 of assessed property value for up to 10 years. Districts may also use an income surtax (1–17% increments) alongside property tax to spread the tax burden. Statewide, VPPEL generates hundreds of millions annually (over $250M in FY2026), making it one of Iowa’s most reliable local funding streams for capital needs.
- Why it matters: For time tracking and HR compliance solutions like SmartClock hardware and absence management software, VPPEL represents a highly relevant and reliable source of funding. Because SmartClocks qualify as capital equipment purchases and can also be positioned as security and accountability technology, districts can justify them under VPPEL’s technology and safety categories. Unlike smaller or one-time grants, VPPEL offers renewable, long-term funding that districts can plan around, ensuring they have the resources to not only acquire but also sustain attendance and compliance infrastructure. This makes VPPEL one of the most practical and feasible mechanisms for Iowa schools to invest in SmartClocks and related systems as part of their broader facility and safety improvements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can we use safety grants for SmartClocks?

Yes. Many federal and state-level school safety grants allow funding for secure entry systems, visitor management, and accountability technology. Attendance kiosks and time-collection devices often qualify when tied to improving building safety, student supervision, and emergency preparedness.

Do federal funds cover staff training for new systems?

Absolutely. Federal programs like Title II-A and Title IV-A explicitly permit the use of funds for professional development and training. This means districts can not only purchase new compliance or attendance systems, but also train staff to use them effectively.

Which grants require local matches?

Most formula-based federal funds (such as Title I–IV, IDEA, Perkins) do not require a local match. However, some competitive safety and security grants (for example, COPS SVPP or certain state-level safety funds) may require a partial cost share. Districts should review the application guidelines for each program.

What’s the best fit for rural or small districts?

Rural and small districts often benefit most from flexible funding streams such as the Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP/RLIS), smaller targeted state safety grants, and regional cooperative programs (like service agencies or intermediate units). These sources are designed to give smaller districts the flexibility to cover essential needs like attendance or HR compliance technology.

Can foundations or private donations support pilot projects?

Yes. Across the U.S., local education foundations, community foundations, and corporate giving programs frequently support pilot programs, innovative technology, or attendance improvement initiatives. Many states also have tax-credit donation programs where businesses fund local education foundations. These funds can help districts test attendance or HR tools before scaling them district-wide.